Denis May
Transcript of the Oral History Interview with Denis May
Filename: May__Denis.pdf ( download )
Size: 2.5 MB
Document type: application/pdf ( )
Abstract
Denis May is the brother of Muriel Josephine Canton of Motueka, and Elizabeth Cara. They spent their early years in Richmond, where their parents and grandparents owned May’s Store. Denis’ mother was a Sadd, and her father was R. T Sadd, Commissioner of Crown Lands in Nelson.
Mr May recalls his experiences of the family business.
Points of Interest
- May’s Store – butter factory, dressmaking department, piggeries, machinery, granaries, stables, gas plant
- Butter making
- Waimea Dairy Company, Brightwater Waimea Co-op
- Christmas window displays
- Decline of Richmond in the 1920s and 1930s
- The Depression of the 1930s
- Diphtheria epidemic
- Drills with wooden rifles during World War I
- Taking the train to Nelson College
- The Institute Library, Miss Fittall
- Murchison Earthquake
Interview Information
- Date of Interview: 1 June 1984
- Interviewer: Les Slater
- Typist: Louise Charters
- Length of Transcript: 19 Pages
Copyright Statement
This oral history is to be used for your private research or study only. Please do not copy or distribute the material contained in this transcript in any way, without prior approval.