DOUG DAGGETT

       Douglas Simeon Daggett was born February 6, 1924, in the old family home in Seal Cove, Grand Manan, New Brunswick to Don and Rena (Brown) Daggett.

He was their second child and only son. He had an older sister Julia, born April 13, 1917, and a younger sister Jean, born Aug. 9, 1925. The house was built around 1840 and was divided into two homes. Doug's grandfather, George, and step-grandmother Ethel, lived in the smaller part of the house. He grew up in this small village of 500 people and spent much time on his Grandfather Brown's farm.

George Daggett and Maude
Maude was written up in the "Family Herald and Weekly Star" as the oldest horse in Canada. She died in 1948

       Doug had a normal childhood, had many friends, played baseball, was known to be the fastest runner in Seal Cove, helped his grandfather on the farm, worked in the woods with his grandfather Daggett cutting wood to keep the family home warm in winter, and attended the village school. During the winter he was in Grade 7, Doug had to spend several months on the couch with ulcers on his feet and his mother taught him to knit. He produced a pair of mittens and that ended his knitting career.

Doug, Bud Harvey, Scott Harvey 1932

        One of his memories was of the day the "Hindenburg" landed in New Jersey and caught fire. Doug saw it pass by from South West Head and later listened to the radio to the famous landing.

        Another fond memory was visiting friends at Machias Seal Island, where their parents were lighhouse keepers. After spending a few days there, he always wanted to live there and his dream came true many years later, when, after retirement, he filled in and was able to live on the island for two months.

Doug going ashore on Seal Island ca. 1934

Doug's great-grandfather, Simeon Daggett, was a master carpenter and built many houses on Grand Manan. He lived and worked in Waltham, Massachusetts for several years, before being killed by a train at the age of 60. Doug's grandfather, George Daggett, followed in his father's footsteps. His first job was the Deep Cove Scool, built in 1889. He moved to Boston, with his small son, Don, after his first wife's death in 1896 and worked there until 1904, when he returned to Grand Manan at the request of Manford Lorimer, to build a house for him, known now as the "Grand Harbour Inn". He built many houses on Grand Manan, two of them for his sister Edith and cousin, Colin Ingersoll, in 1907, 1908

Daggett homestead, Edith Green's and Colin Ingersoll's home

        Doug and his parents lived in the family home until 1940, when his father moved the family to Campobello, where he had the contract to build the new school. Doug worked with his father until he joined the army.


DOUG 1941-1946