A Family living in Baker's Brook

1913
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histor07_thumb1.gif (1160 bytes) S.S.Ethie ran aground at Martin's Point

1919



Remains of the S.S. Ethie


1980

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Baker's Brook is located between Rocky Harbour and Green Point.

It is located on a low, flat stretch of coastline that is bordered by a stony beach and a long shoal bank. The main part of the community is located on the south bank.

The town's first census was conducted in 1901. It was reported that there where six inhabitants living there, many of whom fished for lobster.

In 1901 there was one lobster factory with a total of four seasonal employees. Cod was caught for domestic purposes only.

By 1911 there were two families that operated two lobster factories.

When the census was done for 1921 the population of Baker's Brook had risen to sixteen people. By this time the value of the lobster factories was $300.00.

In 1929 Baker's Brook had only two houses. In 1939 Baker's Brook had its first one-room school with Joe Ollerhead as the teacher. By 1956 Baker's Brook had reached its peak with 45 people depending on fishing, trapping and forestry.

In 1973 the Federal-Provincial Agreement to provide for the establishment of Gros Morne National Park included the community of  Baker's Brook because it was within the boundaries of the park and was designated a "park community". As a result of this government policy the population of Baker's Brook declined to 30 in 1976 and by 1980 there were no remaining residents. Joe Kennedy reported in that year that Baker's Brook was merely used for summer fishing. In 1981 Baker's Brook was turned into a picnic area in Gros Morne National Park.

Green Point

Green Point is located between Rocky Harbour and Sally's Cove. It is classified as a park community which prevents any further development. Green Point's landscape is flat-topped grassland. It was listed on Captain James Cook's map of 1763 with the name most likely coming from its geographical location. It is most likely that the French fishing ships used Green Point.

A decline in population may be attributed in part to the lack of services in the settlement (no church or schools) and in part to the Federal-Provincial Agreement of 1973 which stated that land designated as park communities could only be sold to the government of Newfoundland and Labrador. By 1981 this area was no longer occupied and all the families either moved to Rocky Harbour or around the surrounding areas.

Martin's Point

Martin's Point is located 5 kilometres north of Sally's Cove on the Great North Peninsula. James Cook arrived there in 1767. Martin's Point was named in 1870 from a common Newfoundland surname. The first census recorded in Martin's Point was in 1901 with population of 9 people, all in one family.

In 1935 two more families arrived, Alex and Joseph Gilly.

Martin's Point was a strong fishing port, even though it had very poor shelter from the ocean. In 1919 the S.S. Ethie attempted to land in Martin's Point during a fierce storm. The ship ran aground, but with help from the local residents on shore everyone was saved.

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