Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Placentia is a town on the Avalon Peninsula
, Newfoundland and Labrador
, consisting of the amalgamated communities of Jerseyside, Townside, Freshwater, Dunville and Argentia
. Common family names include Caul, Nolan, Power, O'Keefe, Collins, O'Reilly, Murphy, Williams, Gambin, Hatfield, Wyse, Barry, Mooney, and Careen.
In the 2006 census, Placentia's population was reported as 3,898, down significantly from the 2001 figure of 4,426. This population decline has been ongoing since the early 1990s; in the 1996 census, Placentia was, proportionately, the 2nd fastest shrinking town in Canada, dropping from 5,515 to 5,013 between 1991 and 1996.
fishermen were fishing in the area as early as the beginning of the 16th century, using Placentia as a seasonal centre of operations. Plazenta meaning pleasantness in the Basque language
, derived from the Latin placentia is probably a name given by the Basques. Placentia's large, rocky beach meant that fish could be salted and dried on the beachrocks rather than on a constructed wooden fishing stage
, saving both time and effort.
In 1655, the French, who controlled more than half of the island of Newfoundland, and most of Atlantic Canada, made Placentia (or 'Plaisance,' as they called it) their capital. The French colony at Placentia was a successful one, and launched from here the devastating raids on the English during the Avalon Peninsula Campaign
(1696). Fort Royal
was built here.
In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht
forced the French to abandon their Placentia Bay
settlements, and Placentia became a British possession. For a time in the 18th century, it still rivaled St. John's
in size and importance, as evidenced by the future King William IV's summering at Placentia in 1786 and using it as his base of operations when acting as surrogate judge in Newfoundland. The town was described by the then-Prince as "a more decent settlement than any we have yet seen in Newfoundland" and was reported as having a population between 1500 and 2000 people. Considering that the population of Newfoundland was reported as 8,000 11 years earlier, in 1775, Placentia's relative size and importance becomes apparent.
By the 19th century, it was more fully eclipsed by St. John's and Harbour Grace
, Placentia continued to be an important town, regional centre to the southern Avalon peninsula and the eastern Burin peninsula
.
From the mid-18th century through to the 1830s, numerous Irish immigrants from Waterford
, Wexford
, Kilkenny
and Cork
settled in Placentia, so that the population of the modern town is largely of a mixture of West Country
English and South-eastern Irish background. In the 18th century there were also a large number of settlers from the Channel Islands
, from which Jerseyside, a prominent section of the town, derives its name.
In 1940, via an agreement between the British and American governments (Newfoundland not joining Canada until 1949), a large American military base was constructed at nearby Argentia
(which is now within the town of Placentia's boundaries). For a time, this was the largest American military base outside of the United States, and it played an integral role in World War II
, earning the nickname "the Gibraltar of the Atlantic."
This huge development revolutionized the Placentia area both economically and culturally. Essentially, the American base introduced a widespread cash-based economy. Suddenly, people who had fished all of their lives (engaging in a type of barter system called the truck system) had access to good-paying jobs on the American base. American technology enriched the living standards of Placentia residents, while the local culture was influenced strongly by the American presence. Similarly, it prompted a huge population boom, growing from 1,900 people in 1935 to well over 8,000 in the 1960s (note: these figures account for the current boundaries of Placentia, which at the time consisted of 4 separate towns: Placentia, Dunville, Jerseyside, and Freshwater).
The post office was established in 1851. The first Postmistress in 1863 was Mary Morris.
introduced by the Canadian government a few years' earlier, left the town of Placentia without an economic base for some time, although recent developments by Vale Inco are beginning to stabilize the town's rocky economic situation.
, a K-9 school in Dunville for students from Dunville, Freshwater, Fox Harbour, and Ship Harbour. There currently exists one high school, Laval High School, which educates students from all parts of the amalgamated communities for grades 9 to 12. Laval recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with a full reunion of all graduates, and is preparing for construction of a new high school, scheduled to open in September 2010. All schools are home to many extracurriculars, including student council, sports, drama and music, and volunteer organizations.
Placentia is also home to a post-secondary institution; a campus of the College of the North Atlantic
, offering programs in adult basic
education, college transition, heavy duty equipment technique, heavy equipment operation, welding, machinist, and industrial machinery.
), and one of the two Marine Atlantic
ferry links from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia
(via Argentia). It is 130 kilometres from the capital city, St. John's, and is within easy distance of the scenic Cape Shore
(including the Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve
), the Irish Loop and St. Mary's Bay
, Conception Bay
, and the inner reaches of Placentia Bay
.
In 2009, Placentia celebrated the opening of its Cultural Arts Center with a month of artistic events, including drama productions, art exhibitions (three shows recognizing art from elementary students, high school students, and adults), and musical performances.
The town has an established summer stock theatre troupe, Placentia Area Theatre D'Heritage (PATH), which performs historical plays of significance in the Placentia area. The primary production is Faces of Fort Royale, performed at Castle Hill National Historic Site, depicting the lives of the early inhabitants of Placentia under the leadership of Governor De Broullion. They also perform a dinner theatre cabaret set in the 1950s during the Argentia Base heyday, and a ghost walk. The troupe generally consists of post-secondary students under the direction of the province's finest theatre producers.
Several natives of the Placentia area have gone on to distinguish themselves in the world at large. These include commentator and journalist Rex Murphy
(born in Carbonear but raised in the area), poet and playwright Agnes Walsh
, lyric poet and influential Confederate Greg Power
, Newfoundland's first professional bodybuilder, Frank McGrath,professional wrestler and Alastair Ralphs
(Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
).
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...
, 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...
, consisting of the amalgamated communities of Jerseyside, Townside, Freshwater, Dunville and Argentia
Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador
Argentia is a community on the island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is situated on a flat headland located along the southwest coast of the Avalon Peninsula on Placentia Bay...
. Common family names include Caul, Nolan, Power, O'Keefe, Collins, O'Reilly, Murphy, Williams, Gambin, Hatfield, Wyse, Barry, Mooney, and Careen.
In the 2006 census, Placentia's population was reported as 3,898, down significantly from the 2001 figure of 4,426. This population decline has been ongoing since the early 1990s; in the 1996 census, Placentia was, proportionately, the 2nd fastest shrinking town in Canada, dropping from 5,515 to 5,013 between 1991 and 1996.
History
It is unclear when Placentia was first settled by Europeans, but BasqueBasque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
fishermen were fishing in the area as early as the beginning of the 16th century, using Placentia as a seasonal centre of operations. Plazenta meaning pleasantness in the Basque language
Basque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
, derived from the Latin placentia is probably a name given by the Basques. Placentia's large, rocky beach meant that fish could be salted and dried on the beachrocks rather than on a constructed wooden fishing stage
Fishing stage
A fishing stage is a wooden vernacular building, typical of the rough traditional buildings associated with the cod fishery in Newfoundland, Canada. Stages are located at the water's edge or "landwash", and consist of an elevated platform on the shore with working tables and sheds at which fish...
, saving both time and effort.
In 1655, the French, who controlled more than half of the island of Newfoundland, and most of Atlantic Canada, made Placentia (or 'Plaisance,' as they called it) their capital. The French colony at Placentia was a successful one, and launched from here the devastating raids on the English during the Avalon Peninsula Campaign
Avalon Peninsula Campaign
The Avalon Peninsula Campaign occurred during King Williams War when forces of New France, led by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, destroyed 23 English settlements along the coast of the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland in the span of three months...
(1696). Fort Royal
Fort Royal (Plaisance)
Fort Royal is a French fort built in 1687 on the island of Newfoundland during the time of New France.In 1662, the French established a commercial counter on a well protected hill overlooking Placentia Bay which separates the Avalon form the rest of Newfoundland island and situated near Grand Banks...
was built here.
In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed by the belligerents in the War of Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713...
forced the French to abandon their Placentia Bay
Placentia Bay
Placentia Bay is a body of water on the southeast coast of Newfoundland, Canada. It is formed by Burin Peninsula on the west and Avalon Peninsula on the east. Fishing grounds in the bay were used by native people long before the first European fishermen arrived in the 16th century. For a time, the...
settlements, and Placentia became a British possession. For a time in the 18th century, it still rivaled 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...
in size and importance, as evidenced by the future King William IV's summering at Placentia in 1786 and using it as his base of operations when acting as surrogate judge in Newfoundland. The town was described by the then-Prince as "a more decent settlement than any we have yet seen in Newfoundland" and was reported as having a population between 1500 and 2000 people. Considering that the population of Newfoundland was reported as 8,000 11 years earlier, in 1775, Placentia's relative size and importance becomes apparent.
Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador
Harbour 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...
, Placentia continued to be an important town, regional centre to the southern Avalon peninsula and the eastern Burin peninsula
Burin Peninsula
The Burin Peninsula is a Canadian peninsula located on the south coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador....
.
From the mid-18th century through to the 1830s, numerous Irish immigrants from Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
, Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
and Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
settled in Placentia, so that the population of the modern town is largely of a mixture of West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
English and South-eastern Irish background. In the 18th century there were also a large number of settlers from the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, from which Jerseyside, a prominent section of the town, derives its name.
Naval Station Argentia
Naval Station Argentia is a former base of the United States Navy that operated from 1941-1994. It was established in the community of Argentia in what was then the Dominion of Newfoundland, which later became the tenth Canadian province .-Construction:Established under the British-U.S...
(which is now within the town of Placentia's boundaries). For a time, this was the largest American military base outside of the United States, and it played an integral role in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, earning the nickname "the Gibraltar of the Atlantic."
This huge development revolutionized the Placentia area both economically and culturally. Essentially, the American base introduced a widespread cash-based economy. Suddenly, people who had fished all of their lives (engaging in a type of barter system called the truck system) had access to good-paying jobs on the American base. American technology enriched the living standards of Placentia residents, while the local culture was influenced strongly by the American presence. Similarly, it prompted a huge population boom, growing from 1,900 people in 1935 to well over 8,000 in the 1960s (note: these figures account for the current boundaries of Placentia, which at the time consisted of 4 separate towns: Placentia, Dunville, Jerseyside, and Freshwater).
The post office was established in 1851. The first Postmistress in 1863 was Mary Morris.
Economy
The American base at Argentia was scaled back in the 1970s, and closed totally in 1994. This, along with the cod moratoriumMoratorium (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....
introduced by the Canadian government a few years' earlier, left the town of Placentia without an economic base for some time, although recent developments by Vale Inco are beginning to stabilize the town's rocky economic situation.
Education
Placentia is home to two primary education schools: St. Edward's Elementary, a K-8 school located in Placentia proper, which schools children from the sections of Placentia, Jerseyside, Ferndale, Southeast, Bonds Path, Point Verde, and Barasway. There is also St. Anne's AcademySt. Anne's Academy (Dunville, NL)
St. Anne's Academy opened in 1979 as a 1st to 11th Grade school, that bussed students from Freshwater , Ship Harbour, Fox Harbour, and Dunville, NL, Placentia, Point Verde, Southeast, and is part of the Eastern Avalon School District. It is now a kindergarten to Sixth Grade School...
, a K-9 school in Dunville for students from Dunville, Freshwater, Fox Harbour, and Ship Harbour. There currently exists one high school, Laval High School, which educates students from all parts of the amalgamated communities for grades 9 to 12. Laval recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with a full reunion of all graduates, and is preparing for construction of a new high school, scheduled to open in September 2010. All schools are home to many extracurriculars, including student council, sports, drama and music, and volunteer organizations.
Placentia is also home to a post-secondary institution; a campus of the College of the North Atlantic
College of the North Atlantic
College of the North Atlantic is the public college of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The enabling legislation is theCollege Act....
, offering programs in adult basic
education, college transition, heavy duty equipment technique, heavy equipment operation, welding, machinist, and industrial machinery.
Tourism and culture
Placentia has many features that make is a popular tourist attraction in Newfoundland and Labrador. It has a unique lift-bridge that spans the tumultuous tides of 'the gut' (the narrow opening to the harbour). There are many archaeological sites (some partially re-constructed), several excellent examples of late-19th century Newfoundland architecture, two museums (O'Reilly House and Castle HillCastle Hill, Newfoundland and Labrador
Placentia, known as Plaisance then, was designed to protect the French fishing interests in Newfoundland and the approaches to New France.- History :...
), and one of the two Marine Atlantic
Marine Atlantic
Marine Atlantic Inc. is an independent Canadian Crown corporation offering ferry services between the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.Marine Atlantic's corporate headquarters are in St...
ferry links from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
(via Argentia). It is 130 kilometres from the capital city, St. John's, and is within easy distance of the scenic Cape Shore
Cape Shore
- Overview :The Cape Shore is a region on the southwestern portion of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland.Often confused or conflated with the Southern Shore , the Cape Shore is similarly rural and populated by Irish Newfoundlanders, but is geographically distinct...
(including the Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve
Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve
Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve is a wildlife reserve located near Cape St. Mary's on the Cape Shore, on the southwestern Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland.It is home to one of Newfoundland's largest seabird colonies...
), the Irish Loop and St. Mary's Bay
St. Mary's Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
- St. Mary's Bay :St. Mary's Bay is one of many bays in Newfoundland, where bay is taken as a regional subdivision, somewhat along the lines of county divisions...
, 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...
, and the inner reaches of Placentia Bay
Placentia Bay
Placentia Bay is a body of water on the southeast coast of Newfoundland, Canada. It is formed by Burin Peninsula on the west and Avalon Peninsula on the east. Fishing grounds in the bay were used by native people long before the first European fishermen arrived in the 16th century. For a time, the...
.
In 2009, Placentia celebrated the opening of its Cultural Arts Center with a month of artistic events, including drama productions, art exhibitions (three shows recognizing art from elementary students, high school students, and adults), and musical performances.
The town has an established summer stock theatre troupe, Placentia Area Theatre D'Heritage (PATH), which performs historical plays of significance in the Placentia area. The primary production is Faces of Fort Royale, performed at Castle Hill National Historic Site, depicting the lives of the early inhabitants of Placentia under the leadership of Governor De Broullion. They also perform a dinner theatre cabaret set in the 1950s during the Argentia Base heyday, and a ghost walk. The troupe generally consists of post-secondary students under the direction of the province's finest theatre producers.
Several natives of the Placentia area have gone on to distinguish themselves in the world at large. These include commentator and journalist Rex Murphy
Rex Murphy
Rex Murphy is a Canadian commentator and author, primarily on Canadian political and social matters.Murphy was born in Carbonear, Newfoundland, 105 kilometres west of St. John's and is the second of five children of Harry and Marie Murphy...
(born in Carbonear but raised in the area), poet and playwright Agnes Walsh
Agnes Walsh
Agnes Walsh is a Canadian actor, poet, playwright and storyteller from Newfoundland.Walsh has won Newfoundland and Labrador Arts and Letters awards for poetry as well as TickleAce poetry and ballad writing awards. Her poems have been translated into French and Portuguese...
, lyric poet and influential Confederate Greg Power
Greg Power
Gregory J. Power was a politician, office holder, farmer, poet and athlete, who was born in Dunville, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, Canada....
, Newfoundland's first professional bodybuilder, Frank McGrath,professional wrestler and Alastair Ralphs
Alastair Ralphs
Alastair Charles Ralphs , better known as A-1 , is a Canadian professional wrestler and former bodybuilder.-Early life:...
(Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
).
See also
- List of cities and towns in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland RailwayNewfoundland RailwayThe Newfoundland Railway was a railway which operated on the island of Newfoundland from 1898 to 1988. With a total track length of , it was the longest narrow gauge railway system in North America.-Early construction:...
- Dunville, Newfoundland and LabradorDunville, Newfoundland and LabradorDunville was earlier called Northeast or North East Placentia. The name was formed from "Dunphy's Village" a part of Northeast Placentia. It is a community that makes up the north-eastern section of the Town of Placentia...