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Heritage House
 
History of the House                                           

The Bay de Verde Heritage House was built in 1896 by Mr. John Blundon and family of Bay de Verde. Mr. Blundon was a local merchant who owned schooners and traded along the coast. The house was built to accommodate his lifestyle.

The structure of the house is a good example of Merchant Class Victorian housing built on a gable-ell plan with a five sided front porch and fine interior and exterior detailing. It was built in two sections. The main section with its larger rooms, higher ceilings and more elaborate staircase was occupied by the Blundon family. The servants quarters with its smaller rooms, lower ceilings and smaller staircase was occupied by both male and female servants, shipped men, sharemen and sailors. The servant girl's bedroom is still intact.

The house was donated by Mrs. Dorothy Blundon and family to the Town of Bay de Verde on September 16, 1996 (exactly 100 years after it was constructed). It is now preserved and used as a Heritage House.

 OUR 10,000th VISITOR

On August 3, 2005 at 11:00am Robert and Catherine Postma of Ottawa, Ontario signed our Guestbook making it the 10,000th signature since the opening of the Bay de Verde Heritage House and Baccalieu Island Exhibit in 1999

AWARD of MERIT 

On November 28, 2009 Gerald Riggs, Chairman of the Bay de Verde Heritage Committee was presented with the Award of Merit from the Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador in recognition of outstanding contribution to heritage development in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. On hand for the presentation was the President of the Association Peter Latta and Vice-president Teresita McCarthy.

 

   

 MANNING AWARD 

On March 31st, 2010 at a ceremony held at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John`s  the Bay de Verde Heritage Committee was presented with a MANNING AWARD in the Community Category. This award recognizes excellence in the public presentation of historic places. Gerald Riggs, President of the Bay de Verde Heritage Committee accepted the award from Historic Sites board member Derm Bennett.

Heritage Premises Photo Gallery

Here are some of the many things to see at or near the Heritage Premises 

Other things of Interest at the Heritage Premises

* The unique architecture and style of the Bay de Verde Heritage House.

* The Baccalieu Island Exhibit.

* More than 600 artefacts.

* Replicas of a Traditional fishing stage, Cod trap, Baccalieu Island Lighthouse, Longliner, and others, all locally made and donated.

* A Research Room with information and photos of War Veterans, transcribed Cemetery Records, Church Baptismal and Marriage Records, Family trees and much more.

* Boardwalk from the house to the waterfront with murals as well as a traditional trap skiff along the way. Another boardwalk to the top level of Blundon's Point with The Spring Well along the way.

* The Blundon Family Cemetery.

* A Fish Store and Flake.

 

Some of the groups who visited the Heritage House in 2005

 

Baccalieu Island Exhibit

Baccalieu Island is located three kilometers off the tip of the Bay de Verde peninsula. Listed on maps since the 16th century it has played a very important role in navigation. A lighthouse was built on the north end of the island in 1858 and acts as a beacon for ships making trans Atlantic crossings as well as playing a key role in the local sea traffic. Another light and fog horn was placed on the south end of the island in 1904 serving as a guide for local sea traffic through Baccalieu Tickle.
Map of Baccalieu Island
The Ryan’s operated the lighthouse on the north end for almost one hundred years. Other families lived for a time on the island including the Walsh’s from Bay de Verde and the Rice’s from Red Head Cove. Many fishermen from the north and south shores of the Bay de Verde Peninsula also made Baccalieu their home during the summer fishing season. Shipwrecks have been a common occurrence at Baccalieu Island with more than 200 lives lost in more than 20 documented wrecks. Families living on the island played key roles in saving the lives of countless others.

Baccalieu Island has a varied seabird population second to none in North America. It is a nesting area for at least eleven breeding species. More than three million pairs of Leach’s Storm Petrel, the largest colony in the world, nests there. It is a site of one of only six colonies of Northern Gannet as well as one of only three nesting sites for the Northern Fulmar. The Atlantic Puffin as well as the Common Murre are found there in abundance. Baccalieu is also the most southerly limit for the Thick-billed Murre and Razorbill. Along with these species can be found the Black Guillemot, the Black-legged Kittywake, the Herring Gull and the Great Black-backed Gull. Baccalieu Island also has one of the largest winter populations of Eider Ducks in Newfoundland.

A Baccalieu Interpretation Centre was officially opened as part of the Bay de Verde Heritage House on July 5, 1999. The exhibit was funded by the Department of Tourism. It portrays the many and varied aspects of Baccalieu and is truly worth seeing.
War Veterans

World War I Veterans

World War I began in 1914 and Bay de Verde with a population of about 800 people made a significant contribution to the fighting power of the Armed Forces by sending eight of its young men to fight in the war.
Allan Blundon – born in 1896 the son of William Blundon and Mary Ann Riggs. He was killed in action on August 24, 1917 when the armed Merchantman Heatherside was sunk.
Charles Blundon – born November 13, 1895 the son of Stephen Blundon and Lydia Pretty. Charles enlisted in the Newfoundland Regiment and was wounded in action. He was given an honorable discharge in 1918.
John Thomas Keats – born on October 16, 1900 the son of David Keats and Sarah Jane Garland. He was a member of the Royal Naval Reserves.
Peter Sullivan – born in 1898 the son of John Sullivan and Alice Johnson. He enlisted in the Newfoundland Regiment in St. John's on May 23, 1916. He sailed for England with the next draft of soldiers and received basic military training at Newton Park School near Ayr, Scotland. His unit left Southampton, England on November 30, 1916 and joined their batallion in France on December 12, 1916. From then to the end of the war, he engaged in combat in many of the major battles of the Great War, including Monchy le Prieux, Steubrucken, Cambrai, Armentieres, Bailleul and twice at Ypres. He was promoted to Corporal on July 7, 1918 for his leadership at Armentieres. He was awarded the Military Medal after distinguishing himself at the heavy fighting around Bailleul, France in the spring of 1918. During his time of combat, he was wounded three times, for which he received three Wound Stripes. His most serious wound occurred during the assault on Kieberg Ridge on September 29, 1918. He was sent to hospital in nearby Boulogne and from there he was transferred to London where he stayed until November 8, 1918. He returned to Newfoundland on the RMS Corsican on February 7, 1919 and was discharged from the Regiment on March 20, 1919. 
Philip Walsh – born January 3, 1894 the son of Patrick Walsh and Elizabeth Sullivan. Philip enlisted in the Newfoundland Regiment May 26, 1916. During battle on August 2, 1917 he received gunshot wounds to both legs as well as shapnel wounds to his body. He was hospitalized and medically discharged from the Regiment on January 11, 1918.
No Photo Matthew Jacobs – born in 1896 the son of George Jacobs and Victoria Coish. He was a member of the Royal Naval Reserves. A medal for bravery is on display at the Bay de Verde Heritage House.
No Photo Robert James Keats – born December 26, 1894 the son of John Keats and Selina Emberley. He was a Private in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
No Photo Chesley Coish – born in 1900 the son of George Coish and Mary Ann Head. He was a Private in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment enlisting in July of 1918.
John Walsh – born October 12, 1897 the son of Joseph Walsh and Julia Cleary. He enlisted in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment on May 22, 1918 and went overseas to England on July 22, 1918. He was discharged September 3, 1919. It is believed that he emigrated to Canada shortly after.


World War II Veterans

World War II began in 1939 and again Bay de Verde answered the call to arms by sending an even greater number of its men to fight for freedom.

James Barter – born August 22, 1922 son of Bertram Barter and Suzanna Barrett. He joined the Royal Navy and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on November 27, 1939. He had the distinction of being the youngest of the volunteers from Bay de Verde at just 17 years of age.
Alfred Blundon – born in 1919 son of James Blundon and Hannah Pottle. He joined the Royal Navy and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on November 27, 1939. Alfred's contribution was particularly unique and helped people in a far different way than the actual war effort. When his ship was on patrol in the South Atlantic, they visited the remote Island of Tristan de Cunha. Local fishermen there, were catching crayfish using a hoop covered with netting. Alfred thought that this method was very inefficient and consequently proceeded to make a lobster pot. On first try, the lobster pot filled with crayfish. A new method of fishing, used to this day, was born in Tristan de Cunha.
Donald Blundon – born July 13, 1920 son of Moses Blundon and Janet Barrett. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John's and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on November 27, 1939. After arriving in England he was assigned to a base in Devonport where he did basic training in handling small boats.
Malcolm Blundon – born in 1917 son of James Blundon and Eliza Riggs. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John’s and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on November 27, 1939. After arriving in England he was assigned to a base in Devonport where he did basic training in handling small boats.
Thomas Doyle – born in 1916 son of Moses Doyle and Mary Riggs. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John’s and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on November 27, 1939.
Charles Emberley – born Sept 28, 1917 son of James Emberley and Lillian Rolls. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John’s and went overseas with the 8th Naval Draft on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on Nov 27, 1939.
No Photo Maxwell Maidment – born in 1918 son of William James Maidment and Mona Boone of Hant's Harbour. He joined the Royal Navy and sailed with the first Two Hundred. After the war he made his home at Bay de Verde.
Harrison Riggs – born Sept 6, 1916 son of Nehemiah Riggs and Lucy Vivian. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John’s and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland, on November 27, 1939.
Leonard Riggs – born October 16, 1916 son of Thomas Riggs and Selina Norris. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John’s and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on November 27, 1939.
Richard Sutton – born October 1, 1919 son of James Sutton and Beatrice Button. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John's on May 3, 1940.
Joseph Woodrow – born December 27, 1916 son of Richard Woodrow and Elizabeth Doyle. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John's in 1940. He did basic training in Davenport, England.


Korean War Veterans 1950-1953

Canada's Armed Forces was involved in the Korean War and three men from Bay de Verde fought in that war.

William Emberley – born March 5, 1929 son of Robert Emberley and Harriett Harnum
Hayward Keats – born August 25, 1922 son of Isaac Keats and Mary Fry. Hayward served with the Royal Canadian Engineers during the Korean War. Following service with the Royal Canadian Engineers during the Korean War, Hayward was among the first Canadian Peacekeepers deployed with the United Nations Emergency Force in
Egypt from 1959-1960. He went on to complete 22 years of service in the
Canadian Forces, retiring in 1973. He received the Korean Medal, United
Nations Service Medal, United Nations Emergency Force Medal, Korean
Volunteer Service Medal, Canadian Peacekeeping Medal and the Canadian Force
Decoration.
Clyde Pryor – born October 27, 1932 son of Archibald Pryor and Emily Jane Baldwin


Forestry Unit of World War II

In addition to calling for volunteers for the Royal Navy, England also asked the Commission of Government of Newfoundland to recruit two thousand loggers to engage in timber operations in the British Isles. The Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit was formed on November 19, 1939. Volunteers from Bay de Verde were:

Albert Blundon born December 6, 1910 son of Stephen and Mary Ellen Blundon
Harry Blundon born 1900 son of Stephen and Mary Ellen Blundon
Levi Coish born 1918 son of Allan Coish and Alice Button
Frank Coish born 1917 son of Thomas Coish and Florence Snow
Thomas Coish born June 11, 1899 son of Robert Coish and Hannah Sutton
Isaac Emberley born August 23, 1913 son of Isaac Emberley and Amelia Milley
James Fitzgibbons born December 11, 1911 son of William Fitzgibbons and Catherine Power
Michael Moore born 1904 son of Andrew Moore and Elizabeth Doyle
Maurice Noonan born April 14, 1912 son of Thomas Noonan and Mary Hennessey
James Riggs born July 31, 1905 son of Thomas Francis Riggs and Mary Lynch
Andrew Riggs born July 6, 1899 son of Thomas Francis Riggs and Mary Lynch
Thomas Riggs born 1920 son of Patrick Riggs and Elizabeth Mullally
John Walsh born April 2, 1897 son of Michael Walsh and Mary Jo Traverse
 

                                                         LEST WE FORGET
                      A tribute to the men and women who fought in the wars.

In Flanders Fields

                                     In Flanders fields the poppies blow
                                  Between the crosses, row on row
                                    That mark our place; and in the sky
                                     The larks, still bravely singing, fly
                                  Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

- John McCrae  

Reply to Flanders Fields

Oh! sleep in peace where poppies grow;
The torch your falling hands let go
Was caught by us, again held high,
A beacon light in Flanders sky
That dims the stars to those below.
You are our dead, you held the foe,
And ere the poppies cease to blow,
We'll prove our faith in you who lie
In Flanders Fields.
Oh! rest in peace, we quickly go
To you who bravely died, and know
In other fields was heard the cry,
For freedom's cause, of you who lie,
So still asleep where poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields.

As in rumbling sound, to and fro,
The lightning flashes, sky aglow,
The mighty hosts appear, and high
Above the din of battle cry,
Scarce heard amidst the guns below,
Are fearless hearts who fight the foe,
And guard the place where poppies grow.
Oh! sleep in peace, all you who lie
In Flanders Fields.

And still the poppies gently blow,
Between the crosses, row on row.
The larks, still bravely soaring high,
Are singing now their lullaby
To you who sleep where poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

- John Mitchell    

Genealogy

The Heritage House has a complete collection of Family Trees for all families of Bay de Verde, Red Head Cove and Daniel's Cove as well as some for Grates Cove, Low Point and Old Perlican from as far back as Anglican and Roman Catholic records were kept. (see list below) These Family Trees are available for viewing at the Heritage House and copies may be purchased there during opening hours at a cost of $10 each. If any person wishes to have a copy mailed to them the total cost is $15 payable by cheque or Postal Money Order. For further information you may contact the Heritage Committee Secretary by phone at (709) 587 2260 or President Gerald Riggs at (709) 587 2021.
E-mail contacts are bandbdoyle@eastlink.ca or carl_riggs@hotmail.com  

FAMILY NAMES OF BAY DE VERDE

 ABBOTT  DUFFETT  KING  PRYOR
 ADEY  EMBERLEY  KINSELLA  QUINLAN
 BAILEY  FITZGIBBONS  LOCKYER  RIGGS
 BARTER  FLEMING  LOONEY  ROUSE
 BLUNDON  FLYNN  LYNCH  RYAN
 BRADY  FOLEY  MACKEY  STEVENS
 BROADERS  FROST  MAIDMENT  SULLIVAN
 BRODERICK  FROUD  MANGAN  SUTTON
 COISH  GARRETT  McCARTHY  TAVERNER
 CONWAY  GREEN  MOORE  WALSH
 COTTER  HYDE  MURPHY  WHALEN
 CRITCH  HURLEY  NOONAN  WOODROW
 DAGWELL  JACOBS  NORMORE  
 DINEEN  KEATS  NORRIS  
 DINN  KEEFE  NORTH  
 DOYLE  KEYES  O'NEILL  

Family Names of Red Head Cove

 BRADY  CARPENTER  COLBERT  HATCH
 HOGAN  HYDE  KEHOE  MASON
 McCARTHY  MILLER  QUINLAN  RICE
 TARRANT  WALSH  

Some Family Names of Grates Cove

 BRODERICK  BURKE  DOYLE  DUGGAN
 ELMORE  GEARY  GRACE  JANES
 MARTIN  NORRIS  SHAW

 Family Names of Daniel's Cove

 GORMAN  HOWARD  KELLY  MURPHY

Family Names of Low Point

 BOLAND  BRIEN  HANNAN  HANRAHAN
 HEARNE  HENNESSEY  McNAMARA  POWER
 WALSH  WHITE

Some Family Names of Old Perlican

 COLLINS  HALLAGHAN  KAVANAGH  MILLER

 

Below is a sample Family Descendancy Tree as can be seen at the Heritage House

LYNCH— a surname of England and Ireland from Old English hlinc meaning dweller by the hill. Traced in Devon and in Counties Antrim, Down, Caven, Clare, Cork, Tipperary, Donegal and Tyrone. Thomas Lynch may have come to Bay de Verde as a servant to the Stevens, an established English planter family. He married Sera, a daughter of Charles Stevens. He was also given land by Sera’s brother Henry and was in possession of such land in 1794. It appears that the first  Thomas or perhaps his son moved to Tickle Harbour, now Bellevue sometime before 1839 while his older son John stayed at Bay de Verde. The Lynch name disappeared from Bay de Verde with the death of Daniel in 1972. Some of the descendants of the first Lynch still live at Bellevue. 

Descendants of Thomas Lynch 

1  Thomas LYNCH b: Abt. 1770 in Ireland

+Sera STEVENS b: Abt. 1780 in Bay de Verde, NL m: Before 1805

..2  John LYNCH b: October 20, 1806 in Bay de Verde, NL

.. +Sarah KEEFE b: Abt. 1810 in Bay de Verde, NL m: May 24, 1828 in Harbour Grace, NL

. ..3  Michael LYNCH b: September 01, 1828 in Bay de Verde, NL

. ..3  John LYNCH b: May 17, 1831 in Bay de Verde, NL

..... .+Mary MURPHY b: October 06, 1832  m: October 17, 1856 in Northern Bay

.... 4  Patrick LYNCH b: September 01, 1857 in Bay de Verde, NL

.... 4  John LYNCH b: December 24, 1859 in Bay de Verde, NL

.... 4  Daniel LYNCH b: July 13, 1862 in Bay de Verde, NL

.... 4  Andrew LYNCH b: July 20, 1866 in Bay de Verde, NL

........ +Mary F BROADERS b: Aug 20, 1869 in Bay de Verde m: June 02, 1901 in Bay de Verde , NL

...... ..5  Catherine LYNCH b: February 14, 1908 in Bay de Verde, NL d: 1990 in Bay de Verde, NL

.......... ..+William FLEMING b: Nov 18, 1905 in Bay de Verde m: Nov 18, 1929  d: Feb 13, 1986 in Bay de Verde

...... ..5  Daniel LYNCH b: 1906 in Bay de Verde, NL d: June 16, 1972 in Bay de Verde, NL

.......... .+Margaret ABBOTT b: 1910 in Bay de Verde m: Abt 1940 d: Dec 20, 1973 in Bay de Verde, NL

.... 4  Mary Joseph LYNCH b: April 14, 1869 in Bay de Verde, NL

........ +Thomas Francis RIGGS b: Sept 11, 1870 in Bay de Verde m: 1896 in Bay de Verde , NL

.... 4  Margaret LYNCH b: February 09, 1873 in Bay de Verde, NL

........ +Michael NORTH b: June 08, 1873 in Bay de Verde m: Nov 24, 1897  d: Mar 25, 1947 in Bay de Verde

3  Margaret LYNCH b: September 08, 1833 in Bay de Verde, NL

. ...3  Patrick LYNCH b: February 14, 1836 in Bay de Verde, NL

. 3  John LYNCH b: January 23, 1842 in Bay de Verde, NL

..2  Thomas LYNCH b: April 07, 1810 in Bay de Verde, NL (may be the son who moved to Tickle Harbour )

..2  Anne LYNCH b: May 26, 1816 in Bay de Verde, NL

 

PROFILE OF FAMILY NAMES OF BAY DE VERDE

ABBOTT—This is a surname of England, Ireland and Scotland and is derived from Old English “abbot” meaning the head of an abbey of monks. The Abbott surname is found quite extensively in the Bonavista area but no link has been made to those of the Bay de Verde area. James Abbott likely came from Waterford, Ireland to Bay de Verde as an indentured servant to one of the established planters sometime after 1812. The first record of this family name at Bay de Verde occurs in the Anglican Baptismal Records where James Abbott and Mary Blundon are recorded as having a child James baptised in the Anglican Church by Rev. Fredrick Carrington on April 23, 1814. The baptism of the next two children however, is found in the Catholic baptismal records at Harbour Grace which would indicate that James Abbott was a Catholic. Mary was a daughter of Thomas Blundon which could partly explain the baptism in the Anglican Church. Then again, people of the time were interested in having the child baptised by a clergyman and Carrington may have been the only one available at the time.  

ADEY—EADY—EDDY—  This name has been traced to Cornwall and Devon in England. It is one of the older name at Bay de Verde, probably from the area of Bristol in England. Mary, a daughter of Stephen and Sarah Adey was baptised by Rev John Clinch on September 7, 1797 at Bay de Verde. She was six years old. The Plantation Book has Stephen Adey owning land at Bay de Verde in 1782, so we can assume that he must have come here at least by that year. The name has undergone several changes over the years. They were originally known as ADEY but in later years the name changed to EADY at Bay de Verde and EDDY at Sibley’s Cove. Descendants of Stephen were living at Bay de Verde until October 19, 2002 when his great great grandson Thomas Eddy died. Some of Stephen’s other descendants are still living close by at Sibley’s Cove. Another family of Adey’s were at Hant’s Harbour but it is not known if they are connected to those of Bay de Verde.

BAYLEY- BAILEY— The earliest Bailey at Bay de Verde was Richard Bayley who was here in 1675 with 32 men fishing with six boats. Only one family of Bailey’s has been found at Bay de Verde after that time, a John Bailey born in 1766 and married to Elizabeth. John Bailey is deeded land by his father-in-law in1805 according to the Plantation Book Records. No surname has been found for Elizabeth. Eight children are born to John and Elizabeth between 1803 and 1824 but what is strange about this family is that not one of the children are found at any later time in the Anglican or any other records for Bay de Verde. Could it be that all of them died young? Mortality rates were very high at the time but this would be unlikely. In any case if they lived, none of them settled down at Bay de Verde but both John and Elizabeth lived out their days here, as both of them are shown in the Anglican Burial Records. It is not known if this John was connected to the Bailey’s of the Bonaventure area of Trinity Bay, although it is quite likely that he came from that area, as there were Bailey’s with similar naming patterns there much earlier.

 

BARTER—A surname of England and Ireland meaning a barterer or exchanger. The name has been traced mostly in Devon, England. The Barter name is found at Bay de Verde shortly after1800 when Amos and Robert who appear to be brothers arrive here. Amos had only one daughter, Clara who was born in 1820 and died in 1852. William, however, was a bit more prolific. He married Suzanna Lockyer and they had two sons and two daughters. Suzanna was a daughter of William Lockyer who owned a prime piece of waterfront property. The property is shared with the Barters and continued to be owned by both families until it was abandoned with the close of the cod fishery in 1992. The Barter surname was also found  at St. John’s but it is not known if the Barters of Bay de Verde were related.

 

BLUNDON—BLUNDELL—This is a surname of England and has sometimes been used interchangeably, but in this area it has always been Blundon. It is a fairly old name at Bay de Verde dating from at least as early as about 1770. It is difficult to say whether or not the three Blundon families at Bay de Verde were related. Naming patterns would tend to suggest that they were, but there are some things to indicate that they were not. The Plantation Book has a Thomas Blundon owning land there in 1770. A John Blundon is listed as selling land at Bay de Verde in 1783. He later moved to Grates Cove and from there to Catalina and then back to Lower Island Cove. Stephen, one of his sons moved to Hickman’s Harbour on the south shore of Random Island and set up a timber business and is acclaimed as the first settler of that community. Other descendants settled in many places in the Random Sound area as well as other parts of Trinity Bay. Some of the Bay de Verde Blundons are descended from James Blundon who married Mary Stevens, a daughter of an old established planter family and began a family in 1788. Others Blundons are descended from Thomas Blundon, a possible son of the first Thomas who also began a family in 1788. Their descendants still live at Bay de Verde today.

 

BRADY— This is a surname of England, Ireland and Scotland. The name has been traced by MacLysaght in the Irish Counties of Cavan, Leitrim and Clare. It is one of the Irish family names that shows up at Bay de Verde shortly after 1800. There is a possibility that some of these men came as Irish servants to work for the established English Planters at Bay de Verde. They would be required to work for the planter for up to 5 years before they would be free to go on their own. In some cases these men married into these Protestant families. John Brady was one of them. He married Anne Blundon, a daughter of James Blundon, an established planter. Francis, the first son of John Brady moved to St. John’s when he was young and married Mary Walsh from Carrick on Sur in County Waterford, Ireland. He and his family went on to establish a grocery business on Duckworth Street. The other Brady’s established themselves at Bay de Verde and Red Head Cove. To the southwest of Red Head Cove along by the brook, Thomas Brady built a winter tilt and had a farm there for many years. The area is still referred to as Brady’s today. At Bay de Verde the Brady’s were well known as master carpenters. John Brady, born in 1864 was one of the head carpenters who built the Roman Catholic Church at Bay de Verde. The name died out in this area in 1978 with the death of Michael Brady.

 

BROADERS— BRODERICK— The name Broders is an old Irish name with the following derivatives in Ireland: O Bruador, O Brouder, O Broder, O Brother, Brauder, Brooder, Bruder, Brothers , Brauders, Brodders, and Broderick. It is derived from an old Gaelic word “brauder”, meaning a dream or reverie. There were four distinct families of this name in Ireland: one each in Galway, Ossary, Donegal and Cork. They were also traced in Kilkenny. Those of Bay de Verde likely came from Kilkenny, Cork or Waterford.  The two names of this area are Broaders and Broderick. These two names have been used interchangeably in this area since they first appeared in the late 1700's. Many records will say that they are the same name. However, they are two distinctly different families in this area. The Broaders family were at Bay de Verde prior to 1800. John Walsh and Thomas Broaders are listed in the Plantation Book as having a company here in 1804. This was likely a Cooperage as John Walsh is listed as a Cooper in another entry of the Plantation Book. John Broaders was born in 1799, a son of John Broaders who is listed as owning property at Bay de Verde in 1793. It does not appear that the Broaders owned any waterfront property at foreside, the prime fishing area. The Broaders family chose to live and fish at the backside area of Bay de Verde, with fishing premises there until the 1950's. Thomas Brawders is listed in the 1800 census for Grates Cove. It is not known if he is the same Thomas Broaders who is listed at Bay de Verde earlier. It is at Grates Cove that the name changes to Broderick, but baptismal and marriage records still list them sometimes as Broaders. The Brodericks living at Bay de Verde today, have their roots at Lower Island Cove. William Broderick, a grandson of the first William Broderick who lived at Lower Island Cove, came to Bay de Verde in the late 1920's and wouldn’t you know , married into the Broaders family. Sorting out the records has been quite a challenge, but family naming patterns has helped clarify the different lines. Today the distinctive names still hold. There are Broderick’s and Broaders’s at Bay de Verde but only Broderick’s at Grates Cove.

 

COISH— A surname of England, traced mostly in Devon. Family tradition is that the first Coish came from England and settled in Ochre Pit Cove and later some of his descendants moved to Indian Islands. A Thomas Coish is shown in the Plantation Book records for Ochre Pit Cove as owning land there in 1786. Two of his sons made their homes in Bay de Verde around 1830. Robert Coish born in 1807 came to Bay de Verde and operated a schooner for the Duffett family. His brother Richard born in 1804 married a girl from Ochre Pit Cove but also settled at Bay de Verde. The naming pattern for the Coish’s of Bay de Verde are similar to those of the Ochre Pit Cove area . Names such as Thomas, Richard and Robert are found in both areas. Today this is one of the most common names at Bay de Verde.

 

CONWAY— a surname of England and Ireland that has been traced to Counties Clare, Tyrone, Sligo and Mayo in Ireland. The Conway’s of Bay de Verde are descended from John Conway from County Cork who settled at Turk’s Cove on the south side of Trinity Bay. His son Richard Conway had a son and two daughters who came to Bay de Verde around the turn of the century. Henry Conway married Josephine Cotter while his sister Frances married Michael Cotter. Another sister, Mary married Edward Walsh and many of their descendants are still living at Bay de Verde today.

 

COTTER— This is a surname of England and Ireland which has been traced in Devon and County Cork. The Cotter name has been at Bay de Verde since as early as 1783. That is when James Cotter bought waterfront property from John Blundon for 15 pounds and another piece from John Janes in 1792 for 12 pounds. He along with Henry Ryan also acquired a rather large prime piece of property where the wharf is today. He seems to have been a rather enterprising fellow as a later Plantation Book record shows William Danson, a Bristol merchant buying the property from James Cotter and Henry Ryan for 240 pounds. Whether it was a good move or not is open to question, as his descendants were then forced to established fishing premises at the Backside of Bay de Verde, a much rougher area. The Cotters seem to have a knack for farming as they cleared and planted gardens in many places around Bay de Verde especially on the south side of the harbour where most of them lived. Although the descendants of James Cotter have lived at Bay de Verde since about 1800, most of them have moved to other parts of Canada and the United States. Only one family now makes Bay de Verde their home.

 

CRITCH— This is a variant of the surname of England Crutch (dweller by the cross). Critch or Crutch as it was often recorded is another name that has been at Bay de Verde since 1794. Nathanial Crutch receives land by deed of gift from Roger Bryan in 1794. It may be that Natt married one of Bryan’s daughters or they were related in some way. Some of the Critch’s moved to Lower Island Cove and later to Hant’s Harbour and from there to the north side of Trinity Bay, but some of them remained at Bay de Verde and intermarried. The name has not been at Bay de Verde for quite some time. The last directory with the name Critch was 1864. It did not occur in any later directories. In 1868 Thomas Keefe bought the Critch property located on the north of Backside from Sarah Critch(Emberley), wife of George Critch. This family  had moved to St. John’s some years earlier. It appears that George died sometime after 1864 and his wife and son, John who was now working as a cooper in St. John’s decided to cut their ties to Bay de Verde and so they sold their property.

 

DAGWELL— this somewhat unusual family name was at Bay de Verde at least as early as 1828 as there is a child born to William Garrett and Ann Dagwell in 1828. Ann is likely a sister of Thomas Dagwell who has a child baptized in 1843. The name is one of the few  that is not found in Seary’s family names of Newfoundland. One of the daughters of  Thomas married into the Blundon family and another married a Beckett from Old Perlican. Nothing is known of the other children.

 

DINEEN--- a surname of County Cork, Ireland. Timothy Dineen was born in Lismore, Ireland in 1772 and came to Bay de Verde in 1792 as a young  man. Sometime after 1805 he acquired the Bay de Verde Plantation of Dr. John Clinch of Trinity. This was quite a large plantation located adjacent to where the launchway is today and extending north to the first cliff and eastward for more than 600 feet. Timothy went on to develop quite a large mercantile fishing enterprise consisting of a Cooper’s Shop and a cookhouse where his hired men stayed. He married Johanna Hyde, a sister of Thomas Hyde of Bay de Verde and had one son Thomas. When Timothy died in 1832 he left half his estate to his son Thomas and the other half to his brother-in-law Thomas Hyde. He bequeated his house to Bishop Fleming of St. John’s but allowed Thomas Hyde to live in it until Bishop Fleming chose to dispossess him of it. Timothy Dineen’s headstone is still standing in the Chapel Rock Cemetery at Bay de Verde.

 

DINN—DENN—the surname Dinn is of England and Denn is of Ireland. Denn has been traced to Counties Waterford and Kilkenny in Ireland. The records show that the name has been used interchangeably at Bay de Verde. The first occurrence of the name at Bay de Verde is a Thomas Dinn who married Bridget Looney and had a son John baptized on June 12, 1840 as per the Northern Bay Baptismal Records. John is still listed as a fisherman at Bay de Verde in 1904, however no descendants of the family remain today.

 

DOYLE—a surname of Ireland of Norse Origin. It was found to be one of the most numerous names around Wexford. Research has indicated that the four Doyles who came and settled on the North Shore of Conception Bay at about the same time may have been brothers or at least closely related. James Doyle settled at Carbonear, Michael and John settled at Gull Island while Morgan settled at Grates Cove. Although Morgan Doyle settled at Grates Cove in the first decade of the 1800’s, he is included with the Bay de Verde families as the majority of his descendants lived there. Two of Morgan Doyle’s children married children of Thomas Noonan of Bay de Verde. Morgan’s only son Moses married Anne Noonan while his youngest daughter, Eleanor married Dennis Noonan. In 1856 Moses died leaving Anne with a young family of two daughters and four sons. As Morgan was deceased by this time, Anne had no family support at Grates Cove, so she moved back to Bay de Verde to raise her family. She later married Patrick Whalan from Broom Cove near Bay de Verde. Two of her sons, Michael and Moses married Mackey sisters from Bay de Verde and later moved back to take over the plantation at Grates Cove and raise their families. Her son Thomas married  Mary Riggs while the youngest son John married Mary Flynn. Her daughter Catherine married James Broaders while Theresa married Lawrence Keyes. All four raised large families at Bay de Verde.

 

DUFFETT— This is a surname of England from a nickname dove-head or dove-foot which has been traced in Dorset. The Duffetts are one of the earliest recorded planters at Bay de Verde. Although property is not listed for the Duffett’s until after 1800, baptismal records indicate they were here much earlier. According to the Bay de Verde Anglican baptismal records, a child named Thomas is baptized for Thomas Duffett and Anne Stevens in 1786. The Duffett’s had large families who also intermarried with the some of the Catholic families such as the Moore, Broaders and Woodrow families. Some of the Duffett’s moved across Trinity Bay to Random Island and began lines of Duffett’s there. Descendants of the Duffett’s can today be found in many areas of Newfoundland, Canada and the United States. The Duffett name has disappeared from Bay de Verde for more than fifty years. The Duffett’s are of two lines, that of Thomas and George who are likely to be brothers or at least closely related.

 

EMBERLEY— A surname of England from the place name Embley in Hampshire or a variant of the surname Emberey from the place name Emborough in Somerset. This is one of the few families known to have been at Bay de Verde continually since at least 1781. According to a notice of probate Stephen came from Christchurch, County of Hants, England. Joseph Emberley, a Newfoundland trader who retired to Ringwood in Hants may have been related to the first Stephen Emberley. The name Joseph is one that occurs right down through the family. The first Stephen Emberley of Bay de Verde was in possession of land given to him by Sarah Banks in 1781. Stephen no doubt received the property when he married Catherine, a daughter of Sarah Banks. The Banks had been at Bay de Verde since at least 1716. Sarah is the wife of an Unknown Banks who likely came after the French raids of 1705 or may have been one who endured the raids. The Banks property was located on the south side of the harbour in the most sheltered area adjacent and south of the Taverner Plantation, which indicates that the Banks may have been connected to that early family. The Emberley’s lived and fished in the same area since that time, and their descendants still live at Bay de Verde today. The Emberley fishing premises were sold to Quinlan Brothers around 1980 when they needed it for an extension to their sea-food  processing facilities.

 

FITZGIBBONS— A surname of Ireland meaning son of Gibbon. It is a surname of Tipperary and Cork in Ireland. The first Fitzgibbons to Conception Bay appear to be  brothers Cornelius and Jeremiah  who were living in the Harbour Grace area in 1832. Three grandsons of Cornelius later moved to Redlands, near Job’s Cove. They are relative late-comers to Bay de Verde, the first arriving here after the 1850's. The first to arrive was Stephen Fitzgibbons who first married Mary Quinlan and later Julia Whalen, a daughter of Thomas Whalen from Broom Cove near Bay de Verde. Stephen lived at Broom Cove and later moved to Bay de Verde where some of his descendants live today. Jeremiah Fitzgibbons is listed in the early Otterbury census. In 1831 he married  Mary Jacobs, a daughter of Henry Jacobs of Bay de Verde and moved here. Their children were Henry, Mary and William, none of whom married. This family seem to have become Anglicans, as Henry and Mary are listed in the Anglican records at Bay de Verde.

 

FLEMING— Fleming is a surname of England, Ireland and Scotland. It means “the man from Flanders.” It is another one of the Irish names that shows up at Bay de Verde in the early 1800's. Michael Fleming is another of the young Irish men who married into a Protestant planter family. It is quite possible that he was one of the ten Irish youngsters brought over by the established English Planters of Bay de Verde. He married Letitia Blundon, a daughter of James Blundon an established planter. Together they raised a large family of five girls and four boys. Today there is only one Fleming household in Bay de Verde.

 

FLYNN— FLING— This name is derived from the Irish O Floinn meaning “ruddy”and is quite widespread in Ireland. The earliest Flynn at Bay de Verde was a man by the name of Dominick Flynn. He appears to have been a merchant or at least to have had the backing of a merchant. In 1797 he purchased the Taverner Plantation from Trinity merchant Samuel White for the sum of 300 pounds, quite a large amount at the time. For the next two decades Dominick Flynn built up a thriving mercantile fishing business. He was still living at Bay de Verde according to the 1839 voter’s list, however, his property is by this time in the possession of Thomas O’Neill who came to Bay de Verde in 1824. There is some indication that Flynn experiences some financial difficulties which enabled O’Neill to obtain the property. The other Flynn’s at Bay de Verde do not seem to be connected in any way to Dominick Flynn.The naming pattern for these Flynn’s do not have a single Dominick. The other Flynn’s at Bay de Verde are descended from James Flynn and Mary Walsh. These Flynn’s were often referred to as Fling in many of the baptismal and marriage records and even the last ones living at Bay de Verde were often called Fling. The Flynn family name became extinct at Bay de Verde in 2002 with the death of John Flynn.

 

FOLEY—FOWLOW— According to Seary’s Family Names of Newfoundland, this is a variant of the surnames of Ireland, Fowloo and Foley a surname of England from the English name Foolow (Derbyshire). A William Fowlow owned property at Bay de Verde before 1800 as per the Plantation Book Records. The name has usually been Foley at Bay de Verde while it has been Fowlow at Trinity. The name has long been extinct here.

 

FROST---  A surname of England and Ireland with a variety of implications associated with frost, such as white-haired or cold in demeanour. The earliest instance of the name at Bay de Verde is James in 1802. He later married at Grates Cove and his descendants began their nomadic lives around Conception and Trinity Bays. Some of James Frosts descendants became schooner owners and traders which accounts for their movements around the bays.

 

FROUD— A surname of England from the Old English personal name Froda. The Froud name has been at Bay de Verde since at least just after the 1760's. The Anglican baptismal records list two children of William Froud and Suzanna baptised August 15, 1766. This family is listed in the 1913 voter’s list at Bay de Verde, but their descendants seem to have moved away by 1935.

 

GARRETT— This is a surname of England and Ireland which is also one of several variants of the surname Jerrett. The name has been traced in Devon which is where the Bay de Verde Garrett’s likely originated. The earliest Garrett at Bay de Verde according to Seary book of family names was a Thomas Garrett in 1781 but the earliest to be found in any records here is a baptism of Jonas to William Garrett and Ann Dagwell in 1828. It is quite possible that William was a son of the early Thomas as a son born to Jonas and Catherine Emberley in 1869 was named William Thomas Garrett.

 

GREEN— A surname of England, Ireland and the Channel Islands. The name Walter Green appears in the 1832 Census for Bay de Verde. It is not known where he came from but he married Bridget, a daughter of Thomas North. Although Walter and Bridget had five children, non are found in any later marriage or baptismal records, so it is apparent that they moved away from this area.

 

HURLEY— The name Hurley probably came from Cork, Ireland. The Hurley’s were at Bay de Verde from early 1800. Michael Hurley probably came as an indentured servant to one of the Duffett planters. Michael married into the Duffett family and other Hurley’s married into the Cotter’s and Noonan’s. The family name was at Bay de Verde until shortly after 1900. It is possible that these Hurley’s were related to those of the North Shore of Conception Bay.

 

HYDE— Hyde is a surname of England and Ireland. The Hyde’s show up at Bay de Verde in the early 1800's. Thomas Hyde was recorded in the 1839 Voter’s List for Bay de Verde. A reference in the Thomas Cole Collection refers to a Thomas Hyde who was a Newfoundland trader and oil dealer who had properties in Poole, England, and who went bankrupt. Thomas Street bought High Street and five Hill Street tenement properties in Poole from Thomas Hyde. This may be the Thomas Hyde who later is established at Bay de Verde and who is referred to in the journal of Oliver Rouse in 1847- 48. Thomas does not appear to be an ordinary individual but rather a man of influence. Ten days after Rouse’s arrival at Bay de Verde, Mrs. Hyde takes tea with them. Later Mrs. Rouse rides to Lower Island Cove in Mr. Hyde’s cab. Many references are made to him in the journal as helping to oversee distribution of relief to the poor and overseeing road work, which was the means by which the poor received their allowance. No reference is made to him attending the Anglican Church, so one can assume that he was Roman Catholic. Michael and Thomas, who are likely sons of Thomas Hyde married and raised families in this area. Michael and his descendants lived at Bay de Verde while Thomas first married Catherine Colbert and later Mary Rice, a daughter of Patrick Rice of Red Head Cove. Thomas and Mary then moved to Red Head Cove where his descendants still live today. When  Timothy Dineen who was married to Johanna, a sister of Thomas Hyde died in 1832 he left half of his plantation to Hyde as well as all of his other property in the harbour. This is the waterfront property on the north side of Bay de Verde next to the slipway that was bought from Thomas Street  by John Clinch of Trinity and was later obtained by Timothy Dineen. The Hydes of Red Head Cove owned this property right up until the 1970's. Today a new wharf is built there. They also claimed a small part of the property at Canaille, a plantation owned prior to 1750 by Henry Barnes of County Dorset in England and later by Thomas Stone, an agent for the Lester’s at Trinity. It seems that Thomas Hyde obtained the property from Stone before he moved back to England early in the 1800's.

 

JACOBS— The first record of this surname at Bay de Verde is Ruth Jacobs, born August 29, 1784 to Henry Jacobs and Martha. The Plantation Book lists Henry Jacobs as owning property deeded to him as a gift from William Sheppard in 1788. This gift of property known as the Sheppards Room may have been given to Henry when he married Martha, who is likely a daughter of Sheppard .The Jacobs used this property until the 1950's. The Jacobs name was quite numerous at Bay de Verde all during the 1800’s and early 1900’s. Some of them moved to other areas of the island especially the Random Sound area. It is not known if the Jacobs of Bay de Verde were related to the Jacobs of the Northern Bay area. Very few Jacobs are left in the area today.

 

KEATS— a surname of England, especially of Devon, from the Old English word cyte meaning worker at the shed for animals hence, herdsman. The earliest Keats were located in the Bonavista area and it is believed that Robert came to settle at Bay de Verde around 1850. We know that the Keats were relative latecomers to Bay de Verde, as witnessed by their settling location on the outskirts of Bay de Verde at a place called Ladder Point. There they built their stage at the bottom of an almost vertical 250 foot cliff and carried their fish on hand barrows to the flakes at the top by means of a narrow bridge of 365 steps built zig-zag up the steep cliff. Several families of Keats still remain at Bay de Verde.

 

KEEFE or O’KEEFE is a family name that originated in Cork, Ireland. They are descended from the son of King Fionghuine of Munster who was slain in 902. The name is derived from the Gaelic, O Caoimh or caom, meaning gentle or noble. The first family of Keefe’s at Bay de Verde was Michael who married Elizabeth King about 1805. Michael Keefe bought property from Hurley Paul in 1801 for 1 pound according to the Plantation Book Records of 1804-05. There were several families of Keefe’s at Bay de Verde and it is not certain how they are connected if at all. There appears to be a connection to the Keefe’s of Tilting on Fogo Island as well as to those of Harbor Grace. Thomas Keefe of 1814 who married Mary Woodrow was a son of Michael Keefe of Harbour Grace. The name Keefe has been extinct from Bay de Verde since the last decade of the 1900’s.

 

KEYES— The name Kays or Keyes is a surname of Ireland and England. In Ireland it is often a variant of MacKee and in England it is a variant of Kays. The name has been traced in Devon in England. Several Keyes appear in the Conception Bay North area in the early 1800's. Lawrence Keyes seems to have come to Bay de Verde prior to 1820. He may have been a servant to an English planter, possibly the Adey’s. He married Suzanna, daughter of Stephen Adey and raised a large family whose descendants still live here today. Patrick Keyes who is likely a brother of Lawrence married Margaret Roach. The Roach name appears in the Plantation Book in 1800 at Bay de Verde. It appears that Patrick Keyes moved to Carbonear as he appears  there in the 1832 census. Michael Keyes who married Mary Murray in 1824 at Harbour Grace may also be related. It is not known with certainty that Lawrence, Patrick and Michael were related, but when one examines the naming pattern there are some obvious similarities.

 

KING—The King surname is widespread on the North Shore of Conception Bay as well as on both sides of Trinity Bay and other areas of Newfoundland. The first time the name occurs at Bay de Verde is an Abraham King in 1708-09. We know from the plantation Book that a Henry King who may have been his descendant owned property at Bay de Verde as early as 1766. The records state that Henry received his property from his father. The Henry named here who married Tamsey Blundon and later Julia Cotter is likely to be the one who owns property to the south of Dominick Flynn as stated in the Plantation Book for 1797 and is likely a descendant of the first King. Not much is known about this family, but his children were all baptized in the Roman Catholic Church as per the Harbor Grace records. It is also interesting to note that Henry names one of his children Samuel possibly after a brother Samuel who also has property at Bay de Verde in 1792. Henry’s last child was born in 1845 but it is apparent that they moved away from Bay de Verde as there is no trace of them in the 1864 directory.

 

KINSELLA— a surname of Ireland. Cinnsealach, one of the few Gaelic-Irish surnames without the prefix O and Mac. Found mostly in Counties Carlow and Wexford. This family originated with Timothy Kinsella who came to Job’s Cove from Tintern, County Waterford, Ireland in 1830. The Kinsella family formed close relations with Bay de Verde quite early on when two of Timothy’s sons married North women from Bay de Verde. Patrick Kinsella married Bridget North while Michael married Anne North. Some years later two of Timothy’s grandchildren married two Walsh’s from Bay de Verde and came to live here. The name has since died out with the passing of Leo Kinsella who died in 1998.

 

LOCKYER— a surname of England meaning lock maker or lock smith. It has been  traced in Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset. There were Lockyers in the Trinity area at the same time as at Bay de Verde but it is not known if they were related. William Lockyer bought land at Bay de Verde in 1774 from Johanna Vincent for 2 pounds. One of his daughters married a Barter and the property was shared with them. This property was in continuous use by their descendants right up to the Cod Moratorium in 1992. It was one of the longest continually used family fishing properties in Bay de Verde.

 

LOONEY— This is one of the very few names that has not been traced as a family name in Newfoundland by E. R. Seary. Maurice Looney purchased property from Edward McDonald in 1792 at Bay de Verde according to the Plantation Book Records. He likely came from the area of Waterford or Wexford in Ireland. In 1806 Timothy Looney, who was likely a son of Maurice, married Ruth Jacobs, a daughter of Henry Jacobs an established planter at Bay de Verde. I am making the assumption that all the Looney’s of Bay de Verde are descended from Maurice simply because he is the first one recorded, however it may be that Timothy was a brother of Maurice and that all the Looney’s are descended from Timothy. Again it may also be possible that Timothy was not related to Maurice at all which is borne out by the fact that the name Maurice does not appear anywhere in the Looney line. Whatever may be the answer to this dilemma, it is not likely that one will be found, as the Looney name disappeared from Bay de Verde early in the 1900's and as far as I can tell, it seems the name has also disappeared from Newfoundland as well.

 

LYNCH— a surname of England and Ireland from Old English hlinc meaning dweller by the hill. It has been traced in Devon and in Counties Antrim, Down, Caven, Clare, Cork, Tipperary, Donegal and Tyrone. Thomas Lynch likely came to Bay de Verde as a servant to the Stevens, an established English planter family. He married Sera Stevens, a daughter of Charles Stevens. He is also given land by Sera’s brother Henry and is in possession of such in 1794. It appears that Thomas moved to Tickle Harbour, now Bellevue sometime before 1839. One of his sons, John,  stays at Bay de Verde. The Lynch name disappears from Bay de Verde with the death of Daniel in 1972. Some of the descendants of the first Lynch still live at Bellevue.

 

MACKEY— a surname of Ireland, the name has been traced in County Tipperary. It is not known if this William who appears at Bay de Verde before mid-1850 is a Mackey from Carbonear area where the name was prevalent. Two of William’s daughters married Doyle brothers who then moved to Grates Cove. Nothing is known of John, the only male child of this family.

 

MAIDMENT— A surname of England meaning servant of the maidens. This is a recent surname at Bay de Verde. The name appeared here in the early 1950’s when Max Maidment from Hant’s Harbour married Jessie Mae Emberley. Max had been a sailor in the Royal Navy during World War I and settled at Bay de Verde after the war.

 

MANGAN—MANNING—This is a surname of England, Ireland and the Channel Islands. The name was Mangan in the early part of the 1800's but was later changed to Manning. The earliest instance of the name at Bay de Verde was Joseph Mangan from Catalina who was in possession of property here in 1793. Two of his daughters married local men from Bay de Verde. The Mangans had a close association with the Noonans of Bay de Verde, in fact when Thomas Noonan died around 1827 his wife Eleanor married Joseph Mangan, a son of the earlier Joseph of Catalina. The headstone of Eleanor Mangan is one of the few that remains standing in the old Chapel Rock Cemetery. The name died out in Bay de Verde with the death of the only male in the line, that of  young James on December 9, 1855 at the age of 25 years. He is buried just inside the fence of the Chapel Rock cemetery on the front road at Bay de Verde.

 

McCARTHY— a surname of Ireland found especially in Counties Cork and Kerry. This was a very common name in the Conception Bay area, especially in the Carbonear and Harbor Grace area as well as in Western Bay and Gull Island, and at Bay de Verde and Red Head Cove. The earliest at Bay de Verde is Daniel McCarthy who owns property there in 1801. It appears that he moved to Tickle Harbor in Trinity Bay which was later renamed Bellevue. Richard McCarthy of Western Bay may have been related to the Daniel McCarthy of Bay de Verde but no one has shown this conclusively. The John McCarthy who is listed in the 1836 Voters List for Bay de Verde is quite possibly a son of Daniel McCarthy if naming patterns is any indication. The Thomas McCarthy of about 1820 who is at Red Head Cove in 1871 is likely to be related to the early Daniel as well, however, family folklore says that Thomas deserted from the British Navy and later settled at Red Head Cove. He married Mary Hatch but no birth record has been found either for her or for Thomas in any of the baptismal records for the area. The names they gave their children are the same as the other McCarthy’s in the area. If the folklore about deserting the navy is correct this naming pattern could be a clever way to avoid detection.

 

MOORE— a surname of Ireland found mostly in County Antrim and Dublin. Edmund Moore came to Bay de Verde as a young man from Kilmaganny, Ireland. He may have been one of the ten Irish youngsters brought over by the established English Planters likely the Duffetts. If so he proved to be quite an enterprising young man. He married Nancy, a daughter of Thomas Duffett in 1820 and raised a family of seven children. In 1831 William Danson, a merchant of Bristol, England with extensive waterfront property in many parts of Conception Bay, went into bankruptcy and the property was put up for auction.  Edmund Moore obtained the property at Bay de Verde. The Danson property in foreside was the area where the government wharf is today and extended eastward through the harbour to include the Tippett Plantation at the backside of Bay de Verde. Edmund Moore went on to build up a thriving mercantile business that lasted for several generations at Bay de Verde. The bank crash of 1895 caused the decline of many mercantile businesses in Newfoundland as it did the Moore business at Bay de Verde. Many of their descendants eventually left here to move to St. John’s, Canada and the United States. The  Moore name died out at Bay de Verde with the death of Thomas in 1974, however some of the Moore descendants still live in the area.

 

MURPHY— a surname of Ireland and Scotland which is the most common name in Ireland. It occurs in Scotland from Irish immigration. The earliest Murphy at Bay de Verde was Patrick who was at Bay de Verde at least as early as 1783. According to the Plantation Book he owned various pieces of waterfront property, one purchased from John Blundon for 15 pounds. In 1786 he claimed another property that was lying vacant and in 1804 he laid claim to a large piece of property at the backside of Bay de Verde. Because there were so many Murphy’s in the area of the North Shore as well as at Grates Cove and Bay de Verde, it is difficult to trace them precisely. The Murphy’s at Bay de Verde seem to be descended from John Murphy. Although no birth record has been him, the name does occur in the 1832 Census for Bay de Verde and it is assumed that he is a son of the earliest Patrick. It is also possible that these Murphy’s may be related to those of Job’s Cove and area, but no connection has as of yet been found.

 

NOONAN— a surname of Ireland O’Nuanain meaning beloved. The name has been traced mostly in County Cork. This surname is found at Bay de Verde and also at Carbonear in the early part of the 1800’s. If one were to look at the naming patterns, it is quite possible that they may be related. The Noonan’s of this area have been traced to a Din Noonan who was listed in the 1800-01 Census for Old Perlican. He was renting property from John Woodlands and is married with one male child. This child is no doubt his son Thomas who married Eleanor Doody about 1814. The Plantation Book for Bay de Verde shows Dennis Noonan as owning property near the Hauling Place in 1802. Thomas had three sons who married and began the lines of Noonan’s whose descendants still live at Bay de Verde today. One of his daughters, Eleanor married Thomas O’Neill of the O’Neill mercantile fishing firm, while the youngest daughter Anne married Moses Doyle of Grates Cove.

 

NORMORE– NORMAN a surname of England, Ireland and the Channel Islands. The earliest Normore in this area was Charles who owned land at Lower Island Cove in 1757 as per the Plantation Book. The land was sold by Henry Normore  in 1800 to James Simmonds. There was a  Henry Normore owning property at Grates Cove as per the 1800-01 Census. He may be the same Henry from Lower Island Cove. In 1850 Henry Normore of Grates Cove married Sarah Duffett of Bay de Verde and they moved to Bay de Verde and had three children between 1851 and 1855. Nothing further is recorded for them. In 1871Charles Norman who is later referred to as Normore  married Caroline Emberley and they raise a family at Bay de Verde. As far as can be gathered only two of their children survived. One of them, Henry Walter was listed at Bay de Verde in the 1904 as per the Anglican Confirmation records. Charles Normore was listed in the 1904 McAlpines Directory for Bay de Verde. No birth records have been found for either Henry or Charles but they are likely to be descended from the first Charles of Lower Island Cove.

 

NORRIS— a surname of England, Ireland and Scotland from the Anglo-French meaning northerner.  The name is found in Devon as Norrish as well as in all Irish provinces especially Cork. The surname Norris has been found in this area prior to 1800. John of Old Perlican and Thomas of Grates Cove who are likely brothers are shown in the1800-01 census. John Norris  seems to have moved to Grates Cove in 1816 when he married Mary Geary of that place and began the Norris family there. It is not known if the Norris familiy of Bay de Verde are related to John and Thomas. Family naming patterns and religious affiliation seem to suggest that they are not related. The Norris family at Bay de Verde are descended from James Norris and Mary who are living at Red Head Cove and who had several children  prior to 1831. The James Norris who married Ann Jackson in the Anglican Church in 1842 is believed to be a son of James and Mary. In the 1850’s this James is listed as a teacher according to Oliver Rouse’s Journal. 

 

NORTH— a surname of England and Ireland meaning a dweller in the north. In Ireland it is found in County Westmeath. In England in Hampshire, Leicestershire, Rutlandshire, Lincolnshire and Oxfordshire as well as Devon. The first record of  the surname North in this area was Thomas North. In the Trinity Anglican Baptismal records he is listed as the father of Elinor Moors, a child born May 5, 1810 (baptised May 12, 1810 by Rev John Clinch) to Thomas North and Sarah Moors, daughter of the late James and Francis Moors of Trinity. The record also states that Thomas is from Ireland and a servant with Denis Noonan of Bay de Verds in the District of Conception Bay. Thomas came back to Bay de Verde and married Sara Mangan, daughter of Joseph Mangan of Catalina. They had a family of five daughters and one son. Their only son, William married Mary Riggs of Bay de Verde. William cleared land at Red Head Cove in the 1840’s and for many years lived there and  operated a farm.

 

O’NEILL— from an old Irish and Gaelic personal name Niall meaning champion. The name is numerous in Counties Tyrone and Antrim. Thomas O’Neill was born 1799 in Monagurra, Shanagarry, County Cork, Ireland. He came to this area as an agent to a Carbonear merchantile firm. In 1828 he purchased a plantation at Bonney Brooks near Bay de Verde from Thomas Whalen and a few years later obtained the large financially troubled plantation of Dominick Flynn at Bay de Verde. In 1832 Thomas married Eleanor Noonan, daughter of Thomas Noonan and they went on to raise a large family. Thomas O’Neill and his descendants were quite successful in establishing and operating a very prosperous mercantile fishing business over the next one hundred years. The various businesses were sold in the early to mid 1900's and the remaining O’Neill’s moved away from Bay de Verde.

 

PRYOR— a surname of England found chiefly in Cornwall from Old English prior, a monastic official next in rank below an abbot. The first place this name occurs in the area is at Old Perlican. Peter Pryor was born in 1794 and died in 1864 at Old Perlican. It is not known if Peter was born there but a David Pryor who was born in 1807 established the family name at Bay de Verde. There seems to be some family connection with these two men as the name Peter comes down through the Bay de Verde family. It is quite likely that they were brothers.

 

QUINLAN— a surname of Ireland O’Caoinleain found mostly in Tipperary. Jeremiah Quinlan apparently came to Holyrood from Tipperary, Ireland. Family tradition says that two of his sons came to Bay de Verde to fish with the Woodrows in the mid 1830’s. Peter Quinlan married Ellen North, a daughter of Thomas North and made his home in Bay de Verde. Jeremiah married Anne Hatch, a daughter of Richard Hatch and made his home in Red Head Cove. One of his daughters, Catherine Quinlan married Richard Woodrow of Bay de Verde. Patrick and Maurice, descendants of Jeremiah purchased the O’Neill business in the 1950’s and went on to build up one of the largest seafood operations in Newfoundland.

 

RIGGS— a surname of England, a variant of the name RICKS or from Old English hrycg meaning dweller on the ridge. The name has been traced mostly in Devon. The Riggs of this area seem to be descended from John Riggs. Reverend James Balfour baptized four children for John and Elizabeth Riggs on July 20, 1788 at Bay de Verde. They were Stephen, Andrew, William and John. No birth record has been found for two other children, Thomas and James, although it is believed that they are also children of John and Elizabeth. William and Thomas are listed in the Plantation Book records as owning waterfront property to the south and adjacent to where the government wharf is today. William married Betsy Paul and Thomas married Mary Blundon. James is not mentioned until 1804 when he married Rachel Foley as per the Roman Catholic marriage records at Harbour Grace. Because some of John’s sons seem to have disappeared from this area, it is believed by some that one or more of them went to the Burin Peninsula and began another line of that family name there. When one looks at the naming pattern for the Burin Peninsula Riggs it does indeed seem to indicate that they are somehow related to the Riggs of Bay de Verde. No records to prove this have as yet been found.

 

ROUSE— Oliver Rouse came to Bay de Verde from England in 1847 to minister to the Anglican people of the parish. A strong disciplinarian, he was successful in firmly re-establishing the roots of Anglicanism in the area at a time when Methodism was rapidly gaining followers. His was also a strong voice to government officials for all the people of the area in difficult times. He ministered to the people of this area for 22 years until he died of Typhus on September 5, 1869. He was buried in the Old Anglican Cemetery on the south side of the harbour.

 

RYAN—This is a surname of Ireland which has been traced mostly in County Tipperary. The Ryans of this area can be traced to a James Ryan who came from Ireland and was working as a harbour pilot at St. John’s when he obtained the job as Light-keeper at the newly constructed lighthouse at Baccalieu Island in 1858. The Ryan family were keepers of the light for several generations with the job being passed down to each succeeding generation. The Ryans had a close association with the residents of both Bay de Verde and Red Head Cove. Frank Ryan who lived his whole life on Baccalieu married Charlotte Moore of Bay de Verde. Some of their children are still living today. His brother Joseph Ryan married Agnes Rice who was also born on Baccalieu.

 

STEVENS— surname of England and Wales from the baptismal name Stephen which comes from a Greek personal name meaning crown or wreath. The name is found in the Midlands and the west and south of England. The Stevens came from Winbourne in the County of Dorset in England and were undoubtedly one of the earliest families to arrive at Bay de Verde after the early settlers such as the Taverners left just after 1700. They owned a large area of land on the north side of the harbour which extended from foreside to backside. This land was later obtained by men who married into the family. As well the Stevens owned the prime waterfront fishing premises in the center of the harbour.

 

SULLIVAN— a surname of Ireland O’Suileabhain meaning eye, is the third most numerous name in Ireland found especially in Counties Cork and Kerry. John and Maurice Sullivan came to Bay de Verde sometime prior to 1859 from Riverhead, Harbour Grace. There were other Sullivan’s on the North Shore in the Western Bay area, but no definite connection has been made to them. The only link seems to be that names from both of the Bay de Verde Sullivan families occur in the Western Bay family.  John Sullivan married Catherine Fleming of Bay de Verde and had five children. He was drowned in Conception Bay in 1871 on the schooner “Dove” owned by the March family of Old Perlican. One of his daughters married Thomas Leonard from British Harbour in 1890 and some of their descendants still live at Corner Brook today. Another daughter married Patrick Walsh of Bay de Verde. Their son Philip fought in World War I. Maurice Sullivan married Bridget Quinlan, a daughter of Peter Quinlan of Bay de Verde. Their grandson, Peter was a decorated veteran of World War I. The Sullivan surname is still at Bay de Verde at the time of this writing.

 

SUTTON— a surname of England and Ireland from the common English place name–the southern or south-facing farm. John Sutton from Warslow, England married Dorothy Sellers from Ashbourne, England in 1794 and came to Bay de Verde shortly afterwards. Their first daughter Elizabeth was baptized in England in 1795 and in 1803 they had three children baptized at Bay de Verde as per the Anglican Baptismal Records. They ranged in age from one to five years which could possibly indicate that he had recently arrived. No property is recorded for him in the Plantation Book Records of 1805. They went on to have a large family most of whom lived at Bay de Verde while some others moved to various areas of Trinity Bay.

 

TAVERNER—This is a surname of England from the old French tavernier meaning tavern-keeper that has been traced to Devon. This is perhaps the earliest recorded family who lived at Bay de Verde and were well established in 1675 when Captain John Berry first took a Census of Newfoundland. They lived here for several generations and survived the devastation of the French raids in the late 1600's and early 1700's. The Taverners moved away from Bay de Verde likely in the first decade of the 1700’s to other more secure areas of Newfoundland especially to Trinity where some of their family was also established.

 

WALSH— a surname of England, Scotland and Ireland from the Middle English Walsche, meaning foreigner. The name has been traced in Lancashire and Devon and is the fourth most numerous of Irish surnames. John and Edward Walsh were living at Bay de Verde at least as early as 1785. In the Plantation Book Records John Walsh is listed as a Cooper and owns property. In 1804 he was listed as part owner of what was likely a cooperage company with Thomas Broaders. In 1797 Edward Walsh was listed as having property to the south of Dominick Flynn. This property was located on the south side of the harbour in the area where this family of Walsh’s still live today. In 1786 Richard Walsh was also listed as owning property in the general area east of where the government wharf is today. No record of him is found at any later date at Bay de Verde, however the 1835 Voters list has a Richard Walsh at Lower Island Cove. It is not known if he is the same one. No records are available to prove whether or not these families are related, but it is quite likely that they are, as early families such as these often tended to travel as family units. I tend to believe that the John Walsh and Edward Walsh families are indeed related due mostly to similarities in the naming patterns as well as the fact that no record has been found of any intermarriage between these two families. The Walsh’s of Low Point and Red Head Cove were also related to those of Bay de Verde. John the Cooper’s sons, Thomas and Edward moved to Low Point before 1832. One of Edward’s sons, Patrick moved back to Bay de Verde when he married Catherine Keyes while another son John moved to Red Head Cove when he married Sarah Hatch. Another Walsh family at Bay de Verde was not related to either of the others. These Walsh’s came here from Western Bay just after the mid 1850's.

 

WHALEN— a surname of Ireland O’Faolain meaning wolf and a variant of PHELAN. The name is numerous between Counties Tipperary and Wexford. The Thomas Whalen family settled at Bonney Brooks which is located about one mile to the north east of Low Point. No connection has been made to the Whalen’s of Bradley’s Cove near Western Bay. When Thomas O’Neill came to this area from Ireland he bought land from a Thomas Phelan in Bonney. This is likely the same Thomas Whalen who later occupied land at Broom Cove near Bay de Verde in 1828. It appears that the Whalen’s later  acquired the land at Bonney again as Thomas Whalen is later listed as living there.

 

WOODROW— a surname of England from the place name WOODROW in Wiltshire, Worcestershire and Devon. The name has been traced mostly in Devon. The first Woodrow at Bay de Verde was John who is said to have come from Devon. He is also likely to have been brought over as a servant by one of the established planter families, possibly the Duffetts. John married Johanna, a daughter of Thomas Duffett and began the Woodrow line at Bay de Verde. James, one of the grandsons of the first John, married a Mullaly from Northern Bay and moved there and established the family name. The name still survives in this area as well as in other areas of Newfoundland and many parts of Canada.

 


Events Calendar


Times of Operation of the Heritage House
The Bay de Verde Heritage House is open from June to September.
Monday to Saturday -- 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Sunday -- 1:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Yearly Events

                              Heritage Days  

 

 

                       A FEW PICTURES FROM HERITAGE DAYS 2010           
                    

                    Hallowe'en at the Haunted Heritage House 

Wednesday October 31/ 2012   (3:30 pm to 8:30pm)

                           

               Christmas in the Harbour

Wednesday December 26th 2012    Details to follow                        

          A FEW PICTURES FROM CHRISTMAS IN THE HARBOUR 2010 

     

 

 

Mission Statement

Mission Statement: The Heritage Committee of Bay de Verde is a non-profit volunteer organization, operating as an arm of the Town Council. Our main responsibility at this point in time is the maintenance and operation of the Bay de Verde Heritage House. Our primary objective is and always has been, the collection and preservation of the artifacts, documents and books, which represent the very rich cultural heritage of our community. So far, thousands of people have come to see and enjoy our displays. Now they can enjoy some of it in “virtual reality” on our Website.
Our main source of funding comes from two community events – “Heritage Days” and  “Christmas in the Harbour” which we host in July and December respectively. In addition, we sell small articles and accept donations at the Heritage House while it is open from July to September. As you may expect, the costs associated with the operation of the Heritage House including the setting up and hosting of this Website stretches every dollar that we raise to the limit. If you would like to assist us in our endeavors, a monetary donation may be made by check or postal money order to: 

                                          Bay de Verde Heritage Committee
                                          P.O. Box 10
                                          Bay de Verde, NL   A0A1E0 
 
Please indicate whether or not you wish your name and the amount of your donation to be listed on our Website. As of September, 2008 we have been designated as a charitable organization and donors will be issued a receipt for income tax purposes. Whether your donation is large or small, it will be greatly appreciated and will be used to help preserve the heritage of Bay de Verde.                              

                                         

  

Raymond MARSH $40.00
Lloyd & Beverley BLUNDON $40.00
Rose Noonan CONWAY $500.00
Shamrock City Pub  (St. John's) $830.00
Eldon EMBERLEY (in memory of Marg) $100.00

 

 

 

Comments Book

August  2008

 

The Bay de Verde Heritage House was officially opened on July 5th, 1999. On that day, this Comments Book was put in place for people to express in writing their thoughts and feelings about the house and the community. Ten summers later we have a book full of heartfelt thoughts and feelings from people near and far.  Little did we think, at that time, that there would be such a response. For the most part, when people see and experience things that create feelings of nostalgia, they get the urge to tell others about it. In this case, they did it in writing. The contents of this book show in vivid detail the intrinsic value in preserving and presenting our culture and heritage. We hope it will continue. Please enjoy reading the thoughts and feelings of ordinary people who took the time to write in this book.

                                                                                                                                    Gerald Riggs 

Monday, July 5, 1999   

The purpose of this book is to give all visitors of the Heritage House an opportunity to express, in writing, their impressions of the house and of the community in general.  Former residents are encouraged to reminisce about their childhood in Bay de Verde.  Visitors, who are new to the area, may pen their thoughts about their visit and maybe something about their hometown. Your comments, no matter how brief or lengthy, will certainly add to the development of this Heritage House. 

                                    Gerald Riggs Chairman  Bay de Verde Heritage Committee

                                            

   

 

July 11, 1999  Great job by all hands! Great!      Pat and Colby Stamp: Doug & Mary Heffernan, Goulds

July 11/99  Very impressive creation of Bay de Verde’s History and Culture. Jeanie Sutton & Joey Dalton (fr. Admirals Beach)

July 11th, 1999  Madeline (Hinchey) Grace & Gerald Grace.  Visiting birthplace of mother, Mary Louise Riggs.  Staying w/first cousin Gerald Riggs and getting acquainted and reacquainted w/Gertie, Bride & Andy Riggs.  Very impressed w/the Heritage House and the potential for further interest in assisting Bay de Verde w/tourism.       Madeline Grace. (Visiting from Epsom NH, USA)

July 11, 1999  Great job of refinishing house and furniture.  Lots of room for more information and exhibits.  I look forward to visiting again in a few years to see the growth of the collection.  Excellent!  Eric Scholey visiting from Waterloo, ON

July 11/99  Nice Job - interesting stuff     Garry Tobin, SJ

July 12/99  Almost fifty years I left Bay de Verde.  What a pleasure to see this house.  So knowledgeable, very interesting.    Olive Hamlyn (Blundon)

July 13/99  Great Job!  Keep up the good work.   Jordy & Vera (Frost) Hann, Stayner, Ontario

July 13/99  Excellent display.    Hilda Snelgrove.

July 13/99  Very Nicely done.     Ashley Noonan

July 14/99  A wonderful exhibition.  So glad we heard about the Interpretation Centre and we will tell all we meet about the house.  The videos are expertly done and makes you think you are on the Island.  We hope to get there one day. Margaret and David Bergen  Ottawa, Ontario

July 15/99  Very impressive.  My first visit to the Heritage House and certainly did not manage to view it all.  I found it to be very interesting and informative and I feel it will continue to improve over the next few years.   Kevin and Mary Walsh

July 16, 1999  Wonderful collection.  Wish you had books for sale re Bay de Verde History - Headland stories, etc. Your guides know their material and do a good job.  Here searching for ancestors, so enjoyed immensely.   Ann and Grey Gooby 

July 16/99  Great Exhibition.  Lot of History.  Gave us a home (roots) feeling.  Staff really friendly.  Keep up the good work.  Thanks for the history of our home town.  Sadie Emberley (Newhook)   Maxine Emberley (Smith)

17 July 99  A great representation of our history; our past and our culture, many of which bring back fond memories of my early childhood in the Bonavista Peninsula.  A great job that represents excellent community cooperation and a dedicate effort on behalf of a focused volunteer committee.  Congratulations and well done.  Thanks to Gerald for the Tour.Fred Mifflin, M.P. Bonavista- Trinity Conception Minister of Veterans Affairs 

July 17/99  Fascinating home and history - too bad there isn’t more like it!     Irene Thomson (nee Emberley) Toronto, Ont.

July 17/99  Found it very interesting and it was a great presentation of the way Bay de Verde once was.        Susan Goodchild  Whitby, On

July 18/99  As a former resident of Bay de Verde I am so proud to see what a fantastic job you have done.  I can see that the whole community has contributed to its success.  I will tell others about this house and about the great community. Ross Riggs, Norris Arm. A magnificent job by the whole community to display the rich history of Bay de Verde.  A community which I will always call “my home”.      Alec Riggs, Etobicoke, ON

July 18/99  Around 1950 I visited Bay de Verde in the summer. My Aunt Emily Pryor would meet us in the Post Office.  Our transportation was the Mail truck. Around 7 o’clock in the evening we would arrive here.  She would say its time to fill up the water barrel with water for tomorrow.  My cousin and I would take the hoop and buckets and go around the hill to the water hole.                          Stella Parsons

July 18/99  During the 1920's  Annie worked in this house as servant girl.  She recalls trying to get the dinning room table inside but it was too big so Mr. Blundon said:”Annie, this is going in supposing we got to saw off the legs and sit on the floor to eat off it”.                 Annie Goodwin

July 20/99  Very interesting.  Good job.              Bernice Udall (Emberley)

July 21/99  Joan & Ernie Kinnersly” - Brother- in- Law of William Emberley.  Bill passed away approx. 10 yrs. ago. Heard many stories of Bay de Verde from Bill. Most interesting. Joan & Ernie Kinnersly West Hill, ON

July 23/99  To the Town of Bay de Verde, it is so good to see my heritage as I had gone from Bay de Verde 50 years August. It is always good to come home and to be with people that have never changed.  Hope they will never change. To all the people of Bay de Verde, this is still my home and I love it.  Thanks     Clyde Pryor 

24 July 99  The best thing that has happened in Bay de Verde for years is what I think of this wonderful collection and establishment.  Good job and keep up the good work.                              Ron Walsh

July 25/99  Went through house, staff very hospitable   everything very interesting.  Brought back many memories from Baccalieu.    Stan & Gertie Walsh

July 28, 1999  Such enthusiasm and interest is rarely equaled in a community.  It has been a pleasure to work with you and all the very best for the future.  Hilary Cass

29 juillet 1999  Je n’etais pas venue a terre-neuve depuis ma jeune enfance.  C’est la premiere fois que je viens dans oette petite ville.  Les gens sont tres chaleureux.  J’ai bien aime faire ie tour et regarder dans ce petit muse.  Bonne chance a vous tous.  Tania Eddy

July 29, 1999  Very nice to come back after 37 years.   Taught school (St. Boniface Anglican) in 1961-62.  Remember visiting this house when Graham Blundon lived here with his parents.  Lots of changes in these 37 years!  Many of the people that I knew are no longer here; that was disappointing.  Good to see that the house has been preserved.  Lots of history here.           Freeman Pope, Grand Falls/Windsor

July 30/99  It was an interesting site to see.   Having my parents come from this town makes me appreciate things more.  Seeing the Blundon family tree was nice being a Blundon myself.  Realizing how my ancestors lived was an eye opener.        Erica Blundon

July 30/99  The house was nicely restored and the exhibits are very interesting.  It was nice to be able to contribute to Florence (Blundon) Cowan’s charts.  Betty (Blundon) Saito(Daughter of Charles Blundon WW1 Veteran, Nfld. Regiment)

July 30/99  Very nice re creation of the History of Bay de Verde.   Selina Courage (Coish)

July 39/99  Left Bay de Verde in 1944 and still a Newfie.  I visit every summer for a holiday.  I now live in Toronto but there’s no place like home.  Before the house became a Heritage House, I spent many hours of my young days here, with my friend “Ruth” daughter of Jim Blundon of John.  We are still friends and liver near each other. The Old House is sure very interesting with all th exhibits and renovations.  See you all again next year, God willing.    Joyce (Blundon)Vey, (Frank Blundon’s Sister)

August 1/99  What a beautiful old home!  It is absolutely wonderful to see the historic significance of this area finally celebrated with pride.  Gillian (Martin) Noonan

August 1/99  Lovely restored home.  Wonderful  visit.   Darlene Harrietta

Aug. 1'99  This is really beautiful.   I’m certainly happy to see these historical places preserved for our children. Ruth Williams, St. John’s

Aug 1'99  I must congratulate the Town of Bay de Verde for all the hard work in getting this project started. It is a magnificent job! Bridget Noonan St. John’s (BdV)

Aug 2'99  Tres belle, L’histoire de Terre Neuve.  C’est interest.  S. A. Merky Montreal, Qc.

Aug 3'99  What a credit to the community.  It’s certainly a positive addition to Bay de Verde.  This place has lots to offer.  Beautiful!    Michelle (Walsh) Carew

Aug 3'99  An excellent restoration - show realistically what was.  The young people escorting are knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Keep it going.- thank you.                    Gary & Eileen Shapiro, Chicago, Ill

Aug 4'99  My first time in Bay de Verde.  Beautiful.  My mother was born and raised n this community.  Her name was Mary Riggs.  Her mother’s name was Elizabeth Mulally from Northern Bay.  My grandfather’s name was Patrick Riggs.  I’m glad I came to check out my roots. p.s.  My wife Michelle and our five children, Josh, Kelly, Laura, Cody and Nicholas are also with me on this memorable trip.   Randy O’Quinn

Aug. 5/99  I remember Bay de Verde in 1945 when we came over from Old Perlican to visit Rev. Gill.  That was before they started building the breakwater.  I’ve seen it a few times in the last decade, always on days with perfect weather - like this.              Lynn Holmes, Ontario 

Aug. 5/99  Congratulations & thank you for preserving and conserving our (Bay de Verde) history.                       Dorothy Troop, Nova Scotia

Aug. 05/99  Visited all around House.  Very interesting.  Congratulations to the Town of Bay de Verde.         Wm. J. Squires Calvin & Valerie & Florence Squires (Coish)

August 6/99  What a wonderful old house!  There’s obviously been an awful lot of work put into this by a lot of people.  Great Work!  Judy & Dave Hynes  Chamberlains, NF

Aug. 8/99  Thank you for sharing a bit of your rich heritage with me.  Tina McKinnon, Iqaliut

Aug 10/99  While scanning this building and noting the wonderful arrangement of symbols, relative to life in Bay de Verde, it brings back memories of when I was a boy, but now am a retired fisherman. Many things I can remember and used while fishing, but a lot in the 1800's and onward, had been handed down by our forefathers. Ruth and I visited the last occupier of this house many time, and helped her sometimes in the later days of her stay here. Congratulations to the committee, especially Gerald Riggs and all who took part in anyway to make this Heritage House a thriving success for Bay de Verde, Baccalieu and area.  Continued success, Berkley Sutton

August 11, 1999  A wonder experience going through this heritage house and learning about the history of Bay de Verde , Baccalieu Island, etc.  We thank you for your efforts to preserve this history.  H.G. Lee Vancouver, BC

Aug 11/99  George Jenner visiting brother Ed Jenner who lives on Tavernor’s Road.  This is an excellent museum.  Thanks to the staff who were most helpful and friendly and knowledgeable.  Hope that doesn’t change.                George Jenner 

Aug 13/99  Very impressed by this wonderful Heritage Home.  Certainly a lot of hard work!  Memories galore of our wonderful culture.  Cindy Sutton.

Aug 13, 1999  It is very gratifying to see the history of Bay de Verde and NF in general displayed in such an impressive and comprehensive manner.  My father, Donald Barter, would have been impressed and moved by the community’s effort to maintain their heritage.   Sharon (Barter) Trenholm         

13 Aug 1999  Bravo pour le travail accompli pour montrev et garder en memoire la vie de cette communacite.   Qu’est Bay de Verde. Merci pour l’accucip et les ?                          Michael Cambray

Aug 13/99  Very historical and interesting.       Brittany Keating

Aug 14/99  A community’s history and culture are what defines its people and shapes its identity.  The value of a heritage house such as this is as much for educating, preserving and presenting the heritage of a town to its citizens as much as to visitors.  In working at the Blundon House as interpreter for the last 6 weeks, I have developed an even deeper appreciation of Bay de Verde’s heritage and history and I hope I have been able to encourage an interest in Newfoundland history in general and Bay de Verde history in particular in visitors to our town.  There is as much or more history in the Bay de Verde area as in any region of Newfoundland and the Bay de Verde Heritage house will help to keep it fresh in peoples minds. All the best in the future.                              Michael Walsh

April 14/99  It has been a privilege to be a student interpreter for the Blundon House this summer. I am very proud and excited to say that over the past six weeks, I have met many nice and friendly people.  People who are really interested in Newfoundland history, which makes it much more enjoyable to speak to them about the history of the Blundon House and Bay de Verde in particular.  I am grateful I got the chance to educate tourists about the history of my home town.  Not only did they gain knowledge of Bay de Verde, but so did I from many local residents.  I really enjoyed working here this summer and wish you much success in the future.  April Coish

Aug 15/99  I have played in this house as a young child.  O what memories.  What a beautiful job.  My thanks to all who have worked so hard.   Effie Baker  (Walter Norris oldest daughter ON)

Aug 15/99  What a blessing to be able to walk through this house again.  It sure brought back memories.  Thank you again for sharing your heritage again. Alma Critch Stella Oliver, Frazier Oliver

Aug 15, 1999  We are really happy that Randy & Madonna Coish told us to go to Bay de Verde to see their beautiful village.  What a wonderful surprise.  The museum is excellent, the displays very informative.  We truly enjoyed it.  The guide Carl Riggs really knows about the heritage of Bay de Verde.                 Theresa & Jack Turpin  Penn Valley, Calif.  U.S.A.

August 17, 1999  Hello from Massachusetts!  I’m the oldest son of Frank Coish, who left Bay de Verde in 1948 with his wife, Anna McLeavy of  Rutherglen, Scotland, to live in New Bedford, Massachusetts.  That is where I was born.  It’s a great experience for me to come back here and me so many relatives and friends after being out of touch for many years.  It’s a beautiful house, in a fascinating part of the world.  I hop to be back soon.  Tom Coish  P.O. Box 127 Montague, Mass.  01351, USA

Aug. 18, 1999  Just home for a rest, back in Bay de Verde for a couple of weeks.  This is my first time here at the Heritage House.  This is very impressive.  It’s good to have a glimpse back into the past every now and then.    Daniel Noonan

Aug. 19/99  Impressive, survival through tough times.   Impressive record keeping for others to enjoy through the ages.  Hopefully the young in the area & visitors will take the example given.  Visiting in-laws in New Chelsea.   Joe Hand   

Aug. 20, 1999  I have just spent 5 months exploring Canadian Culture, life & history and this beautiful house typifies everything that people love about Nfld and its history.  Thank you.     Danielle Girian, London, England

Aug 20th/99  A marvelous account of the historic events related to this building and the village over many years.  Brave and industrious women and men!  All honour to them! Charles Bainbridge,  Kamloops, B.C.

Aug 21st/99  We’re fortunate to have visited Bay de Verde and this historic house.  Lovely restoration!  Kindly guide, Carl Riggs, opened an hour early for us.  Thanks!  We have enjoyed our visit to Nfld as we did last year mostly because of the PEOPLE! Warm regards fro NYC. Elizabeth V. Hetz

Aug. 22/99   It has been a privilege to revisit the homestead.  Being a grand daughter of James Blundon and daughter of Alfred B. Blundon, I spent many happy moments in this house & walking through today gave me time to reminisce childhood and those special times spent here. Wonderful job with the restoration!   Regards  Cavell H. Vey

August 24, 1999  Congratulations on a great job of keeping your past alive.  What a great old house - best wishes for the future and continuing your work.      Camilla (Thomey) Payue!

Sept. 9th, 1999  Just over from England to Nfld. for our first visit.  We have found it a lovely country, so much to see of interest and we feel quite at home here.  It’s a lovely house you can see it was lived in.  Thank you for the tour.          D.A Martin

Sept 12/99  Visited the Blundon House with my mother, Nellie Diamond (nee Emberley).  She was born here in Bay de Verde in 1917 and could remember visiting this house as a child.   She was so pleased that she had the opportunity to relive the memories.  We (mom, my sister Patsy Tremlett & her husband Eric) also visited my mom’s cousin, Tom Eady.  Looking forward to a visit again next year. Super job.  Congratulations to those who put so much time and effort into making this a reality!       Kay Young

Sept. 12/99  Visited the Blundon House with our 2 children.   They were really interested in the pictures and older beds upstairs.  They said the bunk beds were so different from theirs.  Everything was really interesting to look at.  The pictures put the real touch to things. Michelle, Warren, Rodney & Randy Cable, Foxtrap, Nfld.

Sept. /99  Was nice to visit in Sept and still be able to visit the house and exhibit.  Everything here just seems to get better all the time.  Likely as a result of good dedicated people.  The highlight of the summer for me was the time spent on this exhibit.  Keep it up!  Warmest regards    Ralph Jarvis

Sept, 1999  A tremendous job.  We were particularly impressed with Sim Lockyer models in the attic.  Such workmanship and they clarify the rest of the fishing exhibit. The house itself is an excellent job.  Particular thank you for staying open in September.          N. & Carol Campbell  Truro, N.S.

Sept. 18/99  Being born in Bay de Verde and a former resident, I was very impressed with the house.  To visit and tour the house, has brought back many wonderful treasured memories.  Those who erected this project and are continuing with the operating of it are to be given a lot of credit.  I, Isabel Sutton was born and raised here.  My husband, Ronald Gosse, born in Corner Brook, whom I met and married in Toronto in 1954, along with my two daughters, Cynthia and Brenda, visited here the first year of opening.  It has definitely been our highlight of our vacation.  Again congratulations to all who have been and are involved in this project and to all who have donated their time and belongings.  Isabel Gosse (Sutton),  Ronald Gosse, Cynthia Fosse, Brenda Payton

Sept. 20/99  Very interesting - enjoyed the information.    Muriel & Nick Schrader,  Winnipeg, Manitoba

Sept 20/99  Wonderful - whole Island out of this world.   Annmarie Kavanagh R.Brown  Fl    U.S.A.

Sept 20/99  Wonderful!     Gerry & Mae Hall (nee Noonan)  Great!         Gene & Rita Fredenberg    Cottage Gove, WI  

Sept 28/99  We quite enjoyed our visit and had coffee and a talk.  I appreciate your opening your house and lifestyle to us visitors.  Thank you all!     Mike & Sandy Burgen,  Edmonton, AB

Sept. 28/99  We quite enjoyed the tour given by Judy.Very informative. Thank you.   Todd Hiscock & Alma Herring Calgary, Alberta

Sept. 28/99  Wonderful.  Judy was very informative about everything. 

Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Hiscock, Victoria

Sept. 30/99  Beautiful Home and beautiful Town.   First tourist up Heritage Walk (The Spring) Brian & Susan Lahey,  Ottawa

Nov. 13, 1999  A national treasure in a picture perfect community.  Mel F, Fairhaven

November 13, 1999  Today we started on a journey, a search for a friend of a friend to find his family, his heritage which led us to Bay de Verde.  Today, with Gerald Riggs, here at Blundon House, we found the link to the birth family of Charles Giblin of South-New Jersey.  Again Newfoundland has surfaced as the beginning to a wonderful family.  Pat, Eric & Heather Hiscock, formerly of New Perlican, now resident oF St. Philips, Nfld. We look forward to taking this gentleman & his family back to his roots in the not too distant future and share with him in person his wonderful heritage and this wonderful community & home.         Pat Hiscock

June 11, 2000  Back home for a holiday.  The weather could be a little less windy, but its what I expected.  The exhibits & artifacts are spectacular. Gerald Riggs showed us around and gave an explanation of the house and contents.  Wonderful job.  I’ll be sure to stop in again when I come back.     Corey Broaders, BDV  (Grande Prairie)

July 2, 2000  I am the daughter of William Emberley here visiting with my family. I’m very impressed by this house. What heritage you have.         Julie Gale

July 3, 2000  My name is Laura Douglas.  I am visiting with my family from St. John’s.  My mon was born here.  This is a great house!  It makes you feel like time went back.

July 3/00  I grew up in Bay de Verde and I have spent a few years away from the Island.  I always knew that Bay de Verde had a lot of heritage but to be able to let everybody else see it in this house is just wonderful.  This is a great place and a wonderful feeling when I come in here. Andrea Broaders

July 3, 2000  It is a piece of history that is being lost.  Don’t let this go, it is great and educational. Dan Fiola,    Drayton Valley, Alberta

5 juillet 2000 I want to live here. Gregoire – Montreal  Christine Chabot - Ste. Adele, Quebec

July 5, 2000  Thank you for the kind tour, Debby. Best wishes. Chris Hyde   Amesbury, Mass.

July 5, 2000  A very interesting tour.  Tour Guide made tour very interesting and educational.         G. Moore,    Ottawa 

July 7/2000  Very interesting    Great Work!     P. Noonan, Gander

July 8/2000  Had a very good visit.  It brought back some great memories and the town is very pretty.

Brian & Helen Henstridge, Fort McMurray, Alberta

July 9, 2000  Wonderful visit, brought back lots of memories from my childhood days. Martha (Blundon) Jones, Whitbourne Legion Home, Whitbourne

July 9, 2000  Very interesting visit, lots of changes in 30 years.  Margaret Jones, St. John’s

July 9, 2000  Really enjoyed my visit!  The students were excellent and so helpful.  B. Davis, Nevada, USA

July 9, 2000  Many memories, wonderful collection of history. Don & Janet (Riggs) Higgins

July 9/00  This building houses the past, present and future identify of Bay de Verders and Newfoundlanders.  It does not try to keep static the distant past but it encompasses an entire century of change.  I hope that its collections reflect the state of Bay de Verde in the future because it is a reflection of a place where one can understand the people of Bay de Verde.  Gerry Riggs

July 10/00  Memories of my fathers shoe repair shop were brought to mind by your display.  Thank you for your warm and generous hospitality.  Rhodes & Rosemary Kellegrew, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

July 10/00  Really enjoyed my visit, especially the old photographs.  Beautiful house.    Carl Noonan

July 10, 2000  A very interesting tour. Congratulations on winning the Southcott Award.                           J. Fleming, Dunville

July 11/00  Touring the Blundon house brings back many memories of my childhood and the wonderful time spent here with my grandfather & step-grandmother.  Congratulations on winning the Southcott Award.   Cavell Blundon Vey (Daughter of A.B. Blundon)

July 11/00  Very interesting pictures.  I saw a rare picture of my grandfather Frank Frost.  Excellent job on the house and artifacts. Keep up the good work.                                                              Frank Snelgrove

July 13/00  My aunt, Anne Quinlan  Moriarity worked here as a girl of 16.  She has wonderful memories of this time (around 1939)      Brenda Foster   

July 15/00  Very interesting to learn of the Baccalieu and its birds.  A true saving of the birds.                                        Doris Badone

July 15/00  My uncle, Joseph Bursey, ran the fog horn on Baccalieu Island for many years and he used to tell me about the birds.  I was very interested in seeing all the pictures & videos.              Jennie Bursey Doughty

July 15, 2000  The video of the birds on Baccalieu Island was fascinating  L. Gerald Bursey

July 15/00  Interesting - lots of history - found not only fishing but the history of the people who live here.                  Joe & Marie Lehue

July 15/00  Very unusual items.  Makes you think of the past long gone, but a very good life to live.            Herb, Herbie & Sherry Lewis, St. John’s

July 16th/00  Bravo!   It’s very important to keep your heritage.           Isabella & Vincent Hubert, Montreal

July 16th/00  This house is heartfelt.  It is great to have place like this in our area.  A lot of hard work has gone into this.  I hope you keep getting more donations to make it even better.                       Gert & Donna Nel

July 17/00  Took some visitors here and they enjoyed this house very much. Chris Mullaly, Northern Bay

July 17/00  Wow!  Amazing history and the knowledge of the staff if outstanding.  I learned more about the community with the few hours spent touring the house with Carl than I may have ever known just having walked thru on my own.  Keep it going and God bless. Elizabeth DeSilva, Cherry Valley, Ont.

July 17/00  Very interesting and beautiful.  It heart warming to see another sort of heritage being preserved so well.   Cathy Rose & Philip Caul, Stephenville, Nfld

July 17/00  Everything is beautiful.  We really enjoyed the visit.  The staff were really good to us. Evelyn & Nick Snelgrove, Thomas & June Whiteway

July 19, 2000  Very interesting tour.  Beautiful area.        Sylvie Nadeau

July 19/00  This is a fabulous undertaking by the people of Bay de Verde.  Rhonda Bursey-Gibbons

July 20/00  Reg and Cyril Lanning and wives Jenny and Sandra.  Dot is our aunt and this is an exciting piece of history.   We are so pleased that this house was saved.  You have done a beautiful job.  Dot must be so proud of the work you have done.  We extend our thanks to you.

July 20, 2000  A flash  from the past, very interesting, like going back to my childhood days.                    Kay Noonan,  Stephenville

July 20/00  A touch of the old to blend with the new  - a mirror into the past. Breathtaking.                                                S. Hynes, Port au Port

July 21/00  Very interesting - reminder of the past.       S. Fitzgerald

July 21/00  What a great place!  Thanks for the tour and congratulations on your fine display of the past.                               L. Mulley

July 23/00  Very impressive.  So glad to see the history of this settlement assembled in this grand old home.                                  B. Keir

July 23/00  Very impressed with the visit.  The History is very informative. George Slade, Patsy Slade & Melvina Butt

July 25/00  Great place.  We could smell the twine loft before walking in the door.  Brought back lots of memories.  Very impressive work, very detailed.     Trudy & Thomas Quinlan, Bradford, Ont.

July 27/00  This is a very nice place. Some of my relatives lived here. Jardan Ilnicki    

July 28/00  We really enjoyed the house and the area.  I found the family tree very interesting.   Marie & David Alderman

July 28/00  Bay de Verde can be proud of this slice of history.  I remember visiting this home when my aunt lived here.  I enjoyed reading about the history of my family and Bay de Verde.  Wendy Blundon-Ilnicki

July 28/00  It is very nice to see and interesting.              Paula Noonan

July 29/00  The house was very well laid out.  We enjoyed the tour and the guide was very friendly and helpful.                           J. Murphy

July 29/00  The house was beautiful and nice.  I loved the baby crib. Maggie Murphy

July 29/00  Very well done.  Ms. Blundon did a great job of touring us through the house.               Jane O’Toole, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

July 30/00  Very impressive - every community should have such a place, as every community has a history to be passed on for knowledge of future generations.       Pat & Lem Anthony Trinity East, T.B.

July 31/00  Very impressive with the history of this house - stayed in this house with daughters Eleanor Blundon and Ruth Blundon back in 1942.  I donated a Nfld. Seal Coat to this museum today. Norma Bursey Chapman, Houston, Texas

July 31, 2000  The attic reminded me of my grandfather’s twine loft where he used to mend his cod nets.  My grandfather was William H. Bursey from Old Perlican, Trinity Bay.  He fished for cod from 1904 - 1958.                     Deborah Chapman (Norma Bursey’s Daughter, Chicago, Illinois

August 1, 2000  It is wonderful and well kept up.  The children were very interested and excited to see the old ways.    Brenda & Neil Trickett & kids Carbonear, Nfld.

August 2/2000  The house is absolutely beautiful.  There are so many things I learned.  Keep it open to the public for years to come.  I’ll be sure to send more people down.         Colleen McDonald, Riverhead, NF

August 4th/00  The house is beautiful.  It has a way of making me proud to know that such care has gone into preserving the history of this community.  I hope you will see many visitors in the years to come.  I will be back and bring friends as time permits.  Thanks.              Denise G. Brownsdale

August 4/00  The house brings back many memories from my childhood visits to Nfld.  It is a great source of past history.  It is wonderful to see it is being restored. Gloria Christe, Cambridge, Ma. Tommy Oliver - Gull Island

August 5/2000  Sister Monica Woodrow formerly of Bay de Verde entered the Presentation Convent in 1940 February 11, and now living in Witless Bay Presentation of the Holy Spirit and will be 86 September 15, 2000.

August 5/2000  We have never been to Nfld. before but this is very informative, food good and guides very good, friendly and kind.  Thank you for making us at home.              Tom & Jackie Heurtson

August 5/00  Wonderful to see the history of Bay de Verde.  I remember being in this house many years ago.  My grandparents lived next door.          Dot Duggan Power

August 5/00  I didn’t know how beautiful this house was.  Walking past this house as a child you just think of it as a ordinary house like all the rest but to come inside and walk through it is amazing to see how beautiful really is even if it wasn’t done the way it is today.  An excellent job has been done here to preserve part of our history.  May it be here for many more years to come.  Thank you.           Lisa Morrissey

Aug 6/2000  Beautiful heritage house.  Enjoyed the tour very much.  Everything very interesting.      Calvin & Sophie White, Western Bay

Aug. 6/00  Very interesting place.  Harry & Shirley Balsom, Corner Brook

Aug 06/00  Very beautiful & interesting heritage home.  Diane Balsom Corner Brook

Aug. 9/00  Very nicely done!                 Rev. Glennis Smith, Burin

Aug. 9/00  It is nice to come home and see a part of my heritage expressed so beautifully.  Thanks!!  Robin (Smith) Heiseer, Honolulu, Hawaii

Aug 11/00  Bill and Donna Benson, Calgary, Alberta

Aug 11/00 Excellent museum.  Please advertise- this is something I/we truly appreciate.  B&B would do well - I/we would like to stay a few days in town.  Bird tours, too.  Enjoyed the professional staff. Rob & Janie Frank, Brampton, Ontario

Aug. 11, 2000  History & antiquity is very well preserved. Ted, Wilmington, Ma, USA

Aug. 12, 2000  The most interesting part of our visit was the personal and informative tour.  I had hoped to visit Baccalieu Island, but was glad to learn something about it and   the local history here.  Please continue to have local folks explain your history.                     Grace Taylor Bracebridge, Ont

Aug 13/00  Great!                                Sara Morris        Mount Pearl

Aug 13/00                       Phyllis Adams, Old Perlican

Aug 13/00  Well organized, good detail, enjoyed seeing this snap shot of our past.  Good work to all involved.          Jessie Broaders

Aug 13/2000  Quite interesting.  Congratulations to the many people who made this possible.         Tryphena Greene, Western Bay

Aug 13,2000   Interesting, informative    Guneet, Manjit, Kathy, Eva, Bob

Aug. 14/00  Interesting history - nice to see!  Keep it up!          

Joseph T. Jacob  South Carolina, U.S.A.

Aug 16/00  Enjoyed my visit very much!  Jacqueline Hudson, Toronto, Ontario

Aug. 16/00  Very interesting & informative. Violet Seymour, Eastport, Nfld

Aug 16/00  A trip back in time.          Clarice Decker, Eastport, Nfld

Aug. 16/00  I found this visit very interesting and very well put together.  It is very nice to be able to look back at this history of Bay de Verde.  I enjoyed it very much.     Madonna Broaders, River Bourgeois, Nova Scotia

Aug 17/00  We took a boat trip to Baccalieu with Clyde Hyde.  Saw all the auks, fulnow, and Great Sooty and Manx Shearater - great trip.    David

August 17/00  This heritage home and display is a wonderful testament to the strength and wisdom of the people of days past.       Cathy O’Dea

Aug. 20/00  This was my first visit to this unique house and I was impressed on its structure and style.  A site to behold.  When one can see a house such as this been kept up so well, make one proud.  Bay de Verde you have something in your community to be very proud of. Winston & Joan Trickett Fond lovers of older houses.

Aug 20/00  It’s wonderful that so much of Bay de Verde history has been assembled here.  I’d love to see more of this in other communities. Lorraine Michael, St. John’s  

Aug 20/00  Very interesting and well done exhibit.  So nice to see strong community interest in preserving historic way of life and making it available to public.                  Linda Austin Whitby, Ontario

Aug 24/00  This is an excellent way to show and tell of the history of this close knit community.  Now that we’ve visited the house, we will have a greater knowledge of the community as friends tell us stories about Bay de Verde.                                         Harold & Lola Stevens Nova Scotia

Aug. 26/00  You’ve done a wonder job in sharing the history of the community with visitors.  I lived in Bay de Verde from 1956 - 59.  I still love the place.   Max Batten 

Aug. 27/00  Enjoyed our visit.  It brought back memories of days when we were young living in Bay de Verde.  Very nicely done. Muriel (Coish) Doyle Selina (Coish) Courage

Aug. 27/00  For the past six weeks I have been acting as a student interpreter for the Heritage House and Baccalieu Island exhibit.  When I started I really did not know a lot about the history of the house, so as I relayed information to tourists and as they provided feedback to me, I am walking away with a lot of knowledge of the Blundon House and Baccalieu Island.  So not only was this a learning experience for the tourists, it has educated me in a sense I never really appreciated.  The history of Bay de Verde and the national and international significance of Baccalieu Island were not such a priority to me as it should have been, but after working here, I am amazed at just how extensive and impressive Bay de Verde’s heritage is.  To have the pleasure to meet and converse with so many visitors both fare and near and to see how much of an impact the house, the island and Bay de Verde has on people, it has opened my eyes and shown me how proud one should be to descent from Bay de Verde and to care.  It has been a pleasure.  Thanks for the cappachinos!      Debbie Blundon

Sept. 8/00  A drop in visit with Ann Weldon’s brother brought us to this interesting little house.  A wonderful trip back in history.  Thanks to the Blundons for bringing us here.  Dot & Chuck Bourgeois and Mary Pou?

Dec. 02/00  My association with Bay de Verde began some 50 years ago when I came to spend the summer with the Frosts, Uncle Frank, Aunt Winnie, Earl and Hilda.  First impressions are lasting.  I have been saying for 50 years that Bay de Verde people are the most down to earth, friendly people I have ever had the privilege to meet.  It is indeed a pleasure to be here today as a guest of the Town and the Heritage Group.  You are to be congratulated on your efforts to conserve and promote your rich heritage and culture.  Keep up the good work for the benefit of your children, the Town and the Province.  

Eric Jerrett, CM.  Chairman Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation

June 19, 2000  This Heritage House makes me feel proud of my heritage, culture and home.  I congratulate the people of Bay de Verde who were so dedicated to its construction and preservation.  I will return and bring others. Thank you for preserving our culture and sharing it with others.                    Andrea Quinlan

June 19/01  Great to see our heritage kept alive.  Keep up the good work.     Tony & Erin Lockyer

July 2/01  A truly first class restoration and collection of local history.  A tribute to all those involved.  Very impressed.                Rick Waters, Bunburg Wesr, Australia

July 13/01  Your exhibit is as inspiring as it is information.  It is indeed an outstanding measure of work and pride.  For those of us who have left this beautiful island, it is restorative to the soul to visit and reflect in such a place as this.  God Bless you all.  Donna & Brian Lockyer, London, ON

July 14/01  My stepmom and I are going on the Bay de Verde trail and we love your exhibit, but the smell!! It’s very interesting.  Good luck in the future.                                                 Leanna Marshalle

July 14/01  Very interesting.                                     Beth Bacic

July 6/01  Patsy J. MacNaughton:   Great to see our history kept so well.

July 04/01  My mother, Mary Emberley was born here and married my father Phil Barrett of Old Perlican and moved to Sarnia, Ontario in 1949.   I’ve been here in 1968, 1969 and last in 1978.  It’s great to be back.  Wonderful exhibit.             Douglas C. Barrett, Norwood, Ontario

July 7/01  Mabel Snow, Bay Roberts Betty Jerrett, Bay Roberts Heritage Society

July 08/01  Helene & Yvon Vaillancourt Napierville, QC

July 10/01  Wonderful place to visit.  Very interesting. Melaine Mercer, Shearstown

July 10, 2001  I love it here.  The building is beautifully kept and the history is priceless.  Keep up the good work!                     Rebecca Mercer,Shearstown

July 10, 2001  This house is magnificent.  It’s very interesting and tells me a lot about my history.  Excellent work!         Angie Oliver, Gull Island

July 11/2001   Wonderful preservation and display of Newfoundland history and artifacts.  It is a real credit to the community and the province as a whole.                           Doreen Neville, St. John’s, Nfld

July 12/01  Indeed a real credit to the Historic Society for the amazing work. Good luck and may this project be a blessing to your community.                  Gordon & Ruby White, St. John’s, NF

July 12/01  Wonderful presentation and display of Nfld. History - House and artifacts very impressive; indeed a real credit to the Historic Society and people of this community.  Keep up the good work.  God Bless. Murray and Stella Evans, St. John’s

July 14/01  It was beautiful and very interesting. Chantal Frenette, St. John’s

July 14/01  It was wonderful and very nice.  I loved all the old stuff. Kaylan Norman

July 14/01  I loved the old things and thought it was very interesting.  Candace Simms

July 14/01  This exhibit was very interesting.  I really like the old antiques and I lived the old piano.                                                                  Cassandra Simms

July 14/01  This is a wonderful and interesting old house and very nice place to come and visit.                 Colleen Simms

July 14/01  What can I say!  Preserving our heritage is very important.   Thanks to the Heritage Committee and the people of B.D.V.                          Craig Lockyer

July 14/01  Hats off to the Heritage Society for recognizing the importance of preserving our past.                             Mary Murphy & Diana English

July 19/01  Visited Baccalieu in 1965 as a young RCMP Officer (23373) to investigate the fire which destroyed one of the light house residences.            A. DeJong, Bradford, Ontario, Canada

July 20/01  Fascinating!  Being a lighthouse keeper was some way to make a living.  I don’t thing I could stand the isolation.  Thank you for sharing this home with us.                                     Mary Jansen Toronto, Ont.

July 20/01  Irene Norris, Joyce Cooper and Marcel Johnston, all from Grates Cove and friends of John, Jim and Edmund Ryan of Baccalieu (and Mary Ryan) Irene Norris - sister in law of John Ryan - John married Kathleen Norris, daughter of John Francis Norris, Grates Cove and Alice Maude White of Low Point.  Mary Ryan and Edmund Ryan never married and still live in Scarborough, Ont.

21 juillet 01 Gem de la place tres recevants.  Endroit charmant.  A conserver pour les futures generations.  Margo et Pierre Gauthier, Gatineau, Quebec

July 21/01  Enjoyed revisit my grandfather’s home.  Sp proud to see my dad’s war collection on display (A.B. Blundon)  - he would be so pleased to have known his war memorabilia is now on display in the Blundon Heritage House. Cavell Blundon Vey

July 21/01  Enjoyed visiting my uncle’s home.  Everything brought back memories.  Saw my brother’s pictures.  Everything was so beautiful.  Florence Noble (Blundon)

July 25/01  Newfoundland must preserve its heritage.  Much of it has been destroyed.  The people and government must change their thinking about fish all the time and encourage tourism.  Newfoundland is a jewel waiting to be discovered by the tourists. God bless Newfoundland.                                                 Harold Hellam  

July 30/01  Thoroughly enjoyed visiting the community where my grandmother Ellen O’Neil Kennedy came from many years ago.  I grew up listening to my father’s stories of his summer visits to Bay de Verde as a child.  It’s wonderful to see the rich heritage preserved.  We should all check our attics and basements to donate to Heritage Homes such as this.   Thank you so much. Pat Kennedy Mount Pearl, NF

July 31/01  Calvin, Edna, Christine & Travis Blundon (great, great, great grandchild of John Blundon) have really enjoyed our visit to the Heritage House today!        Edna Blundon

Aug 01/01  This is a very beautiful place.                 Tran Kao, Taiwa

Aug 01/2001  A lovely home and fascinating historic town.  Thanks to the great tour guide!      David Coish

Aug. 4/01  Enjoyed our visit to Heritage Days Celebrations today.  Great hospitality from all the staff!                                                Calvin, Edna & Travis Blundon

Aug. 6/01  Very enjoyable visit.  Great job done in this historic property.

Gerry & Roxanne Daley, Mt. Pearl

Aug 12/01  Nice look back in time.                  Keith O’Brien, Halifax

Aug. 12/01  A very fine job!  Very well done.  Really enjoyable visit. Philip & Bonnie Sheppard

Aug. 12/01  It’s great to see the history of communities preserved.  Bay de Verde should be proud of this historic site.     Hayward & Denise Blade

Aug 16/01  Albert Scott visiting from Nova Scotia today with his wife.  Alfred was born on March 24th, 1919 and went overseas during World War 11 where he met comrades James Barter, Harrison Riggs, Charles Emberley and Leonard Riggs!  Mr. Scott is the uncle of Julie (Scott) Noonan.  For years the Canadian government thought Mr. Scott had died in action overseas until Mr. Scott informed them that he is very much alive.  Mr. Scott is now 83 years old and resides in Bridgewater, N.S. with his wife.

Aug 21/01  Audrey and Bradley Tuck visiting from Hants Hr.  Beautiful place, had a great time!

Aug. 29/01  Bob Lutsky who cycled to Bay de Verde from Youngstown, Ohio, 2 months time.  I feel like this community offers what a lot of people only dream of - peace and security in a healthy and majestic setting with the finest kind of people.

Aug. 30/01  Amazing history and beautifully restored - truly worth visiting. Mary Barrett, Ontario

Aug 30/01  Very interesting.  Good quality artifacts.            B. Howard, Corner Brook

Aug 30/01  Very good and interesting.                       Dick Howard, Corner Brook

Aug 30/01Very interesting - just amazing to admire all the wonderful artifacts. Teresa (Howard) Lee

Aug. 30/01  This is my second summer working here at Blundon House and this time around I appreciate it all the more.  Never before have I actually realized how small this world really is.  It is truly unbelievable how many tourists have connections here in Bay de Verde.  Undoubtedly there is something that draws them back.  Just to see the expressions on peoples faces and to converse with them tells me just how much I’ve taken for granted or dismissed.  I have become very much interested in “the way it was” here in Bay de Verde.  I often wonder if the older people of Bay de Verde realize and appreciate how different this town is today and I think it mut be nice to reminisce of years ago.  Working here has established a sense of pride and joy in me - in that I grew up here and I am a part of what so many people from all over the world merely dream of.  This summer job taught me more than most any other course I have taken or will take in the future.  Stepping into this house is like stepping back in time - it’s nice!    Debbie Blundon, Summer Student  Interpreter

Sept 02/01  Beautifully restored - amazing history.  Well worth visiting.      Evelyn Brushett, Dartmouth, N.S.

Sept 07/01  What a wonderful way to preserve the artifacts and history of Bay de Verde.  Without this house and the people who volunteered their time and efforts, a lot of these artifacts would get lost with time.  It is very heartwarming to me that so many people of this community are represented and that their grandchildren will be able to look back and appreciate the work of their grandparents. I am very interested in visiting the Heritage house every year and viewing new exhibits and revisiting the old ones. Much luck in future endeavours. Bridget Riggs Redmond

Sept 10/01  An excellent way of studying our ancestors.  Really enjoyed the history of my family. Would love to bring my children here someday.   Eva Blundon Jones  (Daughter of Oliver Blundon)

Oct. 5/01  As I sit here at the lovely table in the Dining Room of Blundon House, I feel as if I’m transported back in time.  Every “thing” is just wonderful.  What a great job on restoration has been done, an asset to our Newfoundland Heritage!  Well Done to all and sundry!  God bless Joy French-Coleman

June 14/02  To drive the lovely “Baccalieu Train” was breathtaking.  We are enjoying every minute of the strong Nfld. Culture and history.  Nfld. is a true travel destination.  Keep up the excellent tourism work.  It’s your finest asset.  Shirley Campbell-Hawes

June 25/02   Enjoyed the old fashioned view, excellent.  Also the outside view.                                                            J. Sheppard

June 25/02  The Heritage House was an excellent way to learn our history!  Beautiful scenery!  I am having an excellent time.     Allison Stoyles

June 25/02I love the house.  It’s so nice.  I wish I could live in a cool place like this.  I absolutely adored the view from the little window.  Very beautiful scenery.  I’d love to come back sometime to visit!                           Ana Baykor/a.k.a. Lacky

June 25/02  Very interesting, enjoyed myself!  Great way to learn about your ancestors and heritage.  Beautiful community!!        Chelsa George

June 25/02  The Heritage House was very beautiful and a great way to learn about Newfoundland heritage!  The scenery in this community is also very beautiful.                                            Melissa Royle

June 25/02  Charming House!  Well kept up and worth the visit.  Enjoyed the Family Tree and all the history. Thanks and keep up the good work.        Torrie George, St. John’s, NF

June 25/02  Very interesting look back into the past.  A nice mixture of history and look at domestic life.  Especially fascinating was the exercise books (dated 1960) that gives you a real glimpse at education of the time.  (Gets better every year with each new addition). Julia Bursey George, St. John’s, Nfld.

June 27/02  This is the best, most organized and informative museum I have ever been in - in Europe, Canada or the States.  So interesting, the books with the cross referencing is an incredible bonus.  We leave here with answers to all our questions and lots of incredible information.  Thank you so much for your efforts.                Ginny Marshall & Family

June 27/02  What a beautiful house.  Thoroughly enjoyed looking around.  I wonder what it would be like to live here all those years ago?   This is the first time I’ve seen a servants quarters.  Great job, loved our visit here.  Keep up the good work.                                          Thanks Pam Martin

June 27/02  I am really impressed by this beautiful house and how strongly built it is.  It brings me back to my childhood days.  Beautiful work.  Beautiful place.                               June Peed

June 29/02  I am Hilary Clarke (13 years old).  I am living in Pennsylvania right now.  I thought that it was really neat here.  Too bad my friends couldn’t visit here.                           Thanks, Hilary Clarke

July ½  I am Jerome Howard of Daniels Cove, born there August 20, 1919.  I spent several years of my life as a school principal in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.  After studying Commerce at Dalhousie in Halifax and spending four years in work and study with a firm of charter accountants in Truro and Picton, N.S., I entered the public field under a license from the Charter Accountants Association of Canada.  I have worked as a R.C.A. for 57 years.  During my life I have visited many museums, etc, but I have not seen any more interesting than this one “The Blundon of Bay de Verde’s Heritage House.  May God bless those who established it and give long life and happiness to the young intelligent girls and manager who now operate it.  Thanks to all of you for your help.                      Jerome Howard

2002  I love Bay de Verde because there is a lot of things to do and there is a lot of people.                                                Natasha Carvalhal

2002  This Heritage House has taught me a lot about my ancestry.  For instance I never knew that my great uncle was in the Arm Forces.  You really did a great job with the house.               Terrilynn Blundon

July 17/02  Thanks for the tour.  I learned a lot of new stuff about long ago.  “Thanks”.                                  Vicki French  

July 17/02  This house taught me a lot about the Blundon family.  Thanks.   Melissa Williams

July 17/02  The Bay de Verde Heritage House has thought me a lot about nature.             Keshia E.

July 22/02  This Heritage House taught me a lot of things.  We have a lot of fun here.  Sometimes I look at the pictures.  We have Heritage Day that is very fun.  I learned a lot about the Heritage House.  I love Bay de Verde.      Kelsey Blundon

July 26/02  This is a wonderful tourist attraction.  I loved the old fashioned artifacts.  It is great to learn more about our culture through heritage. I love Bay de Verde.                           Sincerely, Justine Howard, Daniels Cove

July 26/02  Bay de Verde rocks.                                    Gerard Greene

July 26/02  It was a good tour.  The house looks cool.           Erin Cahill

July 29/02  Congratulations to all who took part in gathering, researching and displaying the history of Bay de Verde.  Excellent job!  Brings back a lot of memories.      Elizabeth (Noonan) Graham Linda (Noonan) Hearn

July 29/02  Really interesting and an insight into past history and it way of life.  Craig & Angela (Blundon) Sheppard

Aug.01/02  Very interesting.  Shows Newfie history well!!  Loads of info!  Great job!  Julia Clarke, Topsail, C.B.S.

Aug 2nd/02  Great tour great information.  Erin Bradley (Granddaughter of John Ryan of Baccalieu)

Aug 02/02  A wonderful piece of history – it’s like walking through the past!  I have an especially soft spot for Baccalieu as I am the daughter of John Ryan - seeing his picture with my Aunt Mary, Uncle Jim and Uncle Edmund was very moving.  I applaud the work everyone has put into making this truly a “Heritage House”. With the most humble appreciation.   Patty (Ryan) Bradley

Aug 02/02  A wonderful walk through history - it was great to see where the wonderful Ryans of Scarborough, Ontario, hailed from - an equal treat to be visiting the heritage house with the daughter and granddaughter of John Ryan of Baccalieu.  Very well displayed items and very informative tour.     Joanne McArthur& Maeve McArthur,Toronto, Ontario

Aug. 03/02  Cassandra and Danielle Powell, Goose Bay, Labrador              Helen Doyle, Grates Cove

Aug. 03/02  Awesome Home!  Awesome tour.  Thanks for hospitality.  Music great.                          Ray and Judy LeClair Tignish, P.E.I.

Aug 03/02  This house looks a lot different thirty years ago when I visited Aunt Dot.  It’s beautiful. Sure wish she was here.      Karen Regular

Aug. 05/02  The Tour was the best.  I really liked it.       Jenna Blundon

Aug. 05/02  I liked it a lot!                                    Justin Blundon

Aug. 05/02  Amazing piece of heritage.  Well worth the trip.  I applaud the people of Bay de Verde to keep a great piece of history alive today.  Thank you.   “1st Class all the Way”  Chris Blundon “Grandson of Oliver P. Blundon”  

Aug 05/02   Really interesting place.  A real treasurer.    Wayne McCarthy

Aug 06/02  A wonderful history lesson of the life of a fisherman of Bay de Verde.                                Jim and Shirley Mississauga, Ont.

Aug 6/02A beautiful place.  Would love to stay here for a night.                    Lily Sellars, Western Bay

Aug 6/02  I really liked the house.         Emily Wolff, Jorden Webber

Aug. 06/02  One of the best exhibits we have ever seen, very well presented, very interesting.              B. Best/ F. Spaffed

Aug 08/02  Very well illustrated and documented.  Loved the servants quarters and photographs, especially the models.    Ann & Ruth Barrett

Aug. 09/02  A beautiful piece of Newfoundland.  You are very lucky indeed!                                     Harry E. Bares Toronto, ON

Aug. 10/02  Here with (13) people from Taiwan.    Betty Ann Brekka, Halifax, N.S.

Aug. 10/02  Very Nice.  Enjoyed. Edgar & Doris Dawe Stead & Marjorie Ollengham  Long Pond & Seal Cove, C.B.S.

Aug. 10/02  Outstanding exhibit, very informative.  Thanks so much.           The Kettles of Eweismore

Aug 10/02  Very Impressive.                  Mary Noseworthy

Aug 11/02  Nice house!                               Rebecca Haboucha

Aug 11/02  Wonder job of restoration and exhibits!   Really interesting and so well done.                                  Everett & Cindy Green, Gander, NF.

Aug 12/02  Very beautifully restored.  Very interesting!  Brings back a lot of memories.                                  Mary & Kevin Walsh Marystown, Nfld

Aug 17/02  I am amazed at how much I have learned in the past seven weeks working here as a student interpreter.  I believe this is one of the best summer jobs a person could ask for.  I have really enjoyed meeting every person as they walk through the door to take a trip down memory lane or to explore the unknown past.                               Amanda Woodrow

Aug 17/02  A truly wonderful, living and ongoing restoration that everyone in Bay de Verde and in Newfoundland can take great pride in.  Keep up the great work and preservation.                    Bill and Janet Montevecchi

Aug 18/02 This is a wonderful exhibit of your area.  My husband and I have traveled the entire perimeter of Nfld. this summer and find this heritage house to be the best overall representation of your community. Well Done! The Frenches, Tillsonburg, ON

Aug 19/02  A most striking community and a great restoration of this heritage home with its informative exhibits.                   The Andersons, Simcoe, Ont.

Aug 18/02  A wonderful restoration of Bay de Verde Heritage.  Very well done.  My husband and I first visit  Glad we came to visit.     The Burt’s, Toronto, Ontario

Aug 21/02  A wonderful visit!  This is certainly a perfect way to remember and preserve past days.  It is a place that the people should be very proud to have in this area.  Bravo!               Elsie & Max Squires, Vera Abbott

Aug 21/02  What a great house & exhibit.  Bay de Verde is a beautiful spot. Sorry to hear about the light being automated.                                D & M McCourt

Aug 23/02  What a marvelous piece of history in this beautiful old house.  We found it very illuminating and interesting.        Elmer & Yvonne Davis Carbonear, NF

Aug 24/02  An outstanding show, really wonderful.  Showing the Heritage of Bay de Verde and the Blundon families.  The attic is wonderful.  Also the models (flakes, etc) are beautiful.  Christie Blundon (Mrs. Mose Blundon)

Aug 29/02 Wish I had more time!   Connie & Margaret Rose Edmunds(Gallant) (LeBourdais)

Aug 31/02  Enjoyed seeing all old pictures.  Wished the organ worked.  Bought back memories from while living in Western Bay in the early 1900's Gen Yeo Boston, Ma

Sept 05/02  You are fortunate to have some people who care to preserve your heritage.  It helps those of us from other areas to learn the way of life.   Dave & Barbara Cawthorne, Scottsdale, Az

Sept. 8/02  Enjoying revisiting the Blundon Heritage House (my grandfather’s home).  A lot of work has gone into the organization and the Heritage Committee needs to be commended on their wonderful job.            Cavell Blundon Vey

Sept 08/02  I enjoyed going through the house, once again.  Brought back memories of my living here with Alfred and Son Calvin.  I have to congratulate the committee on the wonderful display of the artifacts.             Rita Blundon nee Tilley

Sept 10/02  You people of this “jewel of a province” should be thanked again and again for being so proud of your heritage and proud of preserving the past.                       Jerry & Phyllis Raynar, Calgary, AB

Sept 02  Great to recall memories of growing up in Bay de Verde and reliving memories of Aunt Dot Blundon and her home.    Hazel Legge (Blundon) Ontario

Sept. /02  Wonderful to keep the history alive!         Bruce Letrale, Victoria, BC

May 30/03  Visited the Blundon House with Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Committee.  Great to see such a beautiful house refurbished and all the old furnishings still in tact.           Tony Ryan, Port Saunders, NL

May 30/03  Beautiful old house with great displays!  The amount of history and old artifacts is wonderful.  I really enjoyed the visit.   Sean French Corner Brook, NL

May 30/03  WOW!  Excellent facility, great educational displays and interesting heritage.  Thank you for the opportunity to visit this heritage house.  All the best in the future.         Pat Taylor Pasadena, NL

May 30/03I am go glad to see you doing so well with this wonderful project Baccalieu Island and Red Head Cove is a very special place for me.  Mr. Vince Kehoe, Mrs. Agnes Kehoe were my “only” neighbours at Cape St. Mary’s.  Mr. Kehoe was/is my friend and all his family in Red Head Cove.  Vince told me many stories about his life living on Baccalieu Island many foggy evenings in his kitchen.  He took me around Baccalieu with Eugene.  He was a good man, who shared his life, friendship, home, food, music and love with me.  I miss him.  Your exhibits are fantastic and I wish you all the best.  Preserve our history, nature and we will remain immortal. Fyzee Shuhood Formerly - Cape St. Mary’s

May 30/03  A fine preservation.  Thank goodness for the people who thought about keeping this and even more for those that actually made it happen.  May hat is off to you.                     Michael Cahill

June 2003  Gerald - Many thanks for a great opportunity to share this great community effort.                                   Bill Montevecchi

June 17, 2003  A most impressive property and collection - certainly one of the highlights of my visit.  Congratulations.        John Smallwood

June 22/03  Takes my breath away.  Thank you for sharing the history of our great land. We have no idea what hard work is!    Melvina and Richard McCao, Barrie, ON

June 2003  Lovely, lovely place.  Thank you so much. The Eli Blundell family (descendant from John & Priscilla Blundon of B.D.V. Circa 1700's.

June 28/03  It’s a really nice house.  It’s very interesting reading things about the people and things back then. Thank you.               Lauren Noftle, Whitby, Ont.

July 1, 2003  Thanks so much for a wonderful tour of this magical place.  A fine museum and heritage centre brings a place to life.  Truly remarkable.  This house gives a person a better understanding of life in Bay de Verde.  We had a great time.                   Michael Sand? & Kristen Robillard

July 03/03  So fascinating!  This house has so many tales to tell!  Thanks so much!        Jessica McCarthy

4 julliet 03  Merci pour la visite.  Tres belle maison arecievenie duterressaut.                    Audree V

5 July 03  Very interesting and educational exhibits. Keep up the heritage Noni & Fe Balo,Chilliwack, B.C.

8 July 03  Very nice to see my roots, love the pictures and family tree. Jodi Brennan  (Nee Blundon) Yellowknife

July 09/03  Vice nice, very interesting!                Kim Warford, Goulds, NF

July 03/03  Fascinating place! Roger & Carolyn Neufeld, Red Deer, Alberta

June 11/03  What wonderful memories for the Blundon family descendants. Hope they pass this history on for many years.          Ann Franklin,Oshawa, Ont.

July 12/03I found this house very interesting.  I especially found the diary of the light house on Baccalieu Island very interesting because my uncle was a light house keeper there for a long time, over thirty years.                              Marjorie Browne, Dunville

July 13/03Very nice and interesting!        Sara Morris, Mt. Pearl, NL  

July 13/03  Very interesting!                     Robyn Mercer, Mt. Pearl, NL

July 13/03  Very nice and interesting.  Kelsey Blundon and Kelsey Buckley, Burin and St. John’s

July 15/03  This place is a treasure for those looking for their roots and those interested in history.  I enjoyed every minute.     Blenna Morrison, Pickering, Ont.

July 5/03  Beautiful little museum of local history.  Courtney was a great guide.                                                  Don & Colleen, North Bay

July 15/03  What a wonderful tribute to your history and ancestors!  The tour was great.                             Dawn & Steve Spak, Mt. Bethel, PA

July 15/03  This is a very well done museum.  All the donations from the people of Bay de Verde to the museum are wonderful and most generous.  Thank you.                                 Stafford & Lucy Noble, Columbus, Ohio

July 20/03  Beautiful old home with a beautiful view.  The town has done a great job of preserving.  A good tour! Thelma and Larry Feltham, St. John’s

July 20/03  A unique little place B de V and we learned a lot.  Thanks Victoria, Neil, Jonah & Sacha Beman, Chelsea, Quebec

July 31/03  This house is very beautifully kept.  It’s been a pleasure to visit here and to see the interest that the community keeps in this project.  We had a beautiful tour guide today who knew much about the heritage of the house and Bay de Verde (Courtney Coish).  Thank you Courtney.                 Linda Smith

July 21/03  Very interesting - enjoyed the tour.  Thank you.    M. Locke

July 22, 2003  Fabulous spot - a very picturesque community.  Great museum!!                             Davie, Sherry & Brittany Freake, Gander, NL

July 23/03  Great Heritage Home and lovely guide, Courtney!  Really enjoyed the town and history of this beautiful piece of “The Rock”. Great to see where Gloria grew up.                              Sandy Neild, Pugwash, N.S.

July 24/03  Wonderful Heritage Home.  A delight to tour.  Amanda did a great job answering our many questions!  Thank you!                                   Wendy & Ted Waynillowicz, Calgary, Alberta

July 26/03   Wonderful place.  I learned a lot.  I loved watching the birds on the T.V.  Great museum. Dawn Buckle & Brenda Buckle, Corner Brook, NL

July 37/03  Nice to see that Newfoundlanders are proud of their heritage. David King, St. John’s, NL

July 27/03  Wonderful tour, very informative!  I have lived here for many years (NFLD) and am proud to bring visitors to visit.  Excellent work!   Cheers                                                       Tanya Mulbly-Balog

July 27/03  Very cool tour.  Interesting and informative. Thanks!  Robyn Kase & Kye Cole, Calgary, AB

July 28/03  Really near house!  I liked learning about how cod was salted.  Newfoundland is a very beautiful place!                                                   Andrea Kushnir, Bonnyville, Alberta, Charlie & Sewand

July 30/03  Very impressive!  A wonderful job done!  It’s so nice to see the old furniture well preserved.   Jo Hogan & Brian Hatch Yellowknife, NT, (Formerly Northern Bay & Red Head Cove)

July 30/03  A fantastic history of Bay de Verde and the fishing industry - really enjoyed all the antiques too  - Keep up the great work!                         Patrice Ledwell, London, Ont

Aug. 01/03  A wonderful respite to gather history and knowledge of this wonderful place. Guided tour very helpful and informative.  Bravo.   Rodger & Irene Well, Grosse Ile, Michigan, U.S.A.

Aug 05/03  Great house.  Lots of old things to see.  Really cool!  Olivia Best  Swift Current, NL Canada

Aug. 06/03  Interesting & educational.  Loved it.  Brought back lots of memories of my husbands childhood.  Thanks.  Excellent.                             Daphne Hillier

Aug. 09/03  It has been 16 years since I have been gone.  I must say it was nice to show my two children my heritage.  We think it is amazing what has been done to heritage house.                      Paula Reid (Walsh)  Barrie, Ont.

Aug 14/03  Wonderful exhibit - very educational.  Will never again complain about the cost of salt cod!  Al Smith, Tom & Margaret Kelly Grand falls-Windsor, Nfld.

Aug 20/03  My brother Roy and sister-in-law Freda, my sister Blanch and myself Ester Hamilton visited your Heritage House.  Very nicely done. It’s been a pleasure to visit your town and talk to some of your people.  Many thanks. We are all from Upper Island Cove

On August 16, 2003, I had the pleasure to visit this beautiful house.  It brought back many vivid pictures of my childhood, when as a boy I grew up in a small fishing village called Spout Cove.  It does my heart good to see a house such as this maintained and a heritage living on.  Keep up the good work.  Very interesting.                     Hubert Trickett, Small Point.

Aug. 23/03  It’s amazing how much you can learn in seven weeks.  Being a student interpreter for the Blundon House this year has been exciting and wonderful all at the same time.  When I started working here I didn’t think this job was going to be fun, but as the days progressed I knew it was. Meeting each person as they walked through the door has meant a lot.  Learning about my past has been very helpful.  Carl has been a great Manager and Amanda a great co-worker as well.  I will always cherish the memories I have of working in this wonderful Heritage House. Courtney Coish

Aug. 26/03  This is the first time that I have been back to my grandmother’s house since she lived here.  I used to take the bus from St. John’s while attending university to come visit her.  A lot has changed in this house since I’ve been here last, but much is the same.  I have a lot of memories of this house and my Nan.  There are still a few items that I remember painting years ago. It has been a great pleasure to come back to visit Bay de Verde and this house.  I hope to bring my own family here before too long.    Scott Blundon, grandson of Dorothy T. Blundon  Paradise, NF  

Aug. 27/03  I’m up here from Cape Bretton visiting my grandmother from Red Head Cove.  I like it here.  I think the Heritage House is very interesting and I hope to come again soon. P.S.  Our uncle found the anchor out infront. Meagan Kelly, NS                                                 

Sept. 2/03  We again have the pleasure of visiting Bay de Verde.  Such a beautiful community.  We enjoy our visits with Olga & Frank Blundon (next door) each time we visit Newfoundland.You all have done such a “wonderful” job on the old home.  Thank you so much.  Florence Church, Bob & Marilyn Stewart, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

June 24/04  This is a fantastic place.  Great to see the same kind of tool my grandfather used in Ontario and the nation elders in Northern Manitoba.  They also made their fish nets using the same tools.  Thanks for a glimpse at our great heritage.               Elen & John Thompson, Oxford House

June 28/04  First visit to Heritage House.  Very impressive! And well displayed.  I enjoyed the “look around”. Thanks.           Marion Bursey

June 28/04  Thank you very much for such a delightful visit. It’s all well done and informative.                                               N. Cavaliere

June 29/04  What a terrific living “museum”.  Thank you for all the info - including election results!!                            C. Soper  Bayfield, ON

July 01/04 What a wonderful old house - reliving memories of my childhood in Red Head Cove.  Great work has been done here.                      Genevieve Rice Comris

July 03/04  Newfoundland is great.                              Megan B. Leduc, AB

July 03/ 04  Very interesting.                                                 Edward Butt

July 03/04Wonderful                                                             Gary Butt

July 07/04  Quite enjoyable, esp. book of gravestones.  House is very informative.  How pleasant.           Melshean Boardman, Port Hope, Ontario

July 07/04  Beautiful display!  Both of the videos were informative, perhaps the birds could be with more footage and info to complement display on ground floor.  Been here a week (Grates Cove) lovely hikes, people, & Air.  Rinehew Boardman, Port Hope, Ontario

July 7/04  Thank you.                           Jonathon & Lynn, Armstrong, BC

July 09/04  Wonderful Exhibition.         Anthony & Sara Cook, PA, USA

July 9/04  Keep up the excellent work a credit to your town.   Kathy & Gunter Kleinwort, Spaniards Bay, NL

July 09/04  A wonderful collection of artifacts.  Very informative and nostalgic at the same time.             Sincerely, Brian Hall, Toronto, Ont.

July 11/04  I like this place.  Very cool!!        Tara Noel  Moose Jaw, SK

July 13/04  After so many years away from home, I was delighted to come home and see so many wonderful people and places that I still hold dear to my heart.  This house is an example of the pride of the Bay de Verde people.  I’m proud to be part of this community.  May you always find joy and happiness and success in this town.  May God Bless you all. James Noonan, Fort McMurray, Alberta

July 13/04  My name is Marilyn, Granddaughter of Mr. Blundon, Daughter of Ruth Blundon.  The last time I was here was a age 16 when Aunt Dorothy was living here.  This is a very special day to come back to my mom’s and grandfather’s house and I will remember it always.  Thank you for keeping the house full of memories!  My sister, Judy, lives in Toronto also and wishes everyone well and Ruth & Benny.

July 16/04  What a beautiful house.  So nice to see the history of Newfoundland come alive.  Keep up the good work and be proud of your heritage.                                                      Kay Tizzard

July 18/04  This is a beautiful historic house.  So many memories of years gone by.  Keep up the good work here.  Will forever remember.                    Lily Penney (nee Reynolds) & Don

July 18/04  We have really enjoyed the tour through this Historic House.  Many things here have brought back many memories to us.  Thank you.       Don & Elsie Mills

July 18/04  I really enjoyed this trip here to Bay de Verde.  I have never been here before and the Heritage House was a wonderful place to visit.  The town guides were a pleasure to have around the house explaining things I didn’t understand.  I will never forget this place and the many memories it gave me.  Thank you.                          Rebecca Thomas, Dartmouth, N.S.

July 26/04  This house is so amazing.  If these walls could only talk...  I would sit here for days and days and listen to stories.                                      Sandy Clancey, Mt. Pearl, Nfld.

July 26/04  I have enjoyed the total area here including this great old house.  Very well done.  Thank you.        Randall Cameron, Anapolis Valley, N.S.

July 21/04  It’s a very nice place.  Wonderful.   B. Laliberie, Quebec City

July 24/04  What a wonder preservation of your heritage for all to appreciate and celebrate.  Thank you.                            Amera & Sergio, Toronto

July 31/04  Robert John Blundon, descendent of James Blundon and his father, John Blundon, who built this house.  Born 21 March 1994.                 Robert John Blundon

July 31/04  Hi, My name is Calvin Blundon, grandson of James & Hannah (Pottle) Blundon and great grandson of John & Ann Elizabeth (Baggs) Blundon, owners of this house.  This was the first home I lived in when born March 16, 1945 and I resided here till 1949, when my parents Alfred & Rita (Pilley) Blundon moved to Kelligrews, C. Bay, then later to Old Perlican, Trinity Bay.  This home was visited every year ever since and was a favourite place to visit by my children and grandchildren while occupied by my Step grandmother Dorothy Blundon, who was the last resident before it was donated as a heritage house.  I presently reside at Kelligrews with my wife Mary Edna Blundon (Cluney, Clooney from Ireland).  Our children are Robert Wayne, Christine Denise and Jane Elsie Blundon.  I was the last person born here in the family of Blundons at this house.

July 31/04  First time here, beautiful heritage home. My husband & I have a home  (Lar Hatch) in Red Head Cove.  Love Nfld                                           Debbie Hogan, Cape Breton, N.S.

July 31/04  Very interesting.  Really enjoyed your fish and brewis.                 Gloria Delaney, Broad Cove

Aug 02/04  Very Nice!

Delphine Lupis, Vancouver, B.C. Verne E. Montgomery, Vancouver, B.C.

Aug 10/04  Absolutely fantastic!            Cheryl Gale, Change Islands, NL

Aug 10/04  Wow!  What a great community - wonderful museum  

Rev.  Paula Gale, Newville, New World Island, NL

Aug 10/04  Beautiful  - thank you.  John Lindsay, St. Thomas, Ontario

Aug 10/04  Very interesting house, brought back many memories.  Thank you.                                                    Lillian Sparkes, Waterloo, Ontario

Aug 11/04  Great!                               Margaret Osler, Calgary, Alberts

Aug. 11/04  Very interesting.     Donald Blundon, Dollord Des Ormeaux, Quebec

Aug 13/04  By far, the best heritage home I’ve ever visited. The Andersons, Gander

Aug. 16/04 Just beautiful, great when you know some of the people who lived here.                                        Ivy & Alvin Cassell, Deer Lake, NL

Aug. 17/04  A remarkable representation of the heritage and history of the Bay de Verde people.  This display has provided my two sons (Jonathon & Nicholas) with a very unique view of Newfoundland out-port life.  I am most impressed at the dedication you have bestowed upon our veterans and their sacrifice given to build this great nation an the freedoms we all enjoy today.                                                     Alexander Riggs, Ottawa, Ont.

Aug. 17/04  “Great Mus”.     Betty Ann Brekka, Coach/Driver, Halifax N.S.

Aug. 17/04   Melissa Choong, Jennifer Choong, Goldham Choong, Brampton, Ontario

Aug 21/04  Thank you for adding to my knowledge of this great land we live in and to the greatness of Newfoundland.      Carole, Guelph, Ont.

Aug 21/04  It’s been a great pleasure working here for the last 4 weeks.  There is so much history in this house.  I will always remember the history I have learned.  I can’t think of a better summer job than this one.  Courtney and Amanda have been excellent co-workers and Carl a great manager.  Hope to see you again next year.  All the best.   Ashley Hatch, Student Interpreter

Aug. 27/04  From the Pacific to the Atlantic!  We are happy to be here on this absolutely beautiful day and we are fascinated by the picturesque beauty of this place. Werner & Beatrice Zapka, living near San Francisco, California.  Werner was born in Germany, Beatrice in Switzerland.

Aug. 27/04  Have a most pleasant vacation time on the Island.  It is sheer beauty all around!               Lise and Richard Fuhr, Montreal - West Que.

Sept.01/04  Thank you for maintaining this lovely place and letting us see it! Wayne, Vera and Janice Groszko, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Sept. 04/04  It is one of the great pleasures of my life to come down home and rummage through the lands and by-ways of my boyhood memories.  For me it is the springboard of the person I have become.        Paul O’Neill

Sept. 19/04  Thank you so much for a wonderful visit.  It has been most interesting.  Again thank you.                            Margaret Buckingham

Oct. 25/04  Special thanks to Gerald for the tour of the Heritage House.        Richard & Madonna

Nov. 03/04  Many thanks to Mr. Riggs for his kindness and co-operation in opening this house to my wife (former Mary Pryor) and I for a wonder showing, “a job well done”.                               L & Mary Rodgers

Nov. 10/04  I came here with many cadets.  This Blundon house is very interesting and very beautiful.                               Jenny Boader

June 23/05  A lot of history here.  Very beautiful and well kept up.

June 30/05  This is a very interesting place.  I was amazed with the artifacts and history of Bay de Verde.  Thank you for having us.         Lori Power

June 30/05  I have really enjoyed looking at all the different artifacts that you have here and hearing Mr. Riggs tell us about this beautiful town of Bay de Verde.  I am looking forward to visiting again very soon.  Thank you.      Linda Cooper

July 15/05  This is a very beautiful site as is Newfoundland itself.     Lorraine Charbonneau, Ottawa, Ont.

Aug. 04/05  Well I’m not really from Bay de Verde but I come here often with Terrilynn Blundon.  The people and the scenery are really nice.             Kyla Whalen

Aug 06/05  A well managed Heritage House.  It’s a pleasure to visit here.  Brings back memories.         Calvin B. Blundon Former resident of House. 

Aug 11/05  My 1st time here and very impressed.  This house is well maintained.  I just love it.  Will tell others in St. John’s and Vancouver B.C. Patricia Stafford &Margaret Snow                      

Aug. 06/05  This place is a very wonderful tribute to our ancestors and our history.  Thanks to all who play a part in this work to make this such a wonderful day for people to come home and reminisce. Sadie Newhook (Emberley)       

Aug 13/05  Excellent display, keep it going.       Ray Bennett, Rigolet, Labrador

Aug 13/05  Very interesting.  I enjoyed it very well.           M. Power

Aug. 14/05  When  I visited this house I became filled with an essence of historical fulfillment and a desire to delve further into the myriad of our history, culture and traditions.  In other words, it’s capital!!! Keep up the great work.

Aug. 16/05  Very beautiful and educating.  The tour guide was well educated on every subject.  We really enjoyed it!  Keep it up!        Kelly Parsons, Salmon Cove

Aug 19/05  I love your museum and its beautiful artifacts.           Olivia Ferguson

Aug 19/05  Most beautiful spot & museum  - hoping the cod come back. D. Din,   B.C.

Aug 22/05  Good to see the old artifacts preserved and put in a place for people to see.                             Austin & Laverne Pelley, Harcourt, T.B.

Aug 22/05  Excellent display.   Randy & Yvonne Pelley, Harcourt, T.B.

24 Aot 2005  Une place special a visiter.  Ca doit entre Assez surprenant Lors due tempete

Aug 24/05  I have just relived my childhood in 45 minutes.  Fabulous display.                                                 Bill Blundon Bala, Ontario

Aug 27/05  It’s been really great working here the past four weeks.  I never thought that I could learn everything so quick.  Working here with Carl, Courtney and Amanda has been really nice.  They treated me really good and we had a lot of laughs.  I really enjoyed this summer job and hope to get it again.                                                 Erica Emberley, Student Interpreter

Aug 29/05  Real nice museum, very educational. Jeannine LeBlanc, Rubibucto, N.B.

Aug 29/05  Very interesting information.    Yolande Cormier, Aldonane, N.B.

Aug. 29/05  Excellent display and educational.  Ron and Claudette LeBlanc, Grand Barachois, N.B.

Sept. 05/05 This was truly amazing!! Katherine Cameron, Atwood, Ontario

Sept. 06/05  Happy to revisit my grandfather’s home.  Brings back lots of wonderful memories.   Great to see the Heritage Committee keeping everything so great.  My Mom (Rita Blundon -Alfred B. Blundon’s wife) also with me.  She has enjoyed revisiting Bay de Verde and the “house”.  Always sees something different every visit!     Cavell (Blundon) Vey, C.B.S

Sept. 08/05  Well laid out and marked items.  Enjoyed reading small notes on different displays.  Nice to see the good work of the Heritage Committee. Cynthia Billard, Grand Bruit, NL

Sept 08/05  Enjoyed by visit to museum.  Interesting items and trying to guess what they were used for was fun.  Lovely view of sea on both sides of town.                                                 Margot Fraser, Halifax, N.S.

Sept. 08/05  Perfect done, a must on the way!!!   Elfie & Jurgen Schan, Berlin, Germany, Wilma & Peter Tajcnar, 4128 Aspen Dr. E. Edmonton, Alberta

Sept. 09/05  This is the second week of work here at the Heritage House.  So far we have the spring stained and the fisherman’s walkway is just about completed.  I must say it is a really enjoyable job (especially when we cooked breakfast one morning and today we are having pot luck).  That makes it all worthwhile, ha, ha.  I’d say by the time my 4 weeks are up, I’ll be able to give tours of the house, 101 (not likely).  Back to work.                 Tina Keyes

Sept 10/05  Well done.  Enjoyed all of it.  Thank you.                                 Wendy Jonne, (Vancouver, B.C.)

Sept 12/05  John was born in Northern Bay and is the great nephew of Bishop John March of Harbour Grace.  Always enjoy coming here.  This “Heritage House” is very special, so nice to visit! John & Hugette March, St. Catharines, Ontario

Sept. 22/05  Into my fourth and final week of work.  We started in the attic and worked our way to the kitchen, worked with an excellent group of co-workers and Carl being the best manager I ever worked with.  We always agreed on everything we did.  When Monday morning rolls around, I

will miss it.   Learned a lot of history about this house and I think it’s a beautiful house for visitors.  They all seem to enjoy their visit here.  We have to thank the Heritage Committee for all their work and so much interest.  I would come back to work here anytime.  I really enjoyed it. Valerie Coish, Crab Support Program

Sept 30/05  It’s my last day working here at the Heritage House.  I’ve been here four weeks and I enjoyed every minute of it.  I worked with a great bunch of people.  Besides doing our work we had some wonderful meals cooked and a lot of laughs.  I learned a lot about the history of Bay de Verde and I especially enjoyed looking at the old black and white photos (don’t worry Carl, I did that on my breaks!).  Carl, you were a great person to work for.  I’ll drop by next summer to have a look at your dishes.       Sandra Tucker, Crab Support Program.  P.S.   Thanks for the pizza!

Nov. 05/05  Today I visited the Heritage House with a group of cadets from Fort Francis, Ont.  along with some cadets from the local Corp 205 Baccalieu.  The visiting Corp is 144 Fort Francis.  It was a very enjoyable visit, very educational of the heritage of Bay de Verde.  Its nice to have such a place to take a group of young people to display interesting information about the place where we live and its heritage. Very well kept up! Great Job.  Slt. Tonya Squires295 Baccalieu (former resident)

July 05/06  I am glad that my way was directed here by a former Bay de Verde in habitant. This place leaves me in awe, it is truly a commendable achievement and puts many a museum in much bigger places to shame. The exhibits are feat and very informative. Thank you for a delightful experience.                                                             Guelph, Ont.

July 08/06  I especially liked the flake exhibits.  I thought it was tastefully done.  A lot of detail and I am proud to know the man who put it together.    Marie Lewis, Mount Pearl

July 08/06  I love it.                                             Amy Bursey (born 1999)

So did I (her dad)                Lewis Bursey (Markham, Ont, born 1962)

My grandfather was from Old Perlican, his name was Uriah Lewis Bursey (born 1905).  My other grandfather was Alex Hudson (born 1894) from Lower Island Cove.  My son Ryan (born1997) liked it here too.

July 09/06  On this day I had the pleasure of visiting and was very impressed.  Especially impressed with the pictures of the men of the Bay de Verde Foresters dated 1940 in Scotland and the picture of the Barracks where the men stayed during their stay in Scotland during WW11.  It was only recently that I saw on TV a biography of that event and to be able to view those wonderful pictures just made my day.  Eric S. Mercer, Branch Service Officer, #32 Bay Roberts, NL

July /06  I am very amazed and impressed to see so much history from the past.  It makes one ponder on the days gone by and to know what our forefathers had to contend with in their everyday life!  May God preserve the past for the future to enjoy!                       Les Mitchell, Hant’s Hr.

July /06  The dining room suite was exactly like my mother’s.  I was meant to come.                                                          R. Clare

July 12/06  Very well organized.  Amazing to see a lot of the original furniture and items still in the house.  Well done in preserving Canada’s history.                                     Tina Highfield, Sarnia, Ont.

July   /06  We have seen a lot of heritage houses in our “Tidy Town” travels but this one is among the best.  Congratulations to your heritage committee. Don & Sylvia Thistle, Steady Brook.

July /06  Although I lived very close to this house in my younger years, this was my first time visiting this house.  There are some very interesting things to look at.  A great place to visit and find out about the history of the area.    Richard Woodrow, Bay de Verde

July /06  Very interesting!  Well done.                 Neil, Saskatoon, SK

July /06C’est tres beau a visiter.  Merci beaucoup.        Lisette  Quebec

July 07 /06  Very interesting museum in a beautiful village!                       Robert Blade & Diane Parks

July 27 /06  I love Bay de Verde.  It’s very interesting.          Kaitlyn Keats

July   /06  This is awesome.                                            Eden Tootoo

July 30/06  Excellent display and very interesting.                                    Gerry Porter, Kingston, Ont.

July   /06  We live 7 km. from Bowmanville where the organ was made.

Ken & Irene Bond,Courtice, Ont

July 31/06I love it!  Very good and nice guide Erica.  Beautiful, interesting.

laire Lalonde,Plantagenet, Ont

July 31/06I love B.D.V.  I try to come home every year and each year I stop at the Blundon House.                              Sonya Norris-Jewers, Ottawa, Ont.

July 31/06  Very impressive.  Well maintained.                  The Morgans

Aug 01/06Beautiful home!  Very interesting.             

Debbie & Trevor Blundon & Kids Milton, NL

Aug 01/06This afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Paul Emberley outside his home.  What a delightful man and now I see that he is such a driving force in this community.                                         Teresa Scherle,Woodstock, Ontario

Aug 01/06  In my opinion this is the most beautiful town I have seen on my trip from Vancouver, B.C. Just delightful.                Josie Freeke, Langley, B.C.

Aug. 03/06   My eyes fill with tears of joy, of what has been lost and what has been left for us to enjoy.  Nicolinas Pulozzi,Toronto, Ont.

Aug /06  My grandfather is Eric Blundon

Aug 06/06  I love this place so much.                      Morgan

Aug 05/06  It is with a great deal of nostalgia that I gaze upon the articles and exhibits of this house.  After having known its owners and occupants during my boyhood years, I can readily recognize most of the artifacts and in an earlier day, used most of them.  It would take too long and space for me to express my feeling.                                                         Thomas Riggs

Aug /06  Congratulations on making the effort to preserve your history and to create a place to share with everyone.                       Scott,  Toronto

Aug /06  I like the organ thingy!  Yay for pirates!         Whitney

Aug /06There are a lot of interesting things here.          Courtney O’Toole

Aug /06  This is one of the best museums we have been in since we left St. John’s.  Our guide, Evan, does a wonderful job representing the friendliness of Newfoundland!  P.S.  In the attic there is a rifle with the #22 marked on it - we could not find it in the loose leaf note book - I was wondering what kind of gun it was as I have something similar at home - mine is a .410 gauge shot gun.  My e-address is: ajbuwalda@rogers.com should you have any info on said gun.  Thanks.                              Andrew & Joey Buwalda, Whitby, Ontario

Aug 14/06  Heritage important provenant d’une communaute qui se tient.  Merci pour nous avoir fait decouvrir votre coin de province.                          Louise et Rene Bouderville, QC

Aug 16/06  It is a very interesting place to see.  I really enjoyed it.                Ursula Lewis, Colliers, C.B.

Aug 17/06  Working here the past seven weeks has been a great experience.  I have learned many things about the community’s history as well as my own.  It has been a pleasure to speak with many tourists from all around the world.  This house maintains a vast amount of history with several stories to tell.  Each day brings a new fact to learn which I can pass on to other people.  I have had a great time working with Erica, Evan and last but not least, Car.  We all have shared a lot of laughs together, maybe not enough!  Where ever I end up in the world, I know I can never forget the times here in the house and BDV.  All the best!! Bernadine Noonan, Student Interpreter

Aug 17/06  Enjoyed my visit very much.  Beautiful home and very interesting.                                          Pam Knapp,Clementsport, N.S.

Aug 18/06  This home is a treasure!   Sheila McCann-Walsh, St. John’s

Aug 18/06  This home is worth keeping and fighting for money from Government to keep it in good condition.  Don’t ever let it go.    Kay McCann, Port au Port, NL

Aug 24/06  Very well done!                             Diana Chaytor, Vancouver

Aug 24/06  Very interesting and full of history.  It’s amazing how this is the actual house, it’s so beautiful. The Button Family, Newcastle, Ont.

Aug 26/06  Very interesting.                                           Laura Swain

Aug 27/06  Beautiful museum.  What an awful nice place to spend some time.  You’ve done a nice job and portray the area so well.                             The Kamens from Saratoga Springs, N.Y.  

Aug. 29/06  How wonderful to bring our grandson to see history and actually be able to touch things. Thank you for the step back in time.             The Austins

Aug 30/06  This is a very beautiful place!  It is nice to see the great way everything is laid out and to see how people lived years ago.     

Kimberley Brewer, Cindy Brewer, Shannon Power, Tyler O’Rourke

Aug 30/06  So important to maintain the history of Canadians, be it East or West Canada.  Good work.                                             Diane Parrett

Sept. 02/06  Very beautiful.                                            Mary St. George

Sept. 02/06  I always loved the Heritage House.  It is so nice inside.  All the things back in the olden days are so amazing to me.     Kelsey Blundon

Sept. 02/06  First time visitor.  Absolutely beautiful.      Pattie Flynn

Sept 02/06  All the way from Ontario.  Thank you for sharing your heritage.

Sept. 02/06  Marvelous job all ‘round.  Quite interesting - my husband, John M. O’Neill lived here till 1948. We’re descendants of the early O’Neills.      Maureen O’Neill

Sept. 03/06  Very interesting place and full of information.  John Blundon 1808 and Sarah Blundon were my great grand parents.                                   Bernadette Jooyner, Berkeley, Ontario

Oct. 06/06  I always loved this house.  Visited it lots of times.  Really miss Aunt Dot.                                                Florence Noble, Kitchener, Ont.

June 16/07  One of our highlights while visiting the Island.  Beautiful setting and well done.

John Pegg/Ann Walton, Burlington, Ontario

June 16/07  Lots of history.  Beautiful little village.  Friendly people!

Dave & Maureen Graychyk, Martlach, Sask.

June 16/07  The heritage house is all bout the past and very cool.                  Alyssa Maidment.

June 16/07  The heritage house is all this stuff old.          Emma Doyle

June 24/07  This is the best place that I have been to, to take the time to look at the life in Bay de Verde.                        Ellison Walters

June 26/07  The Heritage House: brings back old memories of my childhood in Bay de Verde.                                  Dorothy MacDonald (Mitchell Coish)

July 1/07  Excellent!  Very attracting information to appeal to all!  Keep up the excellent work and I hope many, many more people visit here.                 Matthew Blundon, Bay de Verde

July 02/07  The best we have visited - brilliant.     The Harris Family, Penarth, UK

July 02/07  Wonderful job of restoration and preservation.  Ann & Bob Gould, London, Ont

July 06/07  Very interesting.    Joan & Hubert, Summerland, B.C.  Charlie & Diane Daly, St. John’s, NL

July 09/07  Great memories for my hubby.            George & J?  Bursey, Ontario

July 09/07   Patricia Myra Megiel, North Port, Florida  

July 09/07   Maureen L. Ford, North Port, Florida

July 10/07  Most interesting!  Thanks for tea. Dale & Lorna, Victoria, B.C.

July 10/07  Awesome!!  Thanks for the tour.  Dally Moore, Winnipeg, MB

July 11/07  Excellent tour, really enjoyed it, Lots of history in this house and community.  The tour guide on staff was very knowledgeable.                       Bob Bullen, Hr. Breton, NL

July 11/07  Fabulous museum! Michelle Powers, Pitt Meadows, BC

July 19/07  There is so much to see and appreciate in this beautiful community.  The fishing history is so interesting and well told.  Thanks Tiffany.                Agnes & Stephen Walden, Castlegar, BC

July 19/07  Very interesting place to visit.  Our tour guide, Tiffany, did a great job of explaining the history! Marie & Leo Vincent,   Fredericton, NB, (Former Newfies!!)

20 juillet 07C ette maison est superbe.  Felicitation de garder votre patrimoine.                      Claudette & Bernard Larenesie, Quebec

July 22/07  This is a beautiful house all about our history. Interesting!!! Amanda, Mitchell and Bernadette Preston, Western Bay

July 22/07  Dawn Blundon, Stephenville

July 24/07  Fascinating history and wonderful scenery.  Larry & Janet Verone, Pennsylvania

July 26/07A beautiful place to visit.             Ed & Sue, Sudbury, Ont.

July 25/07  Great to see and hear how fishing communities survived in harsh conditions without mod cons.        Arthur Merrill, Liverpool, UK

July 26/07  What a treat to visit this place of your town’s heritage.  Absolutely wonderful. You deserve an award.                                                 Carol & John King, Florence & Alton King, Bauline NL

July 27/07  This is a treasure!  You should be very proud of the heritage as well as the work you’ve done to preserve it.                 Janina Tarnowski, Toronto, Ont

July 27/07  The house is a provincial treasurer!   Annette Martin, Bridgewater, NS (New Perlican, NL)

July 27/07  This place puts you back to early childhood days.  Great job on restoration.  Wonderful to see how life was like in a beautiful picturesque community on NL Coast.  Shirley Mokler, Gjon Haven, Nunavut, (Ch’town P.E.I.)

July 28/07  Visited many museums along the way this being one of the best. Many old memories brought back.  Tks.                Sharon & Wayne Bursey, Lab. City, NL

July 30/07  Fascinating place!    Linda & Doug Churchill, Glovertown, NL

July 31/07  Home for a visit after 22 years.           

Dave Blundon, son of Felix Noonan and Carol Blundon.

Aug 03/07  Fascinating!                                  B & E McCann, NL

Aug 04/07Wonderful. Nicely presented.   Margie Plunkett, Ft. Lauderdale

Aug 04/07  A wonder place.                            Edna Blundon  

Aug 05/07  A wonderful place. You have a beautiful building and should be proud of it.        Millie & Randell Crane, Cavendish, T.B.

Aug 06/07  This house is really amazing very well kept.  Really enjoy going through this house.  Be very proud.                                     Emma Bullen, Hr. Breton, NL

Aug 06/07  Great House - well kept. Bruce, Sharon, Shannon &Courtney Barbour, Portugal Cove-St. Philips

Aug. 06/07  Marina (Osborne) Mercer,Upper Island Cove

Aug 07/07   John Mercer & Katarzyna Cedrowicz, Toronto

Aug 08/07   Dennis & Dixie Bohnet, Medicine Hat, Alberta

Aug 08/07  Very interesting and well done.                               

Reg & Doreen Bowering, Mount Pearl, NL

Aug 08/07  Very impressive, Nice to see your efforts at preserving our wonderful history and culture!!                Terry Ryan, La Scie, NL

Aug. 11/07  This is totally amazing.         The Walsh’s

Aug. 11/07  Wicked house.  Best place I ever worked.  Best people too.  I love you guys so much.  See you soon!             Kayla

Aug 15/07  Love the organ in this room, and the attic!  I love this H. House! Well must go finish looking around.                 Katie K.

Aug 15/07  A terrific experience. Wonderful history and explanation of fishing process.  Staff were extremely helpful with great knowledge to share. Congratulation to the community and all who made this wonderful experience available to visitors from all over.      Bob, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Aug 18/07  Congratulations to everyone involved in making this happen.  Our history is too often forgotten and lost and its good to see that there are still people who work and strive to tell our stories and save our memories.  Thank you. Noel James Riggs, Albalete, Spain  August 2007, Wabush, Labrador, Bay de Verde, NL

Aug 18/07  Working here the past 6 weeks with the girls - Tiffany, Kayla & Victoria - and Carl, has been amazing.  I certainly could not think of a better summer job.  When first coming here, I knew next to nothing about the history of the house.  I soon learned many things about the house, as well as the community and its people, with the help of Tiffany , of course.  I have met so many wonderful people that I will never forget.  Even had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Eleanor Mills (former resident of the house).  We had so many laughs here.  Truly unforgettable.  So thanks girls and Carl of course for an amazing summer.  I’ll never forget it!  Wendy Hatch, Interpreter

Aug 18/07  Absolutely wonderful place.  Don & Ann Marie Stamp, Mt. Pearl, NL

Aug 18/07  Marvelous place.  There’s so much history on exhibition. We need more time to take it all in.  Enjoyed every exhibit.  We’ll be back.         Marie Stamp, Mt. Pearl (Gull Island)

Aug 19/07  Great to see the history preserved.  So interesting.  We’ll be back.            Louise Taylor, North Wales, UKAug 19/07

Aug 20/07  A very interesting place.  A marvelous history of a great place.  Will come back again.   George Button, UK

Aug 20/07  A great place for children, adults and other people to learn more about stuff they did and didn’t know already.                        Shannon Kehoe, B.C.

Aug 20/07  So, so cool.  I loved all the stuff here.  How you can touch stuff. Haylea & Cassidy Lambert, Toronto

Aug 21/07  Certainly brings back memories of my childhood.  I love every little piece of the house.  Congratulations to all who had anything to do with it especially Gerald, my cousin.            Nellie (Riggs) Bell, Brantford, Ont.

Aug 23/07  I recall stories my mother told me about her relatives in Bay de Verde - Ellen Noonan and John Woodrow.  In speaking with Brendan Doyle I learned more information.  This house is a fine building which keeps the history and culture in memory.  It’s a wonderful house and has been preserved well.  It is a credit to the people who have donated much. Marcella Nolan, Mount Carmel

Aug 25/07  This place is amazing.  Learned a lot of things while working here.  Also met a lot of family members.  I enjoyed the staff here.  A great pleasure to work with Wendy, Kayla, Tiffany and Carl.  Can’t forget him, best manager in life.  This is a memory I will keep forever.  The past weeks were great. Would definitely come back to work. Victoria Doyle, Student Interpreter.

Aug. 25/07  For the past nine weeks I have been working here at the Heritage House as a student interpreter, through the SWASP program.  The last nine weeks have been amazing.  Words cannot describe how truly excellent it is to work here in the Heritage House.  First when I came here I didn’t know half the stuff that I know now.  It is amazing that every day I came to work, I learned something new, whether it be about the house, about Baccalieu Island or about the community in general.  There are so many things that one who lives in the community can take for granted.  People who visit here are amazed by everything in Bay de Verde.  One day I saw a woman screaming because she saw a whale and it was at that moment I realized how much I take for granted.  A community’s heritage is important not only to the people living there but also to the many people who take the time to visit!  I have met so many interested visitors this summer and as they walk around the house they commend you so much that it instills a feeling of pride in your heart.  Besides giving tours, cleaning and typing up the comment book, I also enjoyed the many feeds that we had.  I believe we all put on 10 pounds this summer.  I’m sure we had about 4 or 5 BBQ’s a week.   That is not counting home made spaghetti and home made pizzas because we had a good many of them too!  Ha, ha.  I also enjoyed pending the summer with the best co-workers and manager.  Girls, you are amazing.  Kayla, you were the best person who ever mopped the floors in the house.  Wendy, you always knew how to brighten the day, even if it meant playing hide-n-seek, and Victoria, one day I will hire you as my personal chef since you cooked every feed we had!  And Carl, there is no one like ya!  You were a great manager.  Thanks for everything.  The Heritage House is the best place to work.  We had a wonderful summer filled with lots of laughter.  I will never forget the time I spent working here as I met different people from all over the world.  All the best for next year “Celebrating 10 Seasons”. I’ll be back!          Tiffany Walsh, Student Interpreter  

Aug. /07  I like all the old stuff in the Heritage house.          Becky Reddy

Aug. /07  In this place, a person learns a great deal about the people who live here and of those who came before.  A great deal of respect for them and the hardships of their lives is shown in great detail I’ve been here three times and each time I’ve enjoyed my visit to the Heritage House.  It gives a glimpse into the past that shows a hard working people whose lives were hard but who survived in spite of the difficult life.  I have a great respect for the people of Bay de Verde. Carmel Reddy, Ontario

Sept. 01/07  It is a wonderful house full of story.  Just keep it!   It is so important!                   Claudia, Quebec native now living in St. John’s

Sept. 03/07  Awesome house. Very informative and interesting.                    Miranda Doyle, Gull Island

Sept. 03/07  Working on the premises of the Heritage House has been a joy, working with Tiffany, Victoria, Kayla, Wendy and Carl has been an unforgettable experience.   I treasure every moment, every laugh, every visitor who comes through the front door.  I’ve learned a lot about the house as I was volunteering and working here, especially info about Baccalieu Island.  Thanks to Carl for letting me on staff at the House as a volunteer.  I hope I can do this all again someday.   Kyle Riggs, Student Interpreter

            This is the end of this book. A new ‘Comments Book’ has been put in place so that visitors   can continue to pen their sentiments as they have over the past ten years. If you have not yet visited the Heritage Premises – make an effort to come and write in our new book.
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