" Discover the Heritage of the Baccalieu Trail "
Freshwater - History Timeline
1696 - It is believed that Freshwater Hill, was a strategic defence post during the French raids on Conception Bay.
1705 - 1762 - Freshwater Hill continues to provide defence for Carbonear Harbour and Carbonear Island during the periodic attacks by the French.
1800’s (early) – Residents maintain small farms for food, growing potatoes and hay. Livestock including horses, cattle, hogs and sheep are pastured.
1836 - Census records a well-established community of 471 residents. The community had 39 male and 13 female fishing servants and 33 fishing boats.
1835 - 1845 Two Methodist churches are constructed.
1844 – The first school in Freshwater is mentioned in the Journal of the House of Assembly in a report from the Protestant Board of Carbonear.
1845 - Census reports 575 residents in Freshwater, Clown’s Cove, and Otterbury. These three communities maintained 108 fishing boats and 2 sealing vessels.
1848 – The Journal of the House of Assembly again mentions the school Joseph Parsons is the schoolmaster of.
1850's - Freshwater residents continue to be involved in fishing, with 20 fishing rooms and 38 fishing boats.
1857 – Census mentions two schools.
1860’s (late) – Mail is being delivered through Carbonear to Freshwater on a regular basis.
1869 - Census records 83 large boats in use and four vessels involved in the seal hunt providing employment for 107 men.
1870’s (early) – Mail is being delivered each week and improving the comunication between Freshwater and the rest of the Island.
1870's – Involvement in the fishery decreases to only one vessel with ten men involved in the seal hunt and a total of 21 boats.
1874 – Census reports that "Most of the fishermen can build houses, fishing crafts, and are all experts in the use of edged tools. The women, generally, can knit and some can spin. In season all assist in curling fish and attending to their gardens".
1880’s (early) – William Lamb is appointed the Postal Department’s Way Officer. He holds this position until 1888.
1883 – Freshwater is part of a separate circuit including Otterbury, Flat Rock and Blow Me Down.
1888 – William S. Davis is appointed Postal Way Officer replacing William Lamb.
1901 - The population of Freshwater decreases slightly to 534 residents.
1911 - The population rises to 565.
1911 – The Postal Department’s Way Office continues until this year when a postal telegraph office is opened in Freshwater. Loyal Orange Association builds a Society Hall with seating for 250 in the community.
1910’s (late) – The Fisherman’s Protective Union opens a Society Hall which can hold up to 100.
1920’s (late) – A new Methodist Church is built and is it remains in use until 1983.
1921 – Census reports two furniture factories using steam power operating in Freshwater.
1930’s – The fishing declines.
1940’s – Only subsistence fishery is prosecuted.
1945 - The population decreases to 311 residents. Census reports one dory, four motor boats, one fishing room and several nets and seines in use in Freshwater.
1951 - Population listed as 376.
1956 - Population listed as 434.
1971 - Population listed as 147 .
1976 - The population is 242, including residents of Clown’s Cove & Crocker’s Cove
1981 - Freshwater is listed as a separate community, with a population of 209.
1983 – The fishery declines with only three full-time fishermen and one part-time fisherman, catching cod and salmon. Gardens of cabbages, potatoes and turnips continues to be maintained. A two room elementary school remains open and high school students attended classes in Carbonear. Freshwater supports one general store. The Noel Family maintains a geese and turkey farm and W.C Noel and Sons operats a coffin works. Employment for the majority of Freshwater’s residents involves commuting to Carbonear and St. John’s.
