Eastport

Current Population: 557

Location: Along Route 310 in the hub of the Eastport Peninsula.

Historical Overview

Place Name Origin:

• Formerly known as Salvage Bay, Salvage New and Brighton.
• Presently known as "Eastport" because of its location on the 'east' side of Salvage.

Names and Dates of First Settlers:

• Originally settled by residents of Salvage.
• First permanently settled in 1868 by Joseph and William Squire.
• By the end of 1869 forty-five other settlers joined them.
• Some of the oldest family names in Eastport are Squire, Dyke, Babstock, Bull, Crisby, Penney, and Moss.

First Recorded Populations:

• 1966 - 431
• 1979 - 650

Major Early Industries: Fishing, farming, forestry, carpentry, and mechanics.

Interesting Facts about Eastport

• pre 1868, Maritime Archaic, Palaeoeskimo, and Beothuk natives frequent the area to hunt and fish.
• 1868, Josephine and William Squire arrive and become Eastport's first permanent settlers.
• 1870, James Burden receives title for first farm in area.
• 1890, Holy Cross Anglican Church is constructed.
• 1957, Terra Nova National Park opens, the first National Park in Newfoundland, creating new opportunities for employment in the area.
• 1959, Eastport is incorporated.
• 1973, Eastport forms its first town council.

Services

Computer/Internet: Road to the Beaches Community Access Centre. Located within Holy Cross School Complex Library / Resource Centre. Equipped with 4 computer workstations with Internet access, word processing, and presentation software programs.

Place of Worship:

• Holy Cross Anglican Church: Services vary from month to month. Contact the Anglican Rectory at (709) 677-2151 for inquiries on church services and special events.

Attractions

Eastport/Northside Beach - One of the province's best beaches. The entire family can enjoy a day of fun in the sun. Outdoor washrooms, change room facilities and cook shelters avaliable.

Bird watching - It is common for birds to get blown off course on any of the Newfoundland capes or Eastern Seaboard. Some common sea birds found along the coast include gannets, gillimonts, dovekie, sea ducks, storm petrels and purple sandpipers that congregate around the rocky coastlines. Some European birds were sited in the Spring of 1999 such as a Eurasian Oyster Catcher on Eastport Beach and a Greater Golden Plover on Northside Beach Easter Sunday, 1999.

Significant Architecture

• Holy Cross Anglican Church (built in 1890)
• Old Hearse located outside Holy Cross Cemetery (first ever used in the community)
• Cenotaph (war memorial)

Tourist Information Center: Located at the Shriners Sunshine Park on route 310 to the Eastport Penninsula. Phone (709) 677-2458.