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John Quinton Limited (Red Cliffe) The structures that once housed John Quinton Limited are a group of attractive, well-kept buildings that dominate part of the harbour in the community of Red Cliffe. They are also among the few remaining business structures from the nineteenth century still standing in southern Bonavista Bay.
The Quinton family began fishing out of Red Cliffe in the late 1700s. The family gradually expanded from fishing to becoming merchants in the area. John Quinton started a general store in 1884 and rapidly became a prominent supplier of general merchandise and a buyer of salt fish, squid and other products. Serving some 20 communities for over a century, John Quinton Ltd.'s business peaked in the 1950s when nearly 7,000 quintals of fish were purchased and packed for export. Although the business has since closed its doors, the residence is still occupied by Gerald Quinton and his wife Hilda. The buildings dominate the part of the harbour in which they are located. Reflecting the fact that the area was first used as a fishing room for the Quinton family, the buildings practically hug the sea.
The Quinton Premises, recognised as Registered Heritage Structures in June 1994, stand as an important part of the built heritage of the Bonavista Peninsula and of the province as a whole. Article and images updated September, 2004 |
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