Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital  was started in July 1939 and opened in December of the same year with some work remaining to be done. The hospital was built by James Shears of Rocky Harbour. The left wing was the women's ward and the right wing was the men's ward. Many patients came along the west coast by coastal steamer to go to the clinic. There were very few boarding houses so people stayed with friends or family while visiting the hospital.