Sandy Point, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Sandy Point is a formerly a peninsula
but now is an island on the west coast of the of Newfoundland which has been recently transformed into a hidden island
as a result of sea level rise and ocean storm-induced coastal erosion
. Its former connecting isthmus
is known to locals as "The Gap" or "Fannies Crack"
The point was also home to a now-abandoned community of the same name.
Sandy Point extends 2 km into St. George's Bay on the bay's southern shore and is located approximately 7 km west of the head of the bay at Stephenville Crossing
, 12 km south of the town of Stephenville
and 2 km north of the community of St. George's.
culture, and later the Beothuk
and Mi'kmaq nations, the peninsula was seasonally inhabited by European fishing fleets during the summer months throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1783, the peninsula was included as part of the French Shore
under the Treaty of Versailles
, which included much of the west coast of Newfoundland.
Sandy Point was divided practically down the middle between Catholics and Anglicans. The westwardly, where Catholics lived, was known as up along. Easterly, where the Anglicans lived, was down along.
In the ensuing decades, Sandy Point became host to a small population of multi-cultural and multi-lingual residents including Mi'kmaq, English, Jersey
, and French residents. Sandy Point also became known for a genetic defect among its population which was termed Allderdice syndrome, also known to locals in the surrounding area as "Sandy Point Syndrome".
The outport
community of Sandy Point continued until a period after Newfoundland entered Confederation
in 1949 whereupon the provincial government began a program of voluntary and forced resettlement of coastal communities.
In the case of Sandy Point, the provincial government gave financial enticements for residents to leave the community and move to nearby St. George's which was located on the Newfoundland Railway
main line and would thus be cheaper to provide services to a concentrated population.
Sandy Point, which had been an important sea port for the western coast of Newfoundland, declined to the point where its last two residents were forced to abandon the community during the 1970s.
Today, the recently-created island is completely uninhabited. Various levels of government are undertaking a process to create the territory as an historical site and conservation area for the numerous species of migratory birds which inhabit the island during the summer months; these include Piping Plover
s, with the Sandy Point colony comprising between 15-30% of Newfoundland's overall plover population. The island hosts a diverse habitat ranging from tidal sandflats, beaches and sand dunes, saltmarshes, meadows, freshwater ponds, and some forested area, making for a unique landscape in the province. The island also has one of the most northerly and largest occurrences of Spartina salt marshes in eastern North America.
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
but now is an island on the west coast of the of Newfoundland which has been recently transformed into a hidden island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
as a result of sea level rise and ocean storm-induced coastal erosion
Coastal erosion
Coastal erosion is the wearing away of land and the removal of beach or dune sediments by wave action, tidal currents, wave currents, or drainage...
. Its former connecting isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
is known to locals as "The Gap" or "Fannies Crack"
The point was also home to a now-abandoned community of the same name.
Sandy Point extends 2 km into St. George's Bay on the bay's southern shore and is located approximately 7 km west of the head of the bay at Stephenville Crossing
Stephenville Crossing, Newfoundland and Labrador
Stephenville Crossing is a Canadian town in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador on the island of Newfoundland. The town is located at the easternmost limit of Bay St...
, 12 km south of the town of Stephenville
Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
Stephenville is a Canadian town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland....
and 2 km north of the community of St. George's.
History
Thought to be long inhabited by aboriginals, namely a DorsetDorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
culture, and later the Beothuk
Beothuk
The Beothuk were one of the aboriginal peoples in Canada. They lived on the island of Newfoundland at the time of European contact in the 15th and 16th centuries...
and Mi'kmaq nations, the peninsula was seasonally inhabited by European fishing fleets during the summer months throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1783, the peninsula was included as part of the French Shore
French Shore
The French Treaty Shore resulted from the 1713 ratification of the Treaty of Utrecht. The provisions of the treaty allowed the French to fish in season along the north coast of Newfoundland between Cape Bonavista and Point Riche. This area had been frequented by fishermen from Brittany since the...
under the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
, which included much of the west coast of Newfoundland.
Sandy Point was divided practically down the middle between Catholics and Anglicans. The westwardly, where Catholics lived, was known as up along. Easterly, where the Anglicans lived, was down along.
In the ensuing decades, Sandy Point became host to a small population of multi-cultural and multi-lingual residents including Mi'kmaq, English, Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
, and French residents. Sandy Point also became known for a genetic defect among its population which was termed Allderdice syndrome, also known to locals in the surrounding area as "Sandy Point Syndrome".
The outport
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...
community of Sandy Point continued until a period after Newfoundland entered Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
in 1949 whereupon the provincial government began a program of voluntary and forced resettlement of coastal communities.
In the case of Sandy Point, the provincial government gave financial enticements for residents to leave the community and move to nearby St. George's which was located on the Newfoundland Railway
Newfoundland Railway
The 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:...
main line and would thus be cheaper to provide services to a concentrated population.
Sandy Point, which had been an important sea port for the western coast of Newfoundland, declined to the point where its last two residents were forced to abandon the community during the 1970s.
Today, the recently-created island is completely uninhabited. Various levels of government are undertaking a process to create the territory as an historical site and conservation area for the numerous species of migratory birds which inhabit the island during the summer months; these include Piping Plover
Piping Plover
The Piping Plover is a small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. The adult has yellow-orange legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black ring around the neck...
s, with the Sandy Point colony comprising between 15-30% of Newfoundland's overall plover population. The island hosts a diverse habitat ranging from tidal sandflats, beaches and sand dunes, saltmarshes, meadows, freshwater ponds, and some forested area, making for a unique landscape in the province. The island also has one of the most northerly and largest occurrences of Spartina salt marshes in eastern North America.