The Hearn family came to Little Bay from St. John’s. They make their first appearance in my records in 1882 with Patrick Hearn. Thomas Hearn, the man who first opened Hearn’s store, was likely Patrick’s son. He was 15 years old in 1882. According to an interview with Leo Hayse, the first stores operating in Little Bay were those of Hearn and Burke. If that is the case then Patrick may have been a shopkeeper or trader prior to his son Thomas opening the family store in 1892.

The Hearn family store operated in Little Bay for 99 years before it closed in 1991. It remains in living memory. I have memories of it myself from the summers of my youth spend in my mother’s hometown. It was ran by an elderly Michael Hearn at that time. Thomas’s son Michael was a well liked and active member of the community. He was famed for his general good nature and his ability to quickly add up the shop’s bills in his head. He had no use for a calculator. He attended the meeting to determine the boarders of the community under the community council act in 1963.

My understanding from my mother was that Michael stayed in Little Bay to tend the store while his siblings pursued careers on the mainland – none married and each returned to their family home where the four elderly siblings lived out the rest of their lives. I had the privilege to access some of the material that they left behind. From that I glimpsed a window into their lives in Little Bay. It was a treasure trove. Most fascinating was their ongoing investigation into local mineral deposits and historical mining. 19th century Little Bay’s culture was rich with talk of copper, a place where most everyone possessed a vested interest in mining and planned for the next big find. After the loss of the mining operations at the turn of the 19th century it was that prospector optimism that held people there. I’ve often wondered how long into the 20th century the copper fever lasted. Through the Hearn family it appears to have lasted almost into the 21st century.

I did not think there were any living descendants of Thomas Hearn, however, my research now indicates there were more than four siblings. So, while sadly, I do not have any pictures of the Hearn’s I still hold out hope that some may yet surface from other lineages. Maybe we’ll get to meet the man who opened the store that served Little Bay for a century – Thomas Hearn. If you have any info or material to share on the Hearns please do so. Their store lives on in memory for a reason. Below are all references to the Hearn family I’ve gathered.

• 1882 – Patrick Hearn present (Voter’s list)
• 1883 – Patrick Hearn played the first game of cricket in Little Bay on a team composed of married men against a single men’s team. After the match the players, including Patrick, formed Little Bay’s cricket club – The Pioneers (Twillingate Sun, Aug 10)
• 1884 – P. Hearn played cricket with the Little Bay Pioneers against the Bett’s Cove Zulus (Twillingate Sun, April 23)
• 1886 – P. Heard played cricket with the Little Bay Pioneers against the Twillingate Nil Desperandumians (Twillingate Sun, July 24)
• 1889 – Patrick and Mrs. P Hearn donated to the Harbour Grace Cathedral Fund (St. John’s Colonist, Oct 11)
• 1892 – Thomas Hearn opens store (Hearn family note)
• 1893 – Thomas Hearn witnessed the marriage of Peter Gregory and Elizabeth McLean (Civ marriages)
• 1894 – Birth of Patrick John Hearne to John and Ellen at Tilt Cove (Vital stats)
• 1895 – Thomas Hearn married Ellen Kelly. He was listed as a trader. He was 28 years old (Civ marriages)
• 1896 – Birth of Mary Joseph Hearn (Vital records)
• 1897 – J. Hearn listed as a general dealer (Devine and O’Mara’s City Directory)
• 1898 – Thomas Heard listed as shopkeeper (McAlpine’s Directory)
• 1904 – Death of Ida Hearn, daughter of Thomas and Ellen (RC graves)
• 1905 – Death of Ellen Hearn, wife of Thomas (RC graves)
• 1908 – Birth of John J. Hearn (1945 census)
• 1910 – Birth of Alice Hearn (1945 census)
• 1911 – Birth of Geneive Hearn (1935 census)
• 1913 – Birth of Joseph P. Hearn (1945 census)
• 1916 – Birth of Michael Hearn (1945 census)
• 1918 – Birth of Robert Hearn (1945 census)
• 1922 – Death of Rosella Hearn, wife of Thomas (RC graves)
• 1931 – Genevieve Hearn received first grade certificate (Board of Examiners)
• 1937 – Thomas Hearn had a mining claim (Certificate of work done)
• 1938 – Thomas Hearn sold groceries (Mercantile Agency Reference Book)
• 1943 – J. Hearn joined the Home Guard (Training certificate)
• 1946 – John Hearn joined the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit (Certificate)
• 1946 – Death of Thomas Hearn (RC graves)
• 1963 – Michael B. Hearn attended a meeting to determine the community (Public Notice)
• 1991 – Hearn family closes their store (Hearn family note)