Heart's Content, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Heart's Content is an incorporated town in Trinity Bay
on the Bay de Verde Peninsula
of Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada. The natural harbour that makes up the town is located on the east side of Trinity Bay and it is built along the northeast side and the southeast base of this harbour.
Like many other Newfoundland English settlements, this small village was a victim to the French army of "Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
" in 1697. During King William's War
, this village was raided in the Avalon Peninsula Campaign
.
Heart's Content was given its place in the history of international communications by Cyrus West Field
who chose it as the terminus of his Transatlantic telegraph cable
. In July 1866, when the cable was brought ashore, it was described as "a sheltered nook, where ships may ride at anchor safe from the storms of the ocean…on the beach is a small village of sixty houses, most of them the dwelling of these hardy men who vex the northern sea with their fisheries…"
Heart's Content did not depend on the cable industry alone for its economically successful standing. Besides the growing importance of the Labrador fishery and the seal hunt, as well as the shipbuilding industry, other economic stimuli made it a growing and prosperous community. Transportation connections between Heart's Content and the rest of the Avalon Peninsula
improved and greatly accommodated the movement of people and goods, and the overall production of business improved the town and other areas of Trinity and Conception Bays.
Within 10 years of incorporation Heart's Content obtained most of the facilities and the amenities of a small town. These included a town hall, fire station, a municipal park, water and sewage system, a ballpark and a senior citizens club.
Heart's Content is also at the crossroads of the main highway for Trinity Bay on the western side of the Bay de Verde peninsula and the highway cutting across the Bay de Verde peninsula between Victoria
on the Conception Bay
side and Heart's Content.
Precipitation falls on the area both as snow in the wintertime and moderate rainfall in summer.
The Gulf Stream
and Labrador Current
converge just off the coast of Newfoundland and provide for very dense fog that can linger in the area for days.
:
Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Trinity Bay is a large bay on the northeastern coast of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.Major fishing communities include Trinity and Heart's Content.-Industry:...
on the Bay de Verde Peninsula
Bay de Verde Peninsula
The Bay de Verde Peninsula is the largest peninsula that makes up part of the Avalon Peninsula, of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada. The natural harbour that makes up the town is located on the east side of Trinity Bay and it is built along the northeast side and the southeast base of this harbour.
History
The first references to Heart's Content came from John Guy's journal of his voyage into Trinity Bay in 1612. Through much of the 17th century, Heart's Content was used by migratory fisherman from England. The area was permanently settled by at least 1677.Like many other Newfoundland English settlements, this small village was a victim to the French army of "Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] (16 July 1661 – 9 July 1702 (probable)was a soldier, ship captain, explorer, colonial administrator, knight of...
" in 1697. During King William's War
King William's War
The first of the French and Indian Wars, King William's War was the name used in the English colonies in America to refer to the North American theater of the Nine Years' War...
, this village was raided in the Avalon Peninsula Campaign
Avalon Peninsula Campaign
The Avalon Peninsula Campaign occurred during King Williams War when forces of New France, led by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, destroyed 23 English settlements along the coast of the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland in the span of three months...
.
Heart's Content was given its place in the history of international communications by Cyrus West Field
Cyrus West Field
Cyrus West Field was an American businessman and financier who, along with other entrepreneurs, created the Atlantic Telegraph Company and laid the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean in 1858.-Life and career:...
who chose it as the terminus of his Transatlantic telegraph cable
Transatlantic telegraph cable
The transatlantic telegraph cable was the first cable used for telegraph communications laid across the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. It crossed from , Foilhommerum Bay, Valentia Island, in western Ireland to Heart's Content in eastern Newfoundland. The transatlantic cable connected North America...
. In July 1866, when the cable was brought ashore, it was described as "a sheltered nook, where ships may ride at anchor safe from the storms of the ocean…on the beach is a small village of sixty houses, most of them the dwelling of these hardy men who vex the northern sea with their fisheries…"
Heart's Content did not depend on the cable industry alone for its economically successful standing. Besides the growing importance of the Labrador fishery and the seal hunt, as well as the shipbuilding industry, other economic stimuli made it a growing and prosperous community. Transportation connections between Heart's Content and the rest of the Avalon Peninsula
Avalon Peninsula
The Avalon Peninsula is a large peninsula that makes up the southeast portion of the island of Newfoundland.The peninsula is home to 257,223 people, which is approximately 51% of Newfoundland's population in 2009, and is the location of the provincial capital, St. John's. It is connected to the...
improved and greatly accommodated the movement of people and goods, and the overall production of business improved the town and other areas of Trinity and Conception Bays.
Within 10 years of incorporation Heart's Content obtained most of the facilities and the amenities of a small town. These included a town hall, fire station, a municipal park, water and sewage system, a ballpark and a senior citizens club.
17th century
- 1697 – French under d'Iberville enter Heart's Content. The final 30 men plus women and children holdup in a fort commanded by Irishmen. The occupants surrender to the French.
- 1700 – Census taken records a population of 35, 5 fishing-stages and 7 boats.
18th century
- 1783 – A docking facility established to build sailing craft of all types. This was the first attempt to diversify the economy of Heart's Content. At its height, the industry employs 100 men, shipwrights, sail-makers, caulkers, woodsmen, sailors and blacksmiths.
19th century
- 1823 – Society for the Propagation of the Gospel opens its first school in Heart's Content, with Thomas Parker as teacher.
- 1855 – Heart's Content is chosen as the location for the first transatlantic submarine telegraph cable.
- 1858 (August 5) – The first ever transatlantic cable, connecting ValentiaValentiaValentia may refer to:*Valentia Island, off the coast of Ireland*Valentia , a province of Roman Britain*Valence, Drôme, France, known in Roman times as Valentia*Nuragus, Sardinia, Italy, known in Roman times as Valentia...
, Ireland, to Heart's Content, is landed. Due to a malfunction, its operation was terminated on October 20, 1858. - 1862 – Rev. George Gardner founds the Fisherman’s Society at Heart's Content, later the Society of United Fishermen.
- 1866 (July 27) – A new transatlantic cable is landed at Heart's Content by the S.S. Great EasternSS Great EasternSS Great Eastern was an iron sailing steam ship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and built by J. Scott Russell & Co. at Millwall on the River Thames, London. She was by far the largest ship ever built at the time of her 1858 launch, and had the capacity to carry 4,000 passengers around the...
. - 1873 – Fisherman’s Society organized in 1862 becomes the Society of United Fisherman with Rev. George Gardner as its first Grand Master.
- 1873 and 1874 – Two more cables are laid to Valentia.
- 1870s – The Methodist congregation is organized, they also built a school.
- 1880 and 1894 – Two more cables were laid to Valentia, making Heart’s Content one of the most important cable stations in the world.
- 1880s – Population grows to an estimated 1,200 residents.
20th century
- 1915 – Heart’s Content is linked by railway with the Conception Bay branch of the Reid Newfoundland Railway system. The rail connection allows the Anglo Newfoundland Development Company to use Heart’s Content as a winter port for shipments of newsprint from its mill at Grand FallsGrand FallsGrand Falls can refer to several places:In Canada:*Grand Falls, New Brunswick*Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and LabradorIn the United States:*Grand Falls, Arizona*Grand Falls Plaza, Missouri...
. - 1918 – The brick cable station is enlarged to serve the "Anglo-American Telegraph Company and its successor, Western UnionWestern UnionThe Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
, until its closure in 1965. - 1920 – A hydroelectric power plant is constructed by the Public Service Electric Company.
- 1930s – The decline in the fishing industry puts a complete end to the shipbuilding and boat building, and the loss of the railway drastically reduces the economic base of the town.
- 1932 – The United Towns Electric Company purchases the hydroelectric power plant and it was incorporated into its system.
- 1935 – Anglo Newfoundland Development Company stops using the port.
- 1960 – The power plant is enlarged and re-built, and for a short time made part of the Avalon power grid.
- 1967 – Heart’s Content is incorporated as a Local Improvement District.
- 1968 – The brick cable building closed in 1965 is bought by the Provincial Government as an historic site and soon after begins a restoration project to make the almost 100 year old building a communications museum.
- 1974 – (July 27) – 108 years after the landing of the transatlantic cable in the New World, the restored communications museum officially opens.
Geography
The town contains a large natural harbour opening out to Trinity Bay in a generally southwestern direction and protected from the harsh northern and eastern winds of the North Atlantic.Heart's Content is also at the crossroads of the main highway for Trinity Bay on the western side of the Bay de Verde peninsula and the highway cutting across the Bay de Verde peninsula between Victoria
Victoria, Newfoundland and Labrador
Victoria an incorporated town in Conception Bay located approximately midway on the Bay de Verde Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.-Geography:...
on the Conception Bay
Conception Bay
Conception Bay is a Canadian bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland. The bay indents the Avalon Peninsula with the opening of the bay to the Atlantic Ocean at the northeast. It is bounded by Cape St. Francis in the south and Split Point near Bay de Verde in the north...
side and Heart's Content.
Towns and communities nearby
Heart's Content and surrounding areas are dotted by small fishing communities that were established due the proximity of each community to the fishing grounds. Some of the communities within a 15 minute driving distance from Heart's Content are as follows;- WintertonWinterton, Newfoundland and LabradorWinterton is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It was originally named Sille Cove or Scilly Cove. In 1912 the town was named Winterton for Sir James Spearman Winter, former Prime Minister of Newfoundland....
- Turks CoveTurks Cove, Newfoundland and LabradorTurks Cove was a settlement in Trinity District. The first postmistress was Bridget Moore.Other Post Mistrisses include Anastasia Antle and Alice Ryan who was postmaster for 30 years up until 1972There are Antles, Ryans, Conways and Moores in the cove...
- New PerlicanNew Perlican, Newfoundland and LabradorNew Perlican is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 188 in the Canada 2006 Census.New Perlican is one of the oldest settlements in the province. the town was mentioned by name by Thomas Rowley, one of the first settlers at the Cupids Colony....
- Heart's DesireHeart's Desire, Newfoundland and LabradorHeart's Desire is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 226 in the Canada 2006 Census.Located on route 80 between Heart's Content and Heart's Delight - Islington...
- Heart's Delight
- Islington
Climate
The climate of the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent land areas is influenced by the temperatures of the surface waters and water currents as well as the winds blowing across the waters. Because of the oceans' great capacity for retaining heat, the climate of Heart's Content are moderate and free of extreme seasonal variations.Precipitation falls on the area both as snow in the wintertime and moderate rainfall in summer.
The Gulf Stream
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
and Labrador Current
Labrador Current
The Labrador Current is a cold current in the North Atlantic Ocean which flows from the Arctic Ocean south along the coast of Labrador and passes around Newfoundland, continuing south along the east coast of Nova Scotia...
converge just off the coast of Newfoundland and provide for very dense fog that can linger in the area for days.
Economy
During the 18th century, the inshore cod fishery was the main source of income. Agriculture in the summer and logging in the winter also helped the fisherman and their families.Demographics
According to the 2006 censusCanada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
:
- Population: 418 ; 495 (2001)
- Land area: 62.81 square kilometres (24.3 sq mi)
- Population change (2001–2006): -15.6%
- Source: Statistics CanadaStatistics CanadaStatistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
2006 Census.
Tourist attractions
- Cable Station Historic Site
- Society of United Fishermen No.1
- Cable Staff House Registered Heritage Site
- Heart’s Content Lighthouse
- Heart’s Content Harbour Authority