January
As the year 1887 opened the ban against alcohol came into effect (Twillingate Sun, January 1, 1887). Sergeant Wells hired spies to buy alcohol and report back to him on its sellers (Wells, 164). On January 22nd the cops busted up alcohol operations at the houses of Fitzgerald and McLean. Mrs. McLean was charged with assaulting a police officer (Wells, 165). Wells was reported as the bane of evildoers “bringing justice to the “invincibles in this Little Bay of ours.” It was reported that Mrs. McLean “the old Female Fox rushed at him saying I am d— if you will git the jar Wells, I’ll DIE FIRST and caught the Sergeant by the throat.” She was further quoted saying “Oh, Wells you are a hard man ! — the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests, but you hath not a friend anywhere.” And, finally, upon seeing him in court “Wells your name is a terror to me” (Twillingate Sun, April 11, 1887). Things were changing again. Newman & Company “closed their establishment at Little Bay” (Evening Telegram, January 4, 1887). Mr. Hacker who had been in “charge of the machine shop” left with his wife for Germany. He was likely the last of the Germans in town (Twillingate Sun, January 8, 1887).
February
Court was held in town during the first week of February and the police were busy busting up houses of drink and finding alcohol stores in all sorts of interesting places (Wells, 171-172). Early this month John Lamb’s Skittle-Alley was burned to the ground. The paper reported it as “the second tennis fire of late years.” It seems there were arsonists on both sides of the town’s little cultural war. Published praise for Little Bay’s Temperance success read “It must be encouraging to all entered in the welfare of Temperance, to know that the good cause appears to be gaining ground” (Twillingate Sun, February 12, 1887). A notice was put up which warned of dismissal for anyone missing work due to drunkeness and a ten dollar reward offered for any one giving evidence of liquor sales. There was a crafty bit of thieving done this month when “Mr. Courtney had a puncheon of rum come by the Plover. It was left in the Company’s store on the wharf. [Where] some smart [person] marked carefully its location [and] bored up through the floor, through the puncheon, and thus the whole of the liquor escaped” (Twillingate Sun, February 19, 1887). That’s the great rum robbery of ’87!
The steamer carrying the mail had, once again not arrived as expected. The business owners were anxious and the telegraph lines were busy. An irate letter to the newspaper read “The fact is the present arrangement is simply abominable for this nineteenth century [with] the most important part of the colony being more than TWO MONTHS without a mail to the Metropolis! [. . .] In order to catch the mail that was closed for St. John’s [. . .] special messengers were forwarded [to Twillingate by the] manager of the Little Bay Mining Co. [This mail system] is so utterly imperfect and unsatisfactory to the public” (Twillingate Sun, February 12, 1887). There was much tragedy this month. “A young man named Louther broke his leg in the mines [. . .] five children [. . .] died with measles and two other deaths [took] place” (Twillingate Sun, March 19, 1887). The miners were working but the fishermen were doing poorly. A corresponded wrote; “It is the same doleful tale I have to tell of no fish, and as a consequence of, in some instances, no food. From Little Bay to Cape Ray it is the same cry” (Harbour Grace Standard, February 19, 1887). This statement is repeated in Halifax and in newspapers as far-flung as the Galveston Daily in Texas and the Eau Claire Daily in Wisconsin.
March
The mail service was praised in St. John’s after getting to the capital from Little Bay in 19 days. It read; “This is smart and satisfactory work on the part of the carriers (it has, however, been done a few days quicker), the hard condition of the weather the past month favouring cross-country travelling” (Evening Telegram, March 14, 1887). The mail carriers weren’t the only travellers out in the March weather, a missionary tour composed of the reverends H. Abraham, J. Pincock, and J. Manning visited Little Bay, arriving on the same day that “a grand concert was given on behalf of the Church of England parsonage. It was a great success. The hospital [had] been converted into a fine Hall through the activity of Rev. Father Flynn. There one of the schools is conducted and temperance and other meetings” (Twillingate Sun, March 12, 1887). It was likely in that Hall on the 25th of March that “in connection with the Total Abstinence Society, Dr. Joseph delivered a lecture on “Man.’ Dr. Joseph, who for some time was a Professor, for about two hours delighted his audience by running through the various systems in man. [His insights] from modern science were most gratefully received by those who had ears to hear. Several carefully prepared diagrams aided the lecturer in explaining the lecture. Some amusing remarks were made about an old legend which we possess with regard to the creation of Eve [and the] missing rib. [. . .] It was unfortunate that the Dr. had not [the time to cover] the nerve system and its relation to the will. However the audience was delighted” (Twillingate Sun, April 9, 1887). We can’t know if he lectured about sex, but the miracle of birth happened nonetheless and on March 31st James Archie MacKenzie was born to Hector E. and Jean Louise LeMie. The child would grow up to be the manager for Imperial Life Assurance CO. in Newfoundland, an accomplishment fancy enough to get him listed in 1927’s “Who’s Who.”
April
The elected representatives for the region had, had little luck getting the long promised railroad built and “considerable indignation [was] aroused [in Little Bay] against [them], respecting the attitude [. . .] in the House of Assembly in reference to Railway affairs. [Little Bay] knowing full well the advantages from railway connection [felt] aggrieved when any move [was] made in the way of frustrating the object desired, namely the completion of the Railway to Hall’s Bay. [. . .] The minds of the public [had] not changed since 1882. [. . .] A public spirit similar to that prevailing in Little Bay” was shared in Twillingate where the sentiment was enacted by their Patriotic Club which unanimously passed a resolution in support of a Railway to the Northern districts (Twillingate Sun, April 9, 1887).
May
The Presbyterian Church “was still administered by the Trustees. Those appointed were George Quimby and James White” (Moncrieff, 122-123). A, later to be well-known, Newfoundlander named David J. Jackman took charge of Little Bay’s tinsmith business (Who’s Who 1927). The situation in the bay was troublesome as the there was a lot of ice and the Plover, in getting to Little Bay had “considerable difficulty and [sustained] serious damage. She struck a large pan of ice near Hall’s Bay Head, injuring several feet of her bow, and had to go to Hall’s Bay for temporary repairs [before returning to] St. John’s [where she was] require to go in dock.” The steamer Hercules was expected to take over her duties (Twillingate Sun, May 21, 1887).
June
The Hercules, however, didn’t fair much better and after leaving Little Bay she “struck on Dien’s Rock near Fogo, causing injury to her keel” (Twillingate Sun, June 4, 1887). Boat traffic was constant, one visiting ship of note this month was “The Revenue cruiser Rose [which came for] Mr. Berteau, the Collector of Customs duties [who was] authorized to visit the respective ports where customs officials [were] stationed for the purpose of inspecting and giving instructions as to a more stringent enforcement of the Customs laws” (Twillingate Sun, June 25, 1887). People moved around a lot and Little Bay was a popular place and much discussed. At a Methodist conference in St. John’s grants were made, including one to Little Bay, from the Parsonage Aid Fund (Evening Telegram, June 25, 1887). Plans were made for new missions to be formed [and] the erection of new parsonages was reported from the Little Bay and Nipper’s Harbour circuits” (Twillingate Sun, July 2, 1887). There were numerous religious and secular clubs and activities but the hottest topic was always Cricket and on June 30th an interesting match between the ‘Notre Dame’ and ‘Pioneer’ Clubs was played, resulting in a victory for the latter by 66 runs” (Evening Telegram, September 2, 1887).
July
On July 15th “the old rivals met again for the return match ; but again success smiled on the ‘Pioneers,’ who won by two runs and nine wickets. It [was] rumoured [in St. John’s] that Little Bay [would] pick a team and send it to St. John’s to compete for the championship of the Island” (Evening Telegram, September 2, 1887). One public event this month was big news. On July 6th in St. John’s Reverend Henry Abraham married Miss. Julia Burpee Milligan (Evening Telegram, July 6, 1887). They “were recipients of very handsome presents. Not least amongst the many was a contribution from the Methodist Sunday school of Little Bay, evidencing the love and veneration cherished for their pastor.” The couple returned to Little Bay on the Plover (Twillingate Sun, July 16, 1887).
A miner named “Henry Hunt, lost his eyesight by an explosion. He was an industrious, steady fellow, and a good deal of sympathy [was] felt” (Twillingate Sun, July 9, 1887). Mining was risky work but at least the men were employed. In fact, it was “reported that over 300 miners [were] employed at Little Bay copper mine, the whole population there being over 1800. Instead of exporting the ore as formerly, arrangements [had] been made for smelting, and the necessary furnaces [were] erected. Very satisfactory results [were] anticipated. [There was a] discovery of an extensive deposit of copper ore about four miles from Little Bay mine [which was] 25 feet wide and a quarter of a mile in length” (Engineering and Mining Journal 1887). The story of how it was discovered is amusing. Samuel Rutledge was hunting when “he fired at an otter, which ran into a hole in an embankment about four and a half miles from Little Bay. He put his hand in, to haul out the otter and in doing so, took out some pieces of copper ore.” He otter know better next time. Henry O’M. Reddin showed the ore specimens in St. John’s and it was reported that “if the specimens on our table be anything like a fair sample the new mine will prove one of the richest ever discovered in Newfoundland” (Twillingate Sun, July 30, 1887). The refining smelters that the company installed “reduced roasted ore further into copper ingots. The process provided highly lucrative [results and the] miners’ wages rose accordingly” (Martin). Afterward, the ore shipped out was said to be “he purest in the market. This result [. . .] largely owing to the excellent nature of Little Bay ore ; but not a little praise is due to the untiring activity of the leading smelters.” The newspaper recognized the efforts of Mr. Malephant, the superintendent who oversaw the building of new furnaces, Mr. Cardwell, who remedied a imperfection in “the reverberatory refining furnace—and lastly, Mr. Thompson, whose scientific mind detected old impairing causes in the whole process” (Evening Telegram, July 30, 1887). The new smelters made “ore so as to export the copper in its pure state. [But] railroad construction [was still] needed” (Canada a Memorial, 1889, 138).
August
There was “talk of a new mine being gently worked,” fishing was reported as improving slightly, and the buildings from Bett’s Cove were “being gradually removed to Little Bay” (Twillingate Sun, August 20, 1887). “Missionaries visiting [Bett’s Cove] found two families surrounded by deteriorating tramways, churches and houses, with the intact buildings being moved to Little Bay” (Martin).
This month marked the Queen’s Jubilee and the town of Little Bay would make the occasion memorable. A week before the event Magistrate Blandford started preparations. Committees “consisted of Mr. W. Costigan, Mr. Peloughery, Sergeant Wells, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Jones, Mr. Quenby, Mrs. Hawson, Mrs. Courtney, Mrs. Thompson, Miss Gould, Miss Blandford and Mrs. Abraham. The men’s “committee to provide field sports, the ladies [. . .] to provide the eatables and drinkables. [. . .] The citizens contributed one hundred dollars for this purpose. [. . .] In order to lighten the work [. . .] another committee was formed which made the races and field sports its specific object” (Evening Telegram, August 31, 1887). The Jubilee itself was a grand affair. Roughly 1200 people celebrated with picnic, regatta and field sports. “Early in the morning a cannon [. . .] announced that preparations had commenced. [. . .] The children were tastefully dressed and the flags and Banners gave a most pleasing appearance to the whole affair. Large tables were built and a committee was deputed to cater for the needs of the large company. The day was exceedingly fine so that the sports could be well carried on. Swings and many other amusements were provided for the children” (Twillingate Sun, August 24, 1887). At a given signal the march commenced ; it circumambulated the whole settlement [and ended at] the cricket field. [Where two] tables, measuring each three hundred feet in length [. . .] were flanked by countless swings [and covered with] piles of cake, and pie, and tart” (Evening Telegram, August 31, 1887). The picnic was attended by over six hundred children of all denominations. [. . .] A grand procession [. . .] paraded the town in the following order: Three Mounted Police ; Ensign Bearer ; Resident Magistrates ; Children with banners and flags ; Resident Clergymen and Citizens. The little ones were left on the cricket field where they spent a never-to-be-forgotten day” (Twillingate Sun, August 20, 1887).
At one o’clock the yacht race marked the start of the regatta. The boats involved were Kate, Snowflake, and Shanondithid. “The Kate, which had hitherto been the victorious boat, had met her match. [. . .] Away they [went] like little white specks on the blue waters. Soon [it was] evident that the Shanondithid [was] distancing her competitors most rapidly. [. . .] As she neared the winning signal-flag, the expectant crowd burst into a jubilant hurrah. Meaney and White (the builder who accompanied Meaney in the race) were hailed with hearty good-will” (Evening Telegram, August 31, 1887). The race was “won by Rev. S. O. Flynn’s Shanadithid which beat her competition by twenty or thirty minutes over a six mile course. This was followed by double and single scull, four oared whale boats and six oared trap skiff races. Then came the greasy pole, which [caused] greater excitement than all the other field sports, such as hurdle races, leaping, [and] tug of war” (Twillingate Sun, August 20, 1887). One could hear “the merry hum of a thousand voices rising joyously above the wind and extending outwards over the bay (Evening Telegram, August 31, 1887). “It is pleasing to have the monotony of life broken ; it is joyous to wake up to a week-day late after an extra hour’s sleep because the shrill whistle and the dull bell have not called the workmen to the shop, forge or mine. In olden times holidays were too seldom given, but now thanks to wider and more generous views they are becoming more plentiful. [The Magistrate arranged and supervised] the whole affair. The ladies [should be praised] for the manner in which they prepared and distributed the good things on that festive day” (Twillingate Sun, August 24, 1887).
It seems, however, that not everyone was pleased with the Jubilee and a curious story was published the following week by a gentleman from the newspaper who happened to run into some mining employees on the water while accompanying tourists in the area. The “Hiram Perry, having the Mining Company’s employees at Little Bay on board, who with the usual generosity and courtesy for which this intelligent class of people are conspicuous, warmly extended invitation [for us] to share their anticipated pleasant time, and although a stranger [they] politely insisted [to] share their hospitality for the day. [We] headed for West Brook [. . .] where a most enjoyable day was spent in dancing, feasting, fishing, shooting, and other amusements. [On the boat] all was enjoyment again. A well built platform was liberally patronized by lovers of the ‘fight fantastic’ rendered agreeable by the sweet strains of a well played violin. [. . .] On the following day I was informed at the Little Bay Hotel that an attempt had been made at Little Bay to celebrate the Jubilee and that a ball had also been given out in honour of the occasion on the day previous, but in consequences of some mismanagement on the part of the committee the celebration at Little Bay was a complete failure” (Twillingate Sun, August 27, 1887). We won’t tell him what everyone else was saying!
Speaking of failure, the failure to build the railway to the town was becoming a political concern. The lack of movement was blamed on the Representatives, namely McKay, Goodridge, and Knight to account to Little Bay. In an obviously biased piece the call was “now is the time to exhibit your independence ; wake up to your duty [. . .] show these political adventurers [. . .] that you are not going to be ruled by the grinding despotism of a mercantile monopoly” (Twillingate Sun, August 27, 1887). This wasn’t the town’s only curiosity either. In fact, this interesting little blurb was published this month: “one of the curiosities of the nineteenth century is being exhibited here : a female child, four years old. She is four feet two inches in height, forty-two inches round the waist, and weighs one hundred and thirty-six pounds. [. . .] She is perfectly formed and remarkably handsome. She will be exhibited in St. John’s sometime next month. Mr. Frederick Berteau of this place has become the fortunate possessor of five hundred pounds a year, left him by a maiden aunt in Jersey” (Evening Telegram, August 27, 1887).
September
“The members of the bar attending the Northern Circuit left St. John’s [. . .] for Little Bay” (Twillingate Sun, September 3, 1887). The Plover carried Sheriff Bemister to Little Bay to “join the circuit ship, and attend to the duties of the Supreme Court” (Twillingate Sun, September 17, 1887). It was reported that “The Grand Jury brought in a long presentment touching alleged menaces and encroachments of the French, relating particularly to our herring and lobster fisheries and the weiring and herring of the salmon rivers. They also presented the [. . .] disappointment experienced in the workings of the Agricultural Act [and Little Bay’s] exclusion from the fortnightly steam service, and again urged the necessity for a light-house” (Evening Telegram, September 17, 1887). Furthermore, there was “want of more accommodating space in [the] Court House. In a settlement like Little Bay, that is growing in population yearly, there is every reason to suspect that more space will be required. [. . .] The quantity of goods landed here we believe is larger than at any port between this and St. John’s, and the only means of landing freight and passengers is on a private wharf” (Twillingate Sun, September 24, 1887). “The construction of a public wharf – a subject that has been in agitation for some time past [is] necessity for such a public convenience. [. . .] It is generous on the part of the Mining Company to grant the use of their wharf to the coastal steamer [but] in a settlement like Little Bay, where there is so much traffic [. . .] it is hoped that practical steps will be taken by our Representatives to erect a wharf. [. . .] The establishment of a Savings’ Bank in Little Bay, was also a subject touched on by the Grand Jury. The feasibility for such an institution is most apparent” (Twillingate Sun, October 22, 1887). “There was a good deal of business for the Court at Little Bay, but all of a civil kind. [. . .] Little Bay can boast of a clean record in this respect the past year, which is more to be wondered when we consider the large number of people there, and the many different dispositions and nationalities, which more usually compose the population of a mining community. No doubt the suppression of the sale of intoxication liquors [. . .] has had a great deal to do with bringing this about” (Twillingate Sun, September 24, 1887).
“The Presbyterian Church of Bett’s Cove [was] about to be taken down and brought [to Little Bay] Mr. Herbert obtained it. It will be erected in the Bight and used as a Public hall in the benefit of the community. The tower will go on the Church of England” (Twillingate Sun, September 24, 1887). Jessie Ohman would later joke “Fancy a Presbyterian spire on an Episcopalian church and that in Newfoundland” (Ohman). “The Church of England has just finished a new school house in the Bight which is a credit to the place and speaks well for the zeal of that denomination” (Twillingate Sun, September 24, 1887). The Presbyterians had granted the Methodists “the use of the Church for their services” (Moncrieff, 124). “The Methodists had a sacred concert in the Presbyterian Church which was well attended. [. . .] On Sunday the Judge, the two Sheriffs, and several lawyers attended service in the Presbyterian Church in the morning. Dr. Milligan who was also in Little Bay preached in the night, and examined the Methodist Day school on Tuesday. Mr. Wickham was also visiting the schools under his charge and was the guest of Rev. Father Flynn. Mr. Parsons, the photographer, was fully engaged in taking views and photos of the place and inhabitants. He is traveling with the Judge” (Twillingate Sun, September 24, 1887). Thomas Peyton was in town on September 26th conducting a land survey for Andrew Rolf (Land Survey). And on September 29th “Before the departure of the Rev. Mr. Clift, the members of the Little Bay Rifle Club [. . .] presented him with [this] address- [. . .] We are assured that the whole community will feel your loss, as your ministration in this parish has proven a marked success. We take this opportunity of again expressing our sincere thanks to Mrs. Clift, for her kind presentation of a cup to our Club. Whoever the fortunate holder may be, it will always be treasured by the members in remembrance of the donor” (Evening Telegram, October 7, 1887). And so, people would come and go, but such is the transient nature of life in a mining town and life more generally.
October
With the well-liked Rev. Clift gone off to his new parish “the Rev. R. Temple, Rural Dean for Notre Damn, took passage per Plover for Little Bay for the purpose of inducting the Rev. Mr. Turner, the newly appointed Clergyman” (Twillingate Sun, October 15, 1887). Of sad note, on October 10th there was an accident at the mine. Peter Sinnott had been “standing on a ladder near the end of the shaft, when the ladder gave way causing him to fall down the shaft six hundred feet high, Death was instantaneous. His brains were dashed out. [He left] a wife and three children and his death cast a gloom over the community” (Harbour Grace Standard, October 15, 1887). While “moving or fixing the ladder, it, or the ground beneath it, gave way and he fell [. . .] He was carried home at once on a stretcher by his sorrowful companions to his weeping widow.” The miners had other safety concerns as “the Plank Road or bridge leading to the Mine [was] in very unsafe condition. The members of the Board don’t agree among themselves very well” (Twillingate Sun, October 22, 1887).
November
The Rev. Clift had been on the road board and in November the membership was changed with “the Rev. S. Flynn, and Rev. H. Turner, Captain Giles Foote, Captain John Delaney, Messrs Jonathan Benson, C. O’Brien Reddin, James Whyte, jr., R.D. Walsh, and Michael Keating, [forming the new] Board of Road Commissioners for Little Bay Mines” (Twillingate Sun, November 5, 1887). No one was impressed with the road board before and, unfortunately, this new bunch were going to be more of the same. On November 27th Constable Broadrick arrived to replace Constable Meaney who had left earlier that year (Wells, 175). Sergeant Wells’ was probably happy to see him coming but, like with the new road board, disappointment wasn’t far off.
December
Sergeant Wells was in St. John’s from December 2nd until December 16th, during his absence Constable Sutton was in charge but could get no work out of Constable Broderick. The night of the Sergeant’s return, Broderick was out too late and on December 19th Sergeant Wells wrote a letter to Colonel Fawcett requesting his removal (Wells, 175-176). The new road board wasn’t doing much better. They had “built a road at considerable expense for the miners and removed the old steps the miners had always used. However the officials of the board were so inexperienced in road construction that after the first bit of snow the poor miners were unable to travel up this dangerous ascent [. . .] The public of Little Bay especially the ladies [should] feel devoutly thankful that the miners boldly destroyed the government constructed road” (Twillingate Sun, December 31, 1887). So punk!
The mine had produced prosperously all through the year. “The stimulus given to this once-valuable industry [was] due to the advance which [had] taken place in copper. [. . .] The demand [was] large and the excitement intense” (Harbour Grace Standard, December 17, 1887). “The Little Bay mining business [would] be prosecuted with considerable energy, but not increasing numbers, the coming winter. Some two hundred miners [were] employed blasting out the ore underground, and an equal number on the surface preparing it for export. The pay roll of the Company amounts to, roughly speaking, three thousand pounds monthly” (Evening Telegram, December 7, 1887). With increased wages due to the new smelters there was even more money around, even more still seeing no one could drink and the Skittle Alley had been torched.“The people of Little Bay have asked time and again to have a Saving’s Bank established : they have told the Government through the Grand Jury that a Saving’s Bank is must necessary” (Twillingate Sun, December 31, 1887). The town wanted a bank, a public wharf, roads that didn’t require life-risking, but most of all they wanted their railroad and they were no closer to getting it. Little Bay seemed unlikely to support Whiteway’s government again after the let down over the railroad but his supporters hadn’t given up yet. One wrote, “Mr. Editor, this country has suffered since the advent of responsible government from three great evils. 1. Sectarianism 2. Classes as against masses 3. Pauper relief.” He goes on to suggest Universal Suffrage as a solution which he defines as allowing “every young man in this island over twenty one years of age to vote [before going on to demand readers] petition for manhood suffrage” in the name of victory for Whiteway (Twillingate Sun, December 24, 1887). This guy was probably missing the mark.
But for all the things missing there was a lot to be thankful for and “one of the greatest improvements in Little Bay [this year was] the introduction of an expensive Brass Band under the leadership of Mr. J. White. Already the music [had] imparted great pleasure to the inhabitants. [. . .] The town Hall [was on] course of erection and in a few weeks it [would] be ready for the use of the public (Twillingate Sun, December 31, 1887). In the meantime, while they had to spend Christmas in the make-shift hall of the old hospital, at least they had a fancy new band. The Evening Telegram released a Christmas Number for 1887. It contained illustrations from around the island including one titled “Town and Harbour of Little Bay” (Harbour Grace Standard, December 31, 1887). The town’s corresponded wrote that the Christmas “season passed away very quietly [. . .] owing chiefly to the closing of the liquor shop, that with such a large community of miners Little Bay should be free from all disturbances. It is so different now to former years, and we can now hold it up as a pattern to other settlements for its sobriety and good behaviour” (Twillingate Sun, January 21, 1888). That’s how 1887 closes, very quietly, and if you listen carefully you can almost hear soft kumbayas off in some lightly-snowing distance.
Businesses and Properties:
Public Hall (houses bazzars, musical and theatrical performances, and the reading room)
Court House (contains jail) – Magistrate Blandford, Way Officers Wells, Sutton, Meaney, and Brodrick
Post Office (contains telegraph and customs offices) – Mr. Walsh
Medical Office – Dr. Joseph
Mining Offices – Mr. Whyte, Mr. Melphant, Mr. Foran, Mr. Stewart
Mining Stores – Mr. Quinby, Mr. Lind
The Company’s Cottage (near the public wharf in The Bight)
Little Bay Hotel (near the public wharf in The Bight) – Mr. Courtney
Skittle Alley (Skittles, Billiards, Shooting Gallery, and Jewelry shop) – Mr. Lamb
Huxter’s Public House – Mr. Huxter
Benson’s Provisions Store – Mr. Benson
Loading Wharf Store
Redden Brothers Shop – Mr. Redden and Mr. Redden
Newman & Company
Cain’s Taylor Shop – Mr. Cain
Blacksmith’s shop – Mr. Ross
Tinsmith’s shop – Mr. Jackman
Shoemaker’s shop – Mr. McArthur
Watchmaker’s shop (jewelry, watches, clocks, and silverware) – Mr. Purchase
Druggist’s shop – Mr. McCarthy
Other Merchants include – Mr. Boyde, Mr. Thrope, Mr. Sharp, and Mr. Burke
Notre Dame Lodge (Masonic Lodge)
Presbyterian Church – no clergy
RC Church – Her Lady of Mount Carmel Parish – Rev. O’Flynn
RC School in The Bight – Mr. Hanrahan
RC School at Loading Wharf – Mr. Coady
C of E Church – St. Luke’s – Rev. Clift, Rev. Turner
C of E School – Mr. Burgess
Methodist Church – Rev. Abraham
Clubs and Societies:
Notre Dame Club – The Little Bay Pioneers (Cricket team)
Little Bay Rifle Club
Little Bay Brass Band
Little Bay Choral Society
Little Bay Music and Drama Club
Terra Nova Billiard and Reading Room Club
Sons of Temperance / Band of Hope (Temperance movements)
Shebeen houses (unlicensed alcohol)
Miner’s Union
Little Bay Road Board
Little Bay Education Board
Sources:
Engineering and Mining Journal 1887
Galveston Daily Newspaper 1887
Eau Claire Daily Free Press 1887
Evening Telegram 1887
Harbour Grace Standard 1887
Twillingate Sun 1887
Twillingate Sun 1888
Canada: A Memorial Volume 1889
Ohman, The Water Lily 1892
Who’s Who 1927
Moncrieff, History of the Presbyterian Church 1966
Martin, Once Upon a Mine 1983
Wells, All Quiet 2012
Know Residents
Abraham, Henry – methodist reverend (Wells)
Abraham, Julia Burpee – wife of Henry (Evening Telegram)
Barns, Duncan (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Barns, Fanny (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Barns, Wentworth – son of Duncan and Fanny (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Bartlett, John Robert (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Bartlett, Janet Moores – wife of John (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Benan, M. (Twillingate Sun)
Bennet, James – labourer (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Bennet, Ely (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Bennet, Bessie – daughter of James and Ely (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Benson, Johnathan – provisions store merchant (Twillingate Sun)
Benson, Arthur L. – son of Johnathan (Who’s Who)
Berteau, E. F. (Evening Telegram)
Berteau, Frederick – customs (Evening Telegram)
Blandford, John B. – magistrate (Evening Telegram)
Blandford, Miss (Evening Telegram)
Boner, William (deduced)
Bouzane, James Michael – tree cutting (Deck’s Awash, Vol. 17 No.5)
Bouzane, Jane Sandy – wife of James (deduced)
Bouzane, Thomas M. – tree cutting (Deck’s Awash, Vol. 17 No.5)
Bouzane, Catherine Colbert – wife of Thomas (deduced)
Boyde, Thomas – merchant (Supreme Court documents)
Boyde, Eliza Stuckless – wife of Thomas (deduced)
Boyde, James Walter – son of Thomas and Eliza (deduced)
Boyde, Laura Jane – daughter of Thomas and Eliza (deduced)
Boyde, Thomas Abraham – son of Thomas and Eliza (deduced)
Boyles, Mr. (Twillingate Sun)
Brien, Mr. (Twillingate Sun)
Buckingham, Miss (Twillingate Sun)
Breen, Phillip (Wells)
Broderick – constable (Wells)
Burgess, Edward R. – teacher (Evening Telegram)
Bussey, Joseph (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Bussey, Eliza (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Bussey, Julia Ann – daughter of Joseph and Eliza (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Campbell, Esau (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Campbell, Jemima (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Campbell, Beatrice – daughter of Esau and Jemima (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Carey, James (Wells)
Christopher, Thomas (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Christopher, Mary Lilly (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Christopher, Mary Francis – daughter of Thomas and Mary (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Clark, Robert (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Clark, Christina (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Clark, Peter – son of Robert and Christina (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Clift, Theodore W. – reverend (Wells)
Clift, Mrs. (Evening Telegram)
Colbourne, John (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Colbourne, Annie (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Colbourne, Janet Mary – daughter of John and Annie (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Colbourne, Samuel (deduced)
Colbourne, Selina – wife of Samuel (deduced)
Colbourne, Henry T. – son of Samuel and Selina (deduced)
Conway, Mr. (Twillingate Sun)
Cook, Charles (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Cook, Ann Austin (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Cook, James Joseph – son of Charles and Ann (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Cooney, Ellen (Wells)
Cooper, Levi (Wells)
Cooper, William (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Cooper, Annie Gillard – wife of William (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Corbett, John – miner (deduced)
Costigan, William – merchant (Evening Telegram)
Courtney, “Little Dan” Daniel – LB Hotel keeper DOD (Wells)
Courtney, Mrs. (Evening Telegram)
Craigg, Mr. (Twillingate Sun)
Cunningham, William (Twillingate Sun)
Cunningham, Mrs. (Twillingate Sun)
Cunningham – DOB son of William (Twillingate Sun)
Curran, William (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Curran, Anastatia Young (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Curran, James – son of William and Anastatia (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Currie, A. – rev and headmaster of C.E. academy (Twillingate Sun)
Currie, William (deduced)
Currie, Elizabeth – wife of William (deduced)
Curtis – brothers (Twillingate Sun)
Dawn, Selby – ex-accountant (Wells)
Day, Leonard (TS)
Day, Elizabeth May – wife of Leonard (Twillingate Sun)
Deacon, Miss (Twillingate Sun)
Dean, Alfred – captain (HGS)
Delaney, John – fisherman (Twillingate Sun)
Deloughery, Joseph (deduced)
Diem, Joseph P. – mine cashier (deduced)
Dobbin, David Thomas – miner (Perry)
Dove, David (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Dove, Francis (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Dove, David – son of David and Francis (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Dowe, Selby – ex-accountant (Twillingate Sun)
Duder, John C. – sub-collector (Evening Telegram)
Duder, Mrs. – wife of John (Twillingate Sun)
Dunaven, James (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Dunaven, Phoebe (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Dunaven, Phoebe – daughter of James and Phoebe (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Eagen, Shannahan (Wells)
Emerson, Mr. (Twillingate Sun)
England, Enos – miner (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
England, Mary Grace Elms – wife of Enos (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
England, Lizzie – witness (Methodist Marriages)
Fenley, James – carpenter (Wells)
Findlay, Patrick (Evening Telegram)
Fitzgerald, Margaret (Twillingate Sun)
Flynn, Mr. (Wells)
Flynn, Mrs. (Wells)
Flynn – children (Wells)
Flynn, Miss. (Twillingate Sun)
Foote, Giles – cash keeper for company store in the Bight (Twillingate Sun)
Foote, Miss (Twillingate Sun)
Foran, William – mine management (deduced)
Gillard, Henry – lumberman (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Gillard, Annie Witt – wife of Henry (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Goudie, John (deduced)
Goudie, Elizabeth Coombs – wife of John (deduced)
Gould, Miss – school teacher (Evening Telegram)
Grant, William (deduced)
Hacker, Franz – charge of machinist dept (Twillingate Sun)
Hacker, Sarah Duder – wife of Franz (Twillingate Sun)
Hawson, Mrs. (Evening Telegram)
Head, Thomas – miner (Atlantic Guardian, Sept 1948)
Head, Mary – wife of Thomas (Atlantic Guardian, Sept 1948)
Head, John – son of Thomas and Mary (deduced)
Head, Anastasia – daughter of Thomas and Mary (deduced)
Head, Mary – daughter of Thomas and Mary (deduced)
Head, Sylvester James – son of Thomas and Mary (deduced)
Head, Lawrence – son of Thomas and Mary (deduced)
Head, James Thomas – son of Thomas and Mary (Atlantic Guardian, Sept 1948)
Head, Patrick Joseph – son of Thomas and Mary (deduced)
Head, William (UC burials)
Head, Phoebe (UC burials)
Head, Christina – daughter of William and Phoebe – DOD age 18 months (UC burials)
Herbert, Mr. (Evening Telegram)
Hoote, John (Evening Telegram)
Hoskins, Mr. – DOD (Twillingate Sun)
Howson, J. B. – foreman (Twillingate Sun)
Hubley, Joel A. (deduced)
Hunt, Henry – mine workman (Twillingate Sun)
Huestis, Joseph – lumberman (Methodist Marriages)
Jackman, David J. – tinsmith (Who’s Who)
James, William (deduced)
James, Louisa – wife of William (deduced)
Jones, Mr. (Evening Telegram)
Joseph, Louis – doctor (Twillingate Sun)
Keating, Michael (Twillingate Sun)
Kennedy, Patrick – labourer (deduced)
King, Robert (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
King, Agnes Parsons – wife of Robert (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Lamb, John – skittle alley (Wells)
Lewis, Samuel (deduced)
Lewis, Mary Ann – wife of Samuel (deduced)
Lind, Henry – company storekeeper (Taylor)
Lind, Elizabeth. – wife of Henry (Taylor)
Lind, William – son of Henry (Taylor)
Lind, Robert George – son of Henry (Taylor)
Lind, James Marshall – son of Henry (Taylor)
Lind, Francis Thomas – son of Henry (Taylor)
Loader, Maggie (Wells)
Locke, Ephraim – miner (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Locke, Jemima Jeanes – wife of Ephraim (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Locke, Isabella – daughter of Ephraim and Jemima (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Locke, James (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Locke, Emma (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Locke, Daisy Francis – daughter of James and Emma (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Louther, Mr. – miner (Twillingate Sun)
MacKenzie, Hector E. (Who’s Who)
MacKenzie, Jean Louise LeMie (Who’s Who)
MacKenzie, James Archie – son of Hector and Jean (Who’s Who)
Malcolm, Robert F. – tinsmith (deduced)
Malcolm, Mrs. – wife of Robert (deduced)
Malcolm – children (deduced)
Malephant, Henry – superintendent of smelting works (Evening Telegram)
Martin, C. (Twillingate Sun)
Mauley, Patrick (Twillingate Sun)
McArthur, Allan – shoemaker (Wells)
McGrath, Richard J. – tailor (Twillingate Sun)
McKinnon, Joseph (Evening Telegram)
McLean, Michel (Wells)
McLean, Mary – Michael’s wife (Wells)
McLean, Ann – daughter of Michael and Mary (Wells)
McLean, John (Wells)
McNeil, Angus – engineer (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
McNeil, Asenath (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
McNeil, Archibald William – son of Angus and Asenath (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Meaney, Patrick – constable (Evening Telegram)
Moores, Isaac (Twillingate Sun)
Moores, Mary Michell – wife of Isaac (Twillingate Sun)
Mitchill, Mr. (Twillingate Sun)
Moores, George – miner (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Moores, Maria (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Moores, Ernest – son of George and Maria (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Morgan, William May (deduced)
Morris, Robert G. – bootmaker (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Morris, Sarah Maud Moores – wife of Robert (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Morris, Ernest – witness (Methodist Marriages)
Nipper, William – fisherman (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Nipper, Kate Grayham – wife of William (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Nipper, Mary Matilda – daughter of William and Kate (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Nobel, Thomas (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Nobel, Rhoda (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Nobel, Rosina – daughter of Thomas and Rhoda (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
O’Day, Peep – sudanym (Wells)
O’Flynn, Stephen – Catholic reverend (Harbour Grace Standard)
O’Neil, Robert (Twillingate Sun)
Osbourne, Thomas – miner (Wells)
Osmond, John Frederick (deduced)
Osmond, Sarah Jane Strong – wife of John (deduced)
Parsons, Duncan (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Parsons, Annie (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Parsons, Duncan Austin – son of Duncan and Annie (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Peckwood, Thomas (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Peckwood, Julia Sackery – wife of Thomas (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Phillips, Charles – jack of all trades (Wells)
Pilgrim, Mark (deduced)
Pilgrim, Rachel – wife of Mark (deduced)
Power, Mrs. (Wells)
Quigley, John (RC Graves)
Quigley, Mary – wife of John (RC Graves)
Quigley, Martin – son of John and Mary – DOD (RC Graves)
Quigley, Michael – son of John and Mary – DOD (RC Graves)
Quinby, George – stores manager (Moncrieff)
Quinby, Fanny – witness (Methodist Marriages)
Reddin, Charles O’Brien – foreman (Twillingate Sun)
Reddin, Henry, O. M. (Twillingate Sun)
Rice, Thomas (deduced)
Richards, Walter – fisherman (Twillingate Sun)
Richards, John – trader (deduced)
Rideout, William (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Rideout, Louisa (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Rideout, Mary Ann – daughter of William and Louisa (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Rideout, Alfred (deduced)
Rolf, Andrew (Land Survey)
Rolling, Walter – driver and fireman (Wells)
Ruthledge (Twillingate Sun)
Samual, Mr. (Twillingate Sun)
Saunders, Mr. – DOD (Twillingate Sun)
Signott, Peter (TS)
Sinnott, Peter (HGS)
Smart, John (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Smart, Jane Daford (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Smart, Emily J. – daughter of John and Jane (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Spinney, Walter (Evening Telegram)
Stewart, John Robert – mine management (Martin)
Stewart, Adelaide Delphena Boyde – wife of John (deduced)
Stewart, Annie Eliza – daughter of John and Adelaide (deduced)
Stewart, Walter – son of John and Adelaide (deduced)
Stucklas, Albert (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Stucklas, Mary Jane – wife of Albert (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Stucklas, Bessie – daughter of Albert and Mary (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Sutton, Michael – constable (Wells)
Squires, Jeremiah – miner (Wells)
Squires, James (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Squires, Susan (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Squires, Arthur James – son of James and Susan (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Taverner, W. J. – witness (Methodist Marriages)
Taylor, James (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Taylor, E. J. (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Taylor, Eliza Jane – daughter of James and E. J. (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Thompson, George L. – mineral analysis (Evening Telegram)
Thompson, Amelia White – wife of George (Evening Telegram)
Tilley, Ann – DOD 54 years (UC burials)
Turner, H. – rev (Twillingate Sun)
Wallace, Robert (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Wallace, Martha (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Wallace, Robert – son of Robert and Martha (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Walsh, Richard D, – postmaster (Newfoundland Almanac)
Walsh, Patrick – miner
Walsh, Sarah – wife of Patrick
Walsh, William Joseph – son of Patrick and Sarah (E of N)
Walsh, H. R. (Evening Telegram)
Weir, Theophilus (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Weir, Mary – wife of Theophilus (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Weir, Elizabeth Clara – daughter of Theophilus and Mary (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Wells, Thomas Edward – Police Sergeant (Wells)
Wells, Mary Jane – wife of Thomas (Wells)
Wells, Edith – daughter of Thomas and Mary (Wells)
Wells, Doyle – son of Thomas and Mary (Wells)
Wells, George – son of Thomas and Mary (Wells)
Whelan, Miss (Twillingate Sun)
White, George A. (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
White, Amelia Wiseman – wife of George (NL Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
Whyte, Alex (Evening Telegram)
Whyte, Andrew – mine manager (Twillingate Sun)
Whyte, F. – mine management (Twillingate Sun)
Whyte, James jr. (Moncrieff)
Whyte, William (Evening Telegram)
Williams, Moses (Wells)
Young, Frederick – miner (deduced)
Young, Fanny Locke – wife of Frederick (deduced)