Shearstown was originally known as Spaniards Bay Pond, it was renamed on January 1, 1900. The first people that came to Shearstown were men from nearby communities, such as French's Cove and Bay Robert's. These men cut down trees, built tilts, for small shelters, on a hill named Tilt Hill.

Shearstown and Butlerville are located in a very fertile valley (both communities are known for farming). The landscape was good for raising livestock (cattle and pigs).

One of the first families to settle in Shearstown were the Earles' from Bay Robert's. The people that first settled in Shearstown knew the importance of a good education because one of the first structures built was a one room school.

The most successful part of Shearstown, during the early years was the area known as Muddy Hole. This was a trading place where people would go to buy supplies. The first sausage in the Conception Bay North region was made here and one of the first delivery trucks traveled to Muddy Hole.

Shearstown and Butlerville citizens had strong religious beliefs and faith. Shearstown was primarily a Protestant community and Butlerville had a large number of Roman Catholics.

In 1930, electricity came to Shearstown and with it, adult education. This was the first program of its kind to be founded in the region. This adult education program had two goals, to teach how to read and write and to encourage debate. On January 30, 1931 the program's first enrollment was a total on nineteen people.

The outer part of Shearstown joined the Bay Robert's Town Council in the 1960's. In the early 1990's the remainder of Shearstown and Butlerville also joined.

Names common to this area include Mercer, Saunders, Deering, Earle, Badcock, Holmes, Sparkes, Dwyer, Bradbury, Snow, Tuttle, Parsons, Franey, Power, Butler, Richards, and Seymour.

 

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