Northern Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Northern Bay is a small community on the northern tip of Conception Bay
on the Bay de Verde Peninsula
of Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
.
and Ochre Pit Cove on Route 70. It stretches from what is sometimes referred to as the "south side" of Northern Bay where the beach is located to what was once called the "Lower Rooms" which includes the former community of Long Beach.
and Wales
arrived at what is now Northern Bay as early as the mid-18th century. By 1768, immigrants from England and Ireland
had settled the "North Shore" of Conception Bay, including Northern Bay. http://home.thezone.net/~rcecgf/northernbay.htm
On September 17, 1775, a ship carrying 400 passengers crashed somewhere near present-day Northern Bay. http://www.infonet.st-johns.nf.ca/providers/green/northernbay.html The crash was undoubtedly the result of the Newfoundland Hurricane of 1775
which remains one of the worst - if not the worst - natural disasters to have hit Newfoundland and Labrador in history.
In 1836, a Roman Catholic church (Corpus Christi Parish) was established in Northern Bay. A United Church
also exists in the community. The town has three cemeteries.
One of the communities first settlers was William Hogan, an Irish merchant.
Since the 19th century, Northern Bay's population has remained relatively constant with some out-migration but a steady birthrate. The economy was mostly based on fishing and subsistence agriculture throughout the 19th and early 20th century.
One folk tale that continues in the culture of Northern Bay and the surrounding communities is that of "Hannah's Tolt". The following is from the old Newfoundland magazine Decks Wash (V.9, No.6, Dec.1980):
which was a provincial park until privatization in 1997. Unemployment
is high however due to the cod moratorium
of 1992.
through Kingston
. Corpus Christi Elementary and High School in Northern Bay catered predominantly to Roman Catholic Students in the area and Jackson Walsh Elementary and High School in nearby Western Bay was an interfaith school. The referendum
of 1997 which put an end to denominational education in Newfoundland and Labrador's public schools meant that the school in Northern Bay (which was renamed North Shore Collegiate) became the high school for all students in the area, and Jackson Walsh (renamed Cabot Academy) would become the elementary school serving the area.
In 2002, North Shore Collegiate closed as a result of a declining student population. The closing of the high school meant that all students from grades 7 through 12 from Northern Bay and the surrounding communities would have to attend school in either Old Perlican to the north or Carbonear
further south.
The closing of the school has left an indelible impression on local life, particularly as it was also a centre for community gatherings and a symbol of growth and autonomy for not only Northern Bay but the entire North Shore region.
. This park and campgrounds is also the site of the annual "Beach Fest", a day-long concert featuring local and provincial musical acts. The close proximity to major centres on the Avalon Peninsula
such as St. John's
, Carbonear, and Bay Roberts
has made Northern Bay a particularly well-known summer get-away spot. As a result of this, there is a renewed interest in cabin ownership in the area and real estate values have modestly increased in recent years.
Northern Bay is in the provincial riding of Trinity-Bay de Verde
, represented by Progressive Conservative
MHA
Charlene Johnson
and the federal electoral district of Avalon
represented by Liberal
MP Scott Andrews
.
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...
on the Bay de Verde Peninsula
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...
of 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...
.
Location
Northern Bay has roughly 290 permanent residents http://www.aroundthebay.ca/profile/NorthernBay/nbay.asp and is located between the neighbouring communities of Gull IslandGull Island, Newfoundland and Labrador
Gull 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...
and Ochre Pit Cove on Route 70. It stretches from what is sometimes referred to as the "south side" of Northern Bay where the beach is located to what was once called the "Lower Rooms" which includes the former community of Long Beach.
History
Fishing firms from EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
arrived at what is now Northern Bay as early as the mid-18th century. By 1768, immigrants from England and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
had settled the "North Shore" of Conception Bay, including Northern Bay. http://home.thezone.net/~rcecgf/northernbay.htm
On September 17, 1775, a ship carrying 400 passengers crashed somewhere near present-day Northern Bay. http://www.infonet.st-johns.nf.ca/providers/green/northernbay.html The crash was undoubtedly the result of the Newfoundland Hurricane of 1775
Newfoundland Hurricane of 1775
The Newfoundland Hurricane of 1775, also known as the Independence Hurricane, was a hurricane that hit the Colony of Newfoundland in September of 1775. It is believed to have killed at least 4,000 people, making it one of the deadliest Atlantic hurricanes of all time.-North Carolina and Virginia:On...
which remains one of the worst - if not the worst - natural disasters to have hit Newfoundland and Labrador in history.
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
also exists in the community. The town has three cemeteries.
One of the communities first settlers was William Hogan, an Irish merchant.
Since the 19th century, Northern Bay's population has remained relatively constant with some out-migration but a steady birthrate. The economy was mostly based on fishing and subsistence agriculture throughout the 19th and early 20th century.
Folklore
Myths, legends and folklore were once very important in rural Newfoundland, but today are little more than entertainment.One folk tale that continues in the culture of Northern Bay and the surrounding communities is that of "Hannah's Tolt". The following is from the old Newfoundland magazine Decks Wash (V.9, No.6, Dec.1980):
- "The local word for a rocky hill is 'tolt' and there is an interesting story surrounding the origin of Hannah's Tolt, located inland from Northern Bay near Welsh's Pond. It occurred probably in the 1920s [or] 1930s. Late in the fall of the year when a crowd of women were in the woods berry-picking, Hannah Milley and her daughter must have been separated from the main group of women when a snowstorm suddenly broke out. They never made it back to the community. Search parties failed to turn up the bodies, but about 17 years later, a man named Lewis Crummey was in the woods partridge hunting and he found the two bodies and their rusted berry buckets down at the base of a tolt, which was then nicknamed Hannah's Tolt."
Demographics
The population of the community in 1836 was 282. http://home.thezone.net/~rcecgf/northernbay.htm Present day figures do not deviate from that, although it is actually more difficult to have a reliable figure for the population of Northern Bay or any other town in rural Newfoundland today due to much outmigration and seasonal work outside the province resulting in unpredictable levels of return.Economy
The local economy is based on fishing, fish and crab processing plants in nearby communities, some local small businesses, and Northern Bay SandsNorthern Bay Sands
Northern Bay Sands is a popular beach and campgrounds in Northern Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. In 1775, a ship supposedly crashed off the coast of the beach due to the Great Hurricane of 1775. Throughout the 19th and early 20th century the beach was used as a site for gutting, cleaning...
which was a provincial park until privatization in 1997. Unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
is high however due to the cod moratorium
Moratorium (law)
A moratorium is a delay or suspension of an activity or a law. In a legal context, it may refer to the temporary suspension of a law to allow a legal challenge to be carried out....
of 1992.
Education
Until recently, Northern Bay had one school which served all the neighbouring communities from Caplin CoveCaplin Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Caplin 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...
through Kingston
Kingston, Newfoundland and Labrador
Upper Small Point is in the Bay de Verde District. The former name was Kingston. It was established circa 1864. It had a population of 129 in 1940 and 158 in 1956.-See also:*List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador...
. Corpus Christi Elementary and High School in Northern Bay catered predominantly to Roman Catholic Students in the area and Jackson Walsh Elementary and High School in nearby Western Bay was an interfaith school. The referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
of 1997 which put an end to denominational education in Newfoundland and Labrador's public schools meant that the school in Northern Bay (which was renamed North Shore Collegiate) became the high school for all students in the area, and Jackson Walsh (renamed Cabot Academy) would become the elementary school serving the area.
In 2002, North Shore Collegiate closed as a result of a declining student population. The closing of the high school meant that all students from grades 7 through 12 from Northern Bay and the surrounding communities would have to attend school in either Old Perlican to the north or Carbonear
Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador
Carbonear is a town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2006, there are 4,723 people living in Carbonear, down from 4,759 in 2001.-History:...
further south.
The closing of the school has left an indelible impression on local life, particularly as it was also a centre for community gatherings and a symbol of growth and autonomy for not only Northern Bay but the entire North Shore region.
Tourism
The community is a popular site for tourists in the summer season due to Northern Bay SandsNorthern Bay Sands
Northern Bay Sands is a popular beach and campgrounds in Northern Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. In 1775, a ship supposedly crashed off the coast of the beach due to the Great Hurricane of 1775. Throughout the 19th and early 20th century the beach was used as a site for gutting, cleaning...
. This park and campgrounds is also the site of the annual "Beach Fest", a day-long concert featuring local and provincial musical acts. The close proximity to major centres on the Avalon Peninsula
Avalon Peninsula
The Avalon Peninsula is a large peninsula that makes up the southeast portion of the island of Newfoundland.The peninsula is home to 257,223 people, which is approximately 51% of Newfoundland's population in 2009, and is the location of the provincial capital, St. John's. It is connected to the...
such as St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, Carbonear, and Bay Roberts
Bay Roberts, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bay Roberts is located on the north shore of Conception Bay on the Bay de Verde Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
has made Northern Bay a particularly well-known summer get-away spot. As a result of this, there is a renewed interest in cabin ownership in the area and real estate values have modestly increased in recent years.
Politics
The community is not incorporated as a municipality but its citizens are active in local organizations such as school boards, church groups or the North Shore Regional Fire Department.Northern Bay is in the provincial riding of Trinity-Bay de Verde
Trinity-Bay de Verde
Trinity—Bay de Verde is a provincial electoral district of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The district covers the eastern edge of Trinity Bay and the tip of Conception Bay...
, represented by Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
For pre-1949 Conservative parties see Conservative parties in Newfoundland The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a centre-right provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Originally founded in 1949 the party has formed the Government of...
MHA
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
Charlene Johnson
Charlene Johnson
Charlene Johnson, MHA is a Canadian politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. She is the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services in the cabinet of Kathy Dunderdale....
and the federal electoral district of Avalon
Avalon (electoral district)
Avalon is a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.-Demographics:Ethnic groups: Languages:² Unemployment: 25.9%...
represented by Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
MP Scott Andrews
Scott Andrews (politician)
Scott Andrews is a Canadian politician. He was elected to represent the Newfoundland and Labrador electoral district of Avalon in the 2008 Canadian federal election. He is a member of the Liberal Party...
.
Towns and communities nearby
- 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...
- Ochre Pit CoveOchre Pit Cove, Newfoundland and LabradorOchre Pit Cove is located in Conception Bay in the Bay de Verde area.The community derives its name from the red colour of its soil which is caused by its high iron content.-History:The area was originally inhabited by the Beothuk tribe....
- Western BayWestern Bay, Newfoundland and LabradorWestern Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador was a farming and fishing settlement in Bay de Verd, about 13 miles north of Carbonear, on the north side of Conception Bay. It was a Postal town established in 1864. It had a population of 965 in 1901 and 508 in 1956.E.J...
See also
- Avalon PeninsulaAvalon PeninsulaThe Avalon Peninsula is a large peninsula that makes up the southeast portion of the island of Newfoundland.The peninsula is home to 257,223 people, which is approximately 51% of Newfoundland's population in 2009, and is the location of the provincial capital, St. John's. It is connected to the...
- List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northern Bay SandsNorthern Bay SandsNorthern Bay Sands is a popular beach and campgrounds in Northern Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. In 1775, a ship supposedly crashed off the coast of the beach due to the Great Hurricane of 1775. Throughout the 19th and early 20th century the beach was used as a site for gutting, cleaning...
External links
- Northern Bay Sands - Official site
- Corpus Christi Parish in Northern Bay - Diocese of Grand Falls
- Baccalieu Trail Community Profiles: Northern Bay (aroundthebay.ca)
- A History of Northern Bay, written by Mary Elizabeth McCarthy (1964)
- Community Accounts (search for "Northern Bay")
- Historical Baccalieu Trail: Northern Bay