Women in Heritage: Louise Simms

Louise Simms was born a Sullivan in King's Cove, Bonavista Bay. From 1913 to 1916, Lousie played piano accompaniment for silent films in St. John’s at the leading movie houses including the Nickel, York, Star, and Little Star theatres.
Louise remembers, “It was a very pleasant occupation. I sat at the piano right below the screen. If there was an old horse trotting, I’d pay a trot; fast action, I’d play something fast.” She never took her eyes off the action on screen. Sometimes during an intermission Louise would sing a song herself. She studied piano at Presentation Convent, and wrote all her Trinity College of Music exams.
Louise earned five dollars for playing six nights a week, and became a well known favourtie in the local theatres. She finished playing at the movies when she married cooper William Simms of St. John’s in 1916. The pair had 12 children and over 60 grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
During the Second World War Louise used to trade the white flour she had access to through the cooperage business, for brown flour which was rationed to everybody. No one liked the rationed brown flour but Louise would use it to feed the horses that pulled the carts for the cooperage.
Louise and William lived across the street from 90 Pleasant Street and moved into the Simms House Registered Heritage Structure in 1947 after the death of Henry V. Simms - William’s grandfather.
To learn more bout the Simms House check out our website: heritagenl.ca/heritage-proper...