Pius Power Jr. (1945 to 1996) was born in Clattice Harbour South West and lived there until he was 22 when his family moved to South East Bight. He was the son of Pius and Margaret (Hepditch) Power. Although he attended school until he was 16, Pius always said that his fishing career began when he was 9 years old. His sisters remember him slipping into school late after spending the ear1y morning trawling or hauling nets with his father. Clattice Harbour was always home for Pius. It was the place he always returned to in his dreams and he was never happier than when lobster season took him back there for the spring season. Pius was married first to Anita Best, the daughter of Fred and Elsie (Reid) Best of Merasheen. They had one daughter Kate. His second wife was Mary Ellen Wright of Nova Scotia. Their children are John Pius, Bill and Ellen.
Pius spent a lot of time with his grandfather, Mr. Billy Power who was born in the 1860s. He learned many of his songs and old stories from him. Pius became immersed in those stories. He once said that he often found it difficult to distinguish between things that he himself actually remembered and experienced and the things that he had heard from Mr. Billy and the other "old fellows". He liked nothing better than to go to a party and sing all night. He sang at many festivals in Newfoundland and Labrador and was well known in the provincial traditional music community. Like his father, Pius was interviewed by many scholars who were looking for songs, stories and fishing lore of Placentia Bay. He was always happy to oblige. He was not at all shy! He was a very friendly and sociable man. He never forgot a face or a name and could spot a Placentia Bay man in any crowd.
A Few of Pius' Songs
Bonny Young Irish Boy
A popular ballad from the 19th century (collected by Anita Best in 1980).
The Mower
An English folk ballad that is just a bit bawdy (collected by Anita Best in 1980).
Captain Vincent
A sailor comes home to find his true love dead (collected by Anita Best in 1980).
