" Discover the Heritage of the Baccalieu Trail "


Bay Roberts Cable Station
1913 Cable Building

Built by Western Union as a relay station for transmitting equipment for new and original cable lines running between the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Many of Bay Roberts residents found employment as operators (45 on staff), labourers, and carpenters when Western Union came. Some local residents were also trained for technical positions. Following the completion of the cable station, construction of residences for the staff was started. Cable Avenue (a new street) was laid out with sidewalks, street lights, chestnut trees and duplex houses on either side.

During World War II, the Cable Station was guarded by the Newfoundland Constabulary, the Newfoundland Militia, and Quebec soldiers from the Canadian Army. Security was important not only because of the important communication link between the UK and the US, but one of the cables carried a private line between Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

1910 – Western Union Telegraph Company of New York selected Bay Roberts as the landing site for a transatlantic cable.

1913 – The Bay Roberts Cable Station was constructed by the Western Union Cable Station Company.

1998 (October) – Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador designated the station as a Registered Heritage Structure.

Today, the cable station has been restored to house a museum, art gallery, and municipal offices.

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