Posts - The History of Little Bay

Hubley

Joel Alexander Hubley (1849-1925) was employed by Little Bay Mines and an active community member in town as found recorded from 1879 to 1898. I think 1878 to 1901 more likely to date his time in Little Bay. He and his parents were born in Nova Scotia but the family is identified as German indicating a move from Germany in a previous generation. This combination of Nova Scotia origin, German heritage, and work in mining supports a likely tie to the Baron and explains the move to Newfoundland. H ...

Herbert

Horace Montagu Herbert (1849-1919) oversaw several large construction projects in Little Bay in the later half of the 1880s. He moved to the town from Nipper's Harbour in 1886 after obtaining a contract to build a road connecting the town to Hall's Bay. He was a popular choice as he was already well known and admired in Little Bay. Described as gentlemanly in this superintendent role. He went on to other community projects. The following summer he was chosen to help plan the Queen's Jubliee. Thi ...

Hiscott

Spelling variants: Escott, Hiscock Richard Hiscott (1858-1930) was a miner who was living in Little Bay from at least 1882 until 1894. Sources: 1858 - Birth of Richard Hiscott (His birth in St. John's is dated 1848 on a MyHeritage page but without an original source I'm putting it in 1858 due to an age of 30 given at his wedding in 1888) 1882 - Richard Hiscock living in Little Bay (Voter's list) 1887, Feb - Birth of Dulcie Hiscott at Little Bay to Richard and his wife. Her name is not known ...

Helms

I have only one reference to the last name Helms at Little Bay. 1881, July 14 - Birth of John Charles House Helms at Little Bay Mines. Parents names not given but they are listed under Methodists and the occupation given was fisherman (Vital Stats, 1753-1893) The name Helms is of German origin which may indicate that they came to Newfoundland from Nova Scotia with the rest of the Baron's Germans. However, if that's the case, it is odd that the father isn't a Presbyterian or a miner. Helms may ...

The fire of 1881

Little Bay suffered four major fires. I've covered the fires of 1888, 1903, and 1904. What follows is what I've been able to discern about the blaze of '81.Press ReleaseThis is the story of how, in the summer of 1881, everyone thought Little Bay burned down.In cities across North America people opened their papers on the morning of June 17th to some pretty scary news from Newfoundland. A press release had gone out from the New York Herald that day with a story. The promising mining settlement i ...

Pay Day at the mine. Likely taken around 1886. My guess on the photographer is Otis Boyden. The house in the background was the home of the Lind family.

Little Bay’s Miners’ Union

The first union in Newfoundland is thought to have formed on Bell Island in 1900 after the first strike there in 1896. In 'Once Upon a Mine' Wendy Martin referred to Little Bay’s miners as “forming a union of sorts” during the strike in 1883. I’ve uncovered evidence to make a stronger claim. The first union on the island was Little Bay’s Miners’ Union and it was officially established on May 4th 1883.Recently I came across a newspaper I wasn’t familiar with. At this point in the work it’s unusua ...

Captain Lizzie Penny

The Salvation Army landed in Newfoundland in 1886. I don’t know when exactly they can be placed in Little Bay but by 1888 they had a small, active presence in the town. I suspect this was organized around the Rideout family.Lieutenant Lizzie Penny stepped off a steamer in Little Bay on January 10th that year. She was in the company of Cadet Lizzie Howse. The pair moved into the Rideout’s home and Mrs. Rideout took on aide duties. They first hold services there.Using their arrival and departure d ...

Duncan Parsons (Blacksmith)

Duncan Parsons (1856-1914)Duncan Parsons was Little Bay’s blacksmith from 1879 until around 1896.Duncan was born at South Side, Harbour Grace on January 27th 1856 to Frederick and Patience Parsons. The family were Methodists and young Duncan was christened there on February 8th 1856 by James Dove.Once he was old enough he went to school. Michael Scully of Riverhead was Duncan’s teacher. After his formal education was completed he and his brother started their training to become blacksmiths.He wa ...

Constable John Nowlan

I’ve been trying to find the story of Constable John Nowlan, Little Bay’s first police officer. I don't think I've been overly successful. However, in the attempt I have found the context of his arrival and I think it tells another, broader tale of the town.There’s a lot happening in Little Bay, politically speaking, in 1879.That summer the town was just one year old but it was already boasting a population of 1500 people. I just want you to think about that. 1500 people where there were 500 six ...

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Power

Recently I received a request to put together what I've got on the Power family in Little Bay. Well, I've come to suspect more than one Power family were present. All appeared to be Catholic but little else connected them. I had a lot of pieces that didn't fit together very well.I checked the genealogical sites but it didn't turn up much. I suspected this Power family tree hasn't been tackled yet, not online at least. So I couldn't piggyback off of existing work. I decided I'd try to help by pie ...

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