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Feature
Article:
From an Interview with Snuffy Jackson, creator of the original
Newfoundland Republic concept
August
22 2007
St. John's Newfoundland
BNB
Revisiting
“The Republic”: Snuffy’s Gold
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The mark of a great marketing campaign is one that so
entrenches itself into our society that we assume it into the
local vernacular. Such
is the case with our colloquial use of the term Ski-Doo to
mean anything that rides across the snow, or a Coke is
anything that is carbonated.
And such is true for the concept of the Republic of
Newfoundland; was there ever a time that we did not refer to
the republic? As
a matter of fact there was… |
In 1980 a Texan had
made St. John’s his home. Pursuing
the love of a local girl he very quickly found his place in
Newfoundland and Labrador. The
gentleman’s name is David Jackson, but he is known widely as “Snuffy”.
Some may remember a man with a Texas accent and cowboy hat who worked at
CKIX-FM (KIXX) Country, who hung out and played with local bands like “The
Living Room Band” in the downtown pubs.
Mr. Jackson describes a fond memory of descending the narrow
stairs leading between Duckworth and Water near the Courthouse to
find the reclusive little spot for his gig.
It was among these narrow side streets in downtown St.
John’s that Mr. Jackson opened a small apparel shop to showcase
his particular brand of graphics arts style.
From Kerrville, Texas just outside
San Antonio he says his connection to Newfoundland and Labrador is
very strong. From the
time he first landed at the St. John’s airport and was
"Snuffy"
Jackson's Original
Republic of Newfoundland
Concept from the Harbour
City General Store, 1983 |
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greeted with a sign reading
“It’s about time you got your TexAss up here” and was
presented with a promised bottle of “Tucker’s Gold Cap” homebrew,
presented to him by Wayne Tucker and the boys, he had an instant connection to the people.
The Harbour
City General Store was a showcase of love for his
adopted home, and it was here the first “Republic of
Newfoundland” concept was born.
Printed on shirts and caps it quietly became a staple of the
youth and artsy set and may have inadvertently spawned a renewed
sense of pride of place on this peninsula that reaches for Europe
while maintaining the Canadian name.
The “Republic of Newfoundland” would bring him both fame
and controversy.
The inspiration for his creation
came from the stories that sparked his interest as a youth.
He became a great student of Texas history…with stories of
Davy Crocket and the Alamo. The
fact that Texas was for a short time a country – a republic –
and was for the years between 1836- 1845.
In fact he says Texas was the only country to ever join the
United States, "Isn't it ironic that Newfoundland and Labrador
almost was to?" When
Newfoundland and Labrador became his new home he saw so many
comparisons with the province and the history of his home state.
With great modesty he says “I’m not a brilliant man, the
concept of the Newfoundland Republic came from this recognition of
the similarities in the history of Texas with the history of
Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr.
Jackson says that the brief history that Texans were a Republic,
that was a defining moment for Texas, and that strength and
recognition of who they are was what he saw in Newfoundland and
Labradorians. The
Newfoundland Republic concept just seemed to make perfect sense.
“It didn’t take me long to figure out that Newfoundland
has always been its
own place.” He
emphasizes “its own place” with a quiver of pride in his voice.
He adds “No matter what’s written on a piece of paper
somewhere as to its status – it doesn’t make a difference –
the Newfoundland that I saw was, in and of itself, its own
entity.”
When he
researched the old Newfoundland Tri-Colour it seemed the perfect
addition to the Republic graphic... and so the Republic of
Newfoundland and accompanying Pink White and Green quietly entered
the Newfoundland and Labrador psyche.
Mr.
Jackson thinks that it was his unique perspective of seeing
Newfoundland and Labrador with fresh eyes that inspires his
Newfoundland and Labrador concept art.
He also alludes to the fact that because he was American he
did not carry any of the preconceived biases about Newfoundland and
Labrador that a mainland Canadian might have.
He
recalls the reaction to his logo first when it was introduced,
“The newspaper headline read Pro-Separatist
T-Shirt but they were just trying to sell papers with
sensational headlines. I was celebrating basically what I was seeing which
was just a wonderful independent, self-reliance that I saw in my
Newfoundland and Labrador friends, not separatism.”
“The
other thing they got wrong in that article was that the logo was
created because of so many
requests – there were never any requests – that didn’t
happen. It was only
after I created the T-Shirt that a certain element seemed to have embraced it and
taken it into their own agenda. Whatever that agenda was, I couldn't help, but, my intension, with my heart on my sleeve, was producing a product that explained the Newfoundland spirit; a wonderfully independent spirit.
The whole attitude, Newfoundlanders are wonderful, they just
take absolutely take my breath away, the whole atmosphere and
self-reliance.”
The
Harbour City General Store exists now only in the virtual world at
harbourcitygeneralstore.com where the original Republic of
Newfoundland concept has been given new life.
About the web store Mr. Jackson exclaims proudly that the
Harbour City General Store has the “real deal” with it comes to
the Republic of Newfoundland.
Mr.
Jackson was quite surprised when a friend from St. John’s told him
of the enormous success of the Newfoundland Republic in recent
years. “They told me
Snuffy by’ you really blew it – you could have been a
millionaire by now!” He
laughs adding that he was told “that history professors are upset
because people are calling the old tri-colour the ‘Republic
Flag’!”
“Newfoundland
and Labrador has more on the go than even they give themselves
credit for. I’m
seeing a new generation, the young ones who hear the newfie jokes
and they are saying – you know this is Bull Shit...
I read an article online the other day which described the
word Newfie as Canada’s “N” word [I recall being on the
mainland and] the things they were saying there and the things I was
experiencing as a non-Canadian on the rock were completely
different. Newfoundland
and Labrador for Canada is like a family taking in a step child in...
and the worst of all is not that they regard Newfoundland and
Labrador badly but that they don’t regard it at all!”
When
suggested that he is a great ambassador for Newfoundland and
Labrador and should be on the provincial payroll he laughs saying
“I even wrote a song I call I
Miss the Rock. Two
of my three kids were born in St. Clares.
My son James and my daughter Nichole are genuine Newfoundlanders with
a Texas accent, my Newfoundtexlanders!
My love affair with Newfoundland and Labrador will never die,
and when I look back on it – probably one of my biggest regrets is
that [I left].”
He hints that he is not finished
with Newfoundland and Labrador and hopes to continue to build on the
designs that have given him a place in the history of our province.
Reflecting on his feelings for Newfoundland and Labrador he
sighs over the phone: “Newfoundland had me from, Whadda-ya-at, b'y
- from the
moment I got off the airplane and drank that “Tucker’s Gold Cap”
homebrew.”
***
David Jackson continues to be inspired by the land that adopted him. His newest creations as well as the original “Republic of Newfoundland” concept are available at:
http:/www.harbourcitygeneralstore.com
as well as other featured works at http://www.hightonedesign.com. The February edition of “The Current” featured one of
Snuffy’s designs to accompany a story called “How Many Newfoundlanders are There in Hell”
Mr. Jackson’s new musical interests are with "Harry
and the Hightones". His
music can be heard on YouTube.
BNB is a
founding member of the Newfoundland
and Labrador Defense League (www.nldl.org)
and is secretary of the Community
Linkages Concept Committee (www.clccnl.ca)
He writes for newfoundlandincanada.blogspot.com
and is contributes to newfoundland-labrador.net
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