Wild Cove

The first settlers came to Wild Cove in the early 1800's. The first people to live there became involved mainly in the fishing industry. While the majority of people made their living from the sea, some found employment in the forestry and mining industries.

Population

In 1891, nineteen families made up a population of 56 people. The population decreased to 36 people in 1911. Today, in 1992, the population stands at 111 people.

Early Lifestyles & Happenings

Before the development of roads and electricity, families purchased enough food in the fall of the year to feed them all winter. After the fishing season was over, they would spend the majority of their income on food. Sacks and barrels of sugar, flour, butter and molasses were stored away for the winter months.

There was a small store in the community. The store made use of a gasoline engine to provide refrigeration for meats. People would buy meat in small amounts because they had no means of keeping it from spoiling.

Gasoline washers were used before electricity came to Wild Cove and irons were heated by placing them on the wood stove. People made their own wool by keeping sheep. They would shear the sheep and make the wool with spinning wheels.

Fishery

The backbone of Wild Cove has always been the fishing industry. Although opportunities for employment arose in the forestry and mining industries, very few residents left the fishery during the early 1900's. However, by 1980 a total of 25 people were working at the asbestos mine in Baie Verte and 25 fishermen remained. Today there are 29 fulltime and 28 part-time fishermen in the community. The cod fishery is closed now due to the moratorium but many fishermen are involved in the crab fishery, which proves to be very prosperous.

Forestry

In the early 1900's, a few men from Wild Cove worked with Bowater Company Ltd. There were two Bowater camps located on the trail leading through the country to Wild Cove.

Approximately 70 to 80 men were employed in each camp. Usually the men would stay in the woods for weeks or months at a time. One man, Jabez Wells (now deceased), from Wild Cove was a cook in one of the camps and has passed on many stories to his children about life in the woods. In the mornings a piece of iron, which hung outside the door, was hit with a rod to announce that it was time to rise. The boss would walk through the camp calling "heave out" signifying that everyone must get up.

The wood cut by Bowater in those years was hauled, by use of horses, to Middle Arm Brook near Seal Cove. Then it was floated down the river and loaded in boats or towed to Hampden with a tow boat. From there it was trucked to Corner Brook. By the mid 1950s the supply of wood was getting scarce and both of the camps were closed.