Historic

Barr'd Islands: From English Roots is a history of early English settlement in Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland, with a focus on Barr'd Islands, a small fishing community on Fogo Island. Explore the day-to-day lives of a charitable, community-minded people whose hardships were many in a time when survival from year to year was uncertain: living under the iron fist of merchant firms, subsistence farming, poverty. Also, learn of these early settlers' faith, richness of virtue, hard-work ethic, and games and amusements shared by all in the community. Finally, this book is a genealogical treasure trove that traces many well-known Newfoundland family trees back to their English roots in the 1600s. The mission of this Historic series is to bring to light the ageless character of Newfoundland and Labrador communities in an effort to preserve the history of this province and to educate future generations about this corner of the global village. Barr'd Islands: From English Roots is the first instalment in this series.

The history of Bell Island, Newfoundland, is an amazing one of a strong and courageous people who overcame the challenge of creating a community exposed to the mighty North Atlantic Ocean. Bell Island: Dawn of First Light covers the first permanent European settlers who were attracted to the rich soil of the island and to the fish in the surrounding waters. It outlines the accidental discovery of iron ore, the growth of the mining operations to become the largest submarine mine in the Commonwealth, labour unrest and the formation of a union, the factors that led to the mine's closure, and the tragic impact this would have on the residents. This is also the story of the equally determined women who fashioned the family home in both good and bad economic times.

The story of Bay Roberts is one of an ordinary people who lived through a turbulent and extraordinary past. Adventure, murder, religious strife, inventions, successful local newspapers, and enterprise make up the collective history of a community thriving in Newfoundland today. The town has hosted tragedies, unprecedented commercial prosperity (and failure), famous sea captains, buried treasure, ancient tombstones, and intriguing grave markers. Stories of eccentric characters, war heroes, and horrible shipwrecks fill these pages. The town has a fascinating link to the Titanic tragedy, was a central hub in communications and international connections for government leaders during World War II, and is the home and birthplace of many famous poets, novelists, businessmen, and politicians.