Safe Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Safe Harbour is an abandoned outport
on the northeast coast of Newfoundland in the Canadian
province of Newfoundland and Labrador
. It is now a part of the town of New-Wes-Valley
.
, between Greenspond and the Valleyfield
, Badger’s Quay
, Pool's Island
area. It lies about two miles south of Valleyfield and one mile west of Pools Island. Originally Safe Harbour was known as Puddingbag Cove and still is identified by that name on many marine charts and topographical maps.
The first inhabitants arrived in 1860 from the neighbouring settlements of Pools Island, Greenspond, Badgers Quay and Wesleyville
. As the name suggests, Safe Harbour was a desirable place to live and pursue the fishery. The land at Safe Harbour was also well suited for growing vegetables and hay.
In 1904, a whaling station was built in Safe Harbour to take advantage of the then very profitable whale fishery. This provided much needed employment to many residents for a few short years. However, this endeavour was short lived because the relentless hunting soon decimated the whale population, and in 1907, the whale factory was dismantled.
During the late 1930s and early 1940s, many Safe Harbour families moved to Corner Brook
where the men obtained permanent full time jobs at the paper mill. This was the beginning of the outward migration from Safe Harbour. During the late 1940s, more families went away to St. John’s and the mainland to find work. In the 1950s, those remaining families began to move to the nearby communities of Badger’s Quay and Valleyfield, floating their houses across the water or dragging them on the winter ice. The last family moved out in 1957.
The population began to decline after the collapse of the Labrador fishery in the 1940s. Safe Harbour was one of the first communities to be abandoned under the Government's Resettlement Program.
. It is believed that the first settlers were the Sturge family; other families that came to Safe Harbour include: Attwood, Blackwood, Burry, Davis, Dyke, Janes, Gillingham, King, Knee, Stratton, and Wakeley. Safe Harbour first appears in the Census of 1874 with a population of 98.
Newfoundland outport
An outport is the term given for a small isolated coastal community in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Originally the term was just used for coastal communities on the island of Newfoundland but the term has also been adopted for those on the mainland area of Labrador as...
on the northeast coast of Newfoundland in the Canadian
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...
province 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...
. It is now a part of the town of New-Wes-Valley
New-Wes-Valley, Newfoundland and Labrador
New-Wes-Valley is a municipality in Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada.Incorporated in 1992, it is located at the Northern end of Bonavista Bay just south of Cape Freels.Statistics* 2006 census - 2,485* 2001 census - 2,832* 1996 census - 3,061...
.
History
Safe Harbour was situated on the northern shore of Bonavista BayBonavista Bay
Bonavista Bay is a large bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It opens directly onto the Atlantic Ocean....
, between Greenspond and the Valleyfield
Valleyfield, Newfoundland and Labrador
Valleyfield, Newfoundland is a village and was served by the C.N.R. It joined the Rural District of Badger's Quay-Valleyfield-Pool's Island in April 1980 until 1992 when the District merged with other nearby towns to form New-Wes-Valley...
, Badger’s Quay
Badger's Quay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Badger's Quay is a Canadian town in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.Located on Bonavista Bay, it had a population of 611 in 1956. Its name was referred to as Badger's Bay in early census data. The name "badger" probably named after the community of Badger in Shropshire, England...
, Pool's Island
Pool's Island, Newfoundland and Labrador
Pool's Island is an incorporated community of Badger's Quay-Valleyfield-Pool's Island in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is now part of the town of New-Wes-Valley.-History:Pool's Island was named Fool's Island up until the 1850s...
area. It lies about two miles south of Valleyfield and one mile west of Pools Island. Originally Safe Harbour was known as Puddingbag Cove and still is identified by that name on many marine charts and topographical maps.
The first inhabitants arrived in 1860 from the neighbouring settlements of Pools Island, Greenspond, Badgers Quay and Wesleyville
Wesleyville, Newfoundland and Labrador
Wesleyville is a small coastal community in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located on the Straight Shore of the northeast coast of Newfoundland, near the communities of Greenspond and Newtown...
. As the name suggests, Safe Harbour was a desirable place to live and pursue the fishery. The land at Safe Harbour was also well suited for growing vegetables and hay.
In 1904, a whaling station was built in Safe Harbour to take advantage of the then very profitable whale fishery. This provided much needed employment to many residents for a few short years. However, this endeavour was short lived because the relentless hunting soon decimated the whale population, and in 1907, the whale factory was dismantled.
During the late 1930s and early 1940s, many Safe Harbour families moved to Corner Brook
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
Corner Brook is a city located on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada....
where the men obtained permanent full time jobs at the paper mill. This was the beginning of the outward migration from Safe Harbour. During the late 1940s, more families went away to St. John’s and the mainland to find work. In the 1950s, those remaining families began to move to the nearby communities of Badger’s Quay and Valleyfield, floating their houses across the water or dragging them on the winter ice. The last family moved out in 1957.
The population began to decline after the collapse of the Labrador fishery in the 1940s. Safe Harbour was one of the first communities to be abandoned under the Government's Resettlement Program.
Settlement
Those who settled in Safe Harbour, around 1860, were mainly from Greenspond and Pool's IslandPool's Island, Newfoundland and Labrador
Pool's Island is an incorporated community of Badger's Quay-Valleyfield-Pool's Island in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is now part of the town of New-Wes-Valley.-History:Pool's Island was named Fool's Island up until the 1850s...
. It is believed that the first settlers were the Sturge family; other families that came to Safe Harbour include: Attwood, Blackwood, Burry, Davis, Dyke, Janes, Gillingham, King, Knee, Stratton, and Wakeley. Safe Harbour first appears in the Census of 1874 with a population of 98.
Church history
In 1874, the 98 people who lived in Safe Harbour were of the Church of England. In 1894 there was a Church of England church and school built nearby to accommodate surrounding communities. By 1891, the Methodists were building a church and school as well, and there were about 90 Methodists at Safe Harbour. The population in 1901 was 313, with 207 of those people being Methodist.Census information
| 1874 | |
|---|---|
| population | 98 |
| inhabited houses | 14 |
| families | 17 |
| Church of England | 98 |
| can read/write | 25 |
| people catching/curing fish | 50 |
| seamen/fishermen | 17 |
| total boats | 4 |
| nets/seines | 40 |
| vessels in seal fishery | 2 |
| men on board | 8 |
| tonnage | 40 |
| cod fish cured (qtls) | 920 |
| fishing rooms in use | 5 |
| stores/barns/outhouses | 5 |
| oil produced (gals) | 520 |
| barrels of potatoes produced | 166 |
| swine/goats | 29 |
Interesting facts
- Lester Leeland BurryLester BurryLester L. Burry born Safe Harbour, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland.-A United Church Minister:Lester Burry was baptized Methodist in 1898 and ordained a United Church minister in 1924.-Politics:...
, who was a Labrador Parson for 26 years, was born and raised in Safe Harbour.
- Three men from Safe Harbour died in the 1898 Greenland Disaster under Captain George Barbour: Edwin Davis, John Pinsent, and John Thomas.
External links
- Friends of Safe Harbour Former residents of Safe Harbour and their families share photos and recollections.
- http://www.willow-house.com/gazfree/Bonavista.html
- http://www.rootsweb.com/~cannf/bbnor.htm