Great Northern Peninsula, Newfoundland

Days of yore

Off the top of the northwest coast of the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland there is one of the best sheltered harbours on this rocky, inhospitable coast, called Flower's Cove. It was name by Captain James Cook, on his 1764 mapping expedition, for the water breaking over the numerous offshore rocks that seamen called flowers in the old days (Fiore D'Aqua).

The harbour was used for boats partaking in the rich cod and seal fishery, both now long gone. In 1877 a lighthouse was built on an offshore island, Flower's Island to warn boats of the Flower's Ledge navigation hazard, and shortly after a radio beacon was also installed on the island. Both were decommissioned in 1968 but the old buildings remain, and I saw a few sheep there that were taken over to graze on the island.

This black and white image shows the abandoned old wooden house where the radio beacon and his children lived for many years. There is a stove-in dory sitting on the shore in front of the house.

abandoned houseold wooden houseradio beacon operatorFlower's LedgeFlower's IslandFlower's CoveNewfoundland