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Smith's Harbour is located on the shores of a small harbour in the mouth of Green Bay, southeast of Burlington. It is located near excellent fishing grounds, particularly nearby King's Island, and is linked to Burlington by a short unpaved road of approximately 4 km.
Local History
Smith's Harbour was first settled in the mid 1800's. The first settlers were the Smith's, where the island got its name, John Smith Islands. Then there were the Hounsell's, who moved up from Stocking Harbour, a small settlement just off from Smith's Harbour. There were marks of the Indians when these people moved in. Then there were the Penney's, Kelly's, Clark's, and the Squires.
Everyone raised their own animals for meat, raised hens for eggs, caught birds to eat, and grew their own vegetables. The first religion was Church of England. Mr. Pittman would walk from Tilt Cove in snow shoes about ninety-two years ago to hold services in Levoy Shiner's House. Then a Methodist Church was built approximately seventy-five years ago. There was also a Pentecostal Church built about thirty-five years ago with Pastor Eric Goudie being the first preacher.
In the 1900's, school was carried on in Mr. Clark's house which was located on the southwest side of Smith's Harbour. From 1917 to 1942 school was carried on in the church with Mary Burry as the teacher, then there was a new one room school built by Mr. Billy Bartlett, a resident of Burlington and the teacher there for a while was Lillian Starkes. This school was also used for Christmas concerts and Times.
In 1965, the community first got electricity through diesel motor, but it is now changed so that it is received through NF and Labrador Power. In 1968 telephone services was also supplied.
There were two sawmills in Smith's Harbour in the 1930's, one owned by Mr. Thomas Squires and the other by Mr. Albert Lush, one sawmill was operated with a gas motor and the other was by steam.
Mr. Israel Hounsell was a boat builder, he built a number of boats. He also did some coopering (making barrels to pack fish and things in to be exported). There were a few men employed.
Fishing was one of the main industries, fish was caught and dried then shipped to Twillingate, until the later years, it was then shipped to Nipper's Harbour.
There were three stores in Smith's Harbour, where you could go and purchase nearly anything you wanted. The store owners would row to Twillingate in trap skiffs and bring back a load of supplies.
Mr. Albert Lush had a passenger boat to carry people to Twillingate when they needed medical attention. Babies were born at home by midwives, Annie Lush and Canella Lush. A doctor's boat would come into the area once a year for x-rays and medical examinations, until the Cottage Hospital opened in Springdale, then people went there.
Tourism
Smith's Harbour boosts a beautiful day park. Limestone Park is located in the southeast direction, just after one enters Smith's Harbour. It consists of a 30 minute hiking trail leading to a small cave 2 kms away. The park contains picnic tables, lookout site, a small beach and a swimming area. Even though it is a day park, there is a beautiful glen close to shore that's great for pitching a tent.
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