" Discover the Heritage of the Baccalieu Trail "


Grates Cove- History Timeline

1790 - Grates Cove is first settled by four families from Lower Island Cove and one family from Old Perlican.

1792 - John Hoskins Jr, comes to Grates Cove as a teacher and Methodist pastor.

1801 - First formal school is begun, with John Hoskins Jr as the class teacher.

1809 - First church is built by Methodists on land donated to the church by Thomas Cooper. William Ellis preaches the first sermon.


1836 - Census records a population of 439.

1846 - Grates Cove has two schools; one Roman Catholic and one Methodist.

1857 - Population rises to 577 residents. Census reported 47 fishing rooms, 86 nets, seines and traps, 86 boats , 426 kg of fish caught.

1861 - The Church of England church is built.

1869 - 1874 - Roman Catholic Church is built.

1872 - Road established between Grates Cove, Bay de Verde and Old Perlican.

1891 (January 24th) - Branch of Society of United Fishermen is established.

1901 - Grates Cove is listing as having three schools, teaching all grades from one to eleven. A one-room Church of England school, a one-room Roman Catholic school and a two-room Methodist school.

1901 - 1935 - A number of cod-oil factories are established. The highest number of factories was 12 in 1921.

1911 - A new Roman Catholic Church is built and consecrated. Branch of the Fishermen's Protective Union is established. 165 acres of cultivated land are recorded being utilized for potatoes, turnips, and other vegetables.

1913 - Railway is extended to Grates Cove via Carbonear, Old Perlican, and Bay de Verde.

1921 - 772 people reside in the community (the greatest number of residents listed for Grates Cove). Society of United Fishermen reaches its highest membership (109 total).

1931 - A new United Church is built and open.

1937 - A new Anglican church is consecrated by Bishop White.

1945 - 480 residents are living in Grates Cove.

1950's - An amalgamation take place between the United Church schools and Anglican schools.
Grades 1 - 4 are taught in one room of the United Church school.
Grades 5 - 8 are taught in the one room Anglican school.
Grades 9 - 11 are taught in the second room of the United Church school.

1960's (early) - A breakwater is constructed by the government at nearby Cooper's Point.

1961 (September) - Amalgamation is discontinued when the denominations do not agree on the building of one larger school.

1964 - United Church opens a two-room school and the Anglican Church builds a new school.

1964 - First road is rebuilt.

1966 - Population fell to 372 residents.

1967 - Grates Cove school system is completely reorganized. The Roman Catholic St. Joseph's Central High School is opened for Grades 7 - 11 in Bay de Verde. Accommodating all Roman Catholic students in the area as well as Protestants from Grates Cove and surrounding communities. The Anglican and Roman Catholic schools in Grates Cove are closed and the remaining students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 are taught in the two-room United Church school.

1973 - Tricon Elementary in nearby Bay de Verde open, and the two-room United Church school is closed.

1976 - The population recorded at 249.

1982 - Grates Cove has three churches that have a clergyman on circuit visiting the community.
(1) Grace United Church (minister from Old Perlican)
(2) St. Luke's Anglican Church (minister from Carbonear)
(3) Roman Catholic Church (priest from Bay de Verde)

1982 - The majority of residents continue to fish. Some residents work at fish plants in Bay de Verde and Old Perlican. Although unincorporated, Grates Cove uses a number of committees to deal with community problems.
Residents go to the cottage hospital in Old Perlican for medical services. Residents travel to Bay de Verde, Old Perlican and Carbonear for recreational facilities.