St. Jacques - Coombs Cove

The Municipality of St. Jacques-Coomb's Cove is actually made up of six smaller communities, St. Jacques, English Harbour West, Mose Ambrose, Boxey, Wreck Cove, and Coomb's Cove. Each community is described below.

This area had a strong connection to the bank fishery. In fact, J. Petite & Sons Limited which started in the late 1800's is still standing and is the major business in the area, represented one of the major players involved in the Grand Bank's fishery. Having such reliance to the sea meant tragedy was common place. One of the more Famous and most tragic Schooner's tales involved the "Marion." The ship mysteriously disappeared in 1914 and only years later was the truth learned that the ship was in fact scuttled and the crew killed by the crew of a French Trawler (the Captain of the trawler confessed on his death bed).

Boxey

Spectacular views of the coastline are available as you travel toward Boxey and to the other communities in the area. Sandy beaches in the area offer an opportunity to relax in an uncrowded atmosphere. Stoneshead Trail takes you to one such beach.

Boxey was settled in the early 1830's. The community is thought to have gotten its name because it was cleared of box-like wood trees. The people in Boxey, like most communities, made a living on the inshore and bank fisheries. Fishing continues to be the mainstay of most individuals living in Boxey.

Coomb's Cove

Coomb's Cove is the last community located along Route 363 in the Fortune Bay North Shore area. The exact date that it was settled is not known, however it is said that a man by the name of "Coombs" lived there for about a year in the late 1700's. Gradually more people move to the cove to fish.

As with other communities in the area, fishing was and still is a mainstay. In the late 1800's the schooner fleet would sail to Labrador. Those not involved in the schooner fishery would fish the inshore stocks.

English Harbour West

English Harbour West is the largest community of the six comprising the municipality of St. Jacques - Coomb's Cove. The backdrop to the town is English Harbour Mountain from which you can see most of the other communities in the area.

The first settlers came during the late 1700's from West Country, England, and the Jersey Islands. English Harbour West was home to one of the most successful grand bank schooner operations on the south coast. English Harbour West was founded on, and still depends on, the lobster and cod fisheries be it the schooner fishery of the past or the current inshore fishery.

Mose Ambrose

Located along Route 363, Mose Ambrose was originally called Mon Jambe and later became known as Mozambrose.

Settled in the early 1800's by people from West Country of England and the Channel Islands. Like most communities along the coast Mose Ambrose was first established as fishing rooms for venturers from England. Later as permanent settlement began to take hold, Mose Ambrose was home to a number of families including, Buffett, Bungay, Clifford, Dunford, Day, Evans, Moms, Keefe, Laughlin, Little, Petite, Price, Scott, Sharp, Stagg, Simms, Pauls, Miles, Thornhill, and Yarn.

Today only two of the original family names survive in Mose Ambrose, Bungay and Yarn. Also, Mose Ambrose is home to Yarn Point Knitters, which produce and sell a variety of knitted products around the world.

St. Jacques

Located on Route 363, St. Jacques is a small fishing village and home to the annual South Coast Folk Festival.

Settlers to St. Jacques came from Ireland and later joined by settlers from England - Dorset, Somerset, Devon, and the Channel Islands. As a result this small community, like many in Newfoundland had two Churches and two Schools. Though the separate churches remain the schools have been closed down and students now go to English Harbour West. Inhabitants of St. Jacques included, Lawrence, Lee, Lovell, McCarthy, McEvoy, Myles, Petite, Burke, Cluett, Evans, and Fudge.

The mainstay for the community was and continues to be the Fishery.

Wreck Cove

Located 4 km off Route 363 on the Southside of Great Bay d'Leau surrounded by rolling hills, peaceful ponds and gravel beaches, one would find the quiet little fishing community of Wreck Cove.

Wreck Cove was once known as Rock Cove and Tibbo's Hill. The community's first school was in the parlour of the home of Charlotte and William Sheppard and later through community effort built a new school which also served as the church and entertainment centre for the community. Most men made a living fishing on the Schooners, which meant being away from home for many months of the year. This left the women to attend to the daily chores of planting gardens, making hay, tending cows and spreading fish along the beaches. Fishing is still the mainstay for the community.