Lower Island Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Lower Island Cove is an incorporated town located on the Bay de Verde Peninsula
on the north shore of Conception Bay
, Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
. It is a fishing community that has seen a decrease in residents since the cod moratorium.
Lower Island Cove was once a thriving economic centre. Located on the northern entrance to Conception Bay, it once boasted three cod liver factories. And, before 1992, it had a thriving local fish plant. Photos at the Flambro Head Museum and Cafe attest to so many fish flakes at the turn of 1900 that hardly a spot of green grass was found in the settlement.
Operated by the Flambo Head Heritage Society, the Museum hosts a 1/2km walking trail, a coffee shop, a playground complete with picnic tables. The original building housed the "Lower Island Cove" telephone exchange. Today with help from Government, the site the Museum displays local artifacts, photos donated by residents, including "tools and implements depicting the early lifestyles of our area" (Source).
The annual Lower Island Cove Regatta once competed for calendar dates with the Royal St. John's regatta. In the 1970s, the LIC Regatta faded away. However, in the 1980s, the AYLA (Association for Youth and Leisure) revived the Regatta, which is now held during the second weekend of August. In 2008 the Regatta at Lower Island Cove stopped due to no people to row. The AYLA now holds a "Fun Day", which consists of Games Of Chance Food and family fun, something similar to the Regatta but without the boat races. (Source)
In the Old Methodist Church Cemetery, a memorial stands to local 13 men who drowned on the schooner "Six Brothers", which left Lower Island Cove for Trinity Bay on May 25, 1883, never to return. The memorial is a reminder of the large number of men along the shore who have lost their lives to the sea. (Source)
Bay de Verde Peninsula
The Bay de Verde Peninsula is the largest peninsula that makes up part of the Avalon Peninsula, of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
on the north shore of Conception Bay
Conception Bay
Conception Bay is a Canadian bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland. The bay indents the Avalon Peninsula with the opening of the bay to the Atlantic Ocean at the northeast. It is bounded by Cape St. Francis in the south and Split Point near Bay de Verde in the north...
, Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is a fishing community that has seen a decrease in residents since the cod moratorium.
History
Legend says that a treasure was buried by the pirates at Flambro Head.Lower Island Cove was once a thriving economic centre. Located on the northern entrance to Conception Bay, it once boasted three cod liver factories. And, before 1992, it had a thriving local fish plant. Photos at the Flambro Head Museum and Cafe attest to so many fish flakes at the turn of 1900 that hardly a spot of green grass was found in the settlement.
Local Attractions
Three local attractions are the Flambro Head Museum and Cafe, the Lower Island Cove Regatta and the Old Methodist Church Cemetery.Operated by the Flambo Head Heritage Society, the Museum hosts a 1/2km walking trail, a coffee shop, a playground complete with picnic tables. The original building housed the "Lower Island Cove" telephone exchange. Today with help from Government, the site the Museum displays local artifacts, photos donated by residents, including "tools and implements depicting the early lifestyles of our area" (Source).
The annual Lower Island Cove Regatta once competed for calendar dates with the Royal St. John's regatta. In the 1970s, the LIC Regatta faded away. However, in the 1980s, the AYLA (Association for Youth and Leisure) revived the Regatta, which is now held during the second weekend of August. In 2008 the Regatta at Lower Island Cove stopped due to no people to row. The AYLA now holds a "Fun Day", which consists of Games Of Chance Food and family fun, something similar to the Regatta but without the boat races. (Source)
In the Old Methodist Church Cemetery, a memorial stands to local 13 men who drowned on the schooner "Six Brothers", which left Lower Island Cove for Trinity Bay on May 25, 1883, never to return. The memorial is a reminder of the large number of men along the shore who have lost their lives to the sea. (Source)
Local Industry
In 2006, a Christmas Tree farm was established. Since the closure of the Cod Fishery in 1992, while there has been some fish plant employment, there remains very little industry. Subsequently, the Farm started out with 600 Fraser and Balsam Fir seedlings (9"-12" 2006) from Quebec, where the industry is quite lucrative. Nonetheless, the Provincial Government's Wooddale Tree Nursery, in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, began growing Fraser, Balsam and Bracken fir to provide future stock. Yearly, a large quantity of Christmas trees are imported to Newfoundland from nearby Nova Scotia. Christmas tree farming, therefore, marks a new industry for the province of Newfoundland & Labrador, as well as hope for the settlement.Timeline
- 1600’s – European migratory fishermen visit the area.
- 1760’s - Lawrence Coughlan is stationed at Harbour GraceHarbour Grace, Newfoundland and LabradorHarbour Grace is a town in Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. With roots dating back to the sixteenth century, it is one of the oldest towns in North America. It is located about 45 km northwest of the provincial capital, St. John's...
and is the first known missionary to visit Lower Island Cove. - 1780 – Wesleyans construct a church.
- 1796 – The community is first referred to as Lower Island Cove instead of just Island Cove to differentiate it from Upper Island CoveUpper Island Cove, Newfoundland and LabradorUpper Island Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador is a town in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located in Division No. 1, Newfoundland and Labrador census division. It is north east of Bay Roberts. The Way office was established in 1864. The population was 942 in 1940; 1,346 in 1951, 1,563 in 1956,...
near Bay Roberts. - 1836 – The population is 551.
- 1944 – Salvation ArmySalvation ArmyThe Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
establishes itself in the community. - 1990 – The community's boundaries are extended about 3 km along the highway from Redlands to Flambro Head.
Towns and Communities nearby
- Bay de VerdeBay de Verde, Newfoundland and LabradorBay de Verde is an incorporated town in Conception Bay on the northern tip of the Bay de Verde Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The first recorded inhabitants at Bay de Verde arrived in 1662. Bay de Verde became an incorporated town in 1950.-Geography:Bay de Verde is the northern...
- Old PerlicanOld Perlican, Newfoundland and LabradorOld Perlican is a fishing village on the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. Incorporated in 1971, it is one of the oldest fishing communities in Newfoundland, serving as the major fishing station in Trinity Bay for migratory fisherman from England in the 17th...
- Caplin CoveCaplin Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundland and LabradorCaplin Cove is a small community on the north shore of Conception Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is surrounded on the north by Low Point near the end of the Bay de Verde Peninsula, and on the south by Lower Island Cove...
- Job's CoveJob's Cove, Newfoundland and LabradorJob's Cove a small fishing village on the north side of Conception Bay on the Bay de Verde Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.-Geography:...
- Burnt PointBurnt Point, Newfoundland and LabradorBurnt Point a small Canadian fishing village in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.It is located on the north side of Conception Bay on the Bay de Verde Peninsula of the island of Newfoundland.-Geography:...
- Gull IslandGull Island, Newfoundland and LabradorGull Island is a small fishing community on the north side of Newfoundland Island, in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.It is built by Conception Bay on the Bay de Verde Peninsula, bound on the north by Burnt Point and on the south by Northern Bay. Gull Island was named for the...
- Northern BayNorthern Bay, Newfoundland and LabradorNorthern Bay is a small community on the northern tip of Conception Bay on the Bay de Verde Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.-Location:...
External links
- Baccalieu Trail
- Historical Baccalieu Trail
- Newfoundland Heritage Site
- Dictionary of Newfoundland English
- Johnston Christmas Tree Farms a new economy for Lower Island Cove.