Chapel Arm, Newfoundland and Labrador

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Chapel Arm
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settlement_type = Town
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pushpin_map_caption = Location of Chaple Arm in Newfoundland
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subdivision_name = CAN
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population_total = 750
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timezone = Newfoundland Time
utc_offset = -3:30
timezone_DST = Newfoundland Daylight
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latd = 47
latm = 31
lats = 13.52
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longd = 53
longm = 40
longs = 20.75
longEW = W
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area_code = 709
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Chapel Arm is a settlement in Newfoundland, Canada located at the southeast corner of Trinity Bay, approximately 100 km (60 miles) west of St. John's and two km (one and a half miles) from the Trans-Canada Highway. It has a population of about 750 people.

With the exception of a few families, the religious denominations are Anglican and Roman Catholic. It has two churches, two parish halls, an LOL hall and a modern elementary school serving the communities of Chapel Arm, Whitbourne, Bellevue and Long Harbour. It has a doctor's office, municipal building, post office and three grocery stores.

The majority of people in Chapel Arm own their own homes. There is a well constructed breakwater with landing and docking facilities and a community building used for storage. There are banking facilities and a clinic located at Whitbourne about 13 km (eight miles) away.

With the opening of the Erco Phosphorus plant at Long Harbour in 1968, Chapel Arm enjoyed a moderate degree of prosperity. For about twenty years the plant gave much needed work to many until it closed in 1989. Some still work at the plant dismantling and cleaning up the site. Others work at the Come-by-Chance Oil Refinery about 50 km (30 miles) away.

Name origin

No one is sure how Chapel Arm got its name. According to M. F. Howley, it was named for Lieutenant Edward Chappell, who sailed up Trinity Bay in 1818 (Encyclopedia of J.R. Smallwood). Historical records would suggest this claim to be incorrect. Early records of Trinity and the records of Benjamin Lester, a Poole merchant working there, mentions: "on November 10, 1767 sent sloop to Chapple for a load of birch and ships timbers that was left there".

The name of Chapel Arm goes back to 1765-1772, when Captain James Cook and Michael Lane surveyed the coastal waters of Trinity Bay. Chapel Arm was more likely named for the spire-shaped headlands which can be seen as you enter this beautiful arm, since these headlands resemble a church or chapel roof.

The latter is the theory accepted by the majority of the population today.

ee also

* List of cities and towns in Newfoundland and Labrador

References