Safe Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador

Safe Harbour is an abandoned outport on the northeast coast of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

History

Safe Harbour was situated on the northern shore of Bonavista Bay, 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 1955.

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."Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador"]

ettlement

Those who settled in Safe Harbour, around 1860, were mainly from Greenspond and Pool's Island. 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."Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador"]

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. [ Naboth Winsor, "Resounding God's Praises on Islands, in Coves", 1990]

Census Information

Interesting Facts

* Lester Leeland Burry, who was a Labrador Parson for 26 years, was born and raised in Safe Harbour. [ Hector Swain, "The Labrador Parson: Reverend Lester Leeland Burry", 1979]

* Three men from Safe Harbour died in the 1898 "Greenland Disaster" under Captain George Barbour: Edwin Davis, John Pinsent, and John Thomas.

References

ee also

* List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador

External links

* [http://friendsofsafeharbour.org 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.therooms.ca Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador]
* [http://www.ngb.chebucto.org Search directories, census, births, marriages, government records, and much more]
* http://www.rootsweb.com/~cannf/bbnor.htm