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FitzGerald, Alexander
Person · c.1770-[18-]

Alexander FitzGerald (c. 1770-18-?), Catholic priest, was born in Ireland circa 1770. As a young man, he joined the Dominican Order of Preachers. It is thought that he studied for the priesthood at Corpo Santo Convent, Lisbon, Portugal.

Rev. Fitzgerald arrived in Newfoundland from Ireland in 1816. The following year, he left Newfoundland for Nova Scotia and was assigned to a congregation in Cape Breton. He returned to Newfoundland in July 1822 and was appointed curate in Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Bay Bulls.

In July 1823, Rev. FitzGerald accepted a pastoral appointment in Prince Edward Island, where he was placed in charge of Charlottetown and surrounding districts. His work there came under the jurisdiction of Bishop Joseph Octave Plessis, Bishop of Quebec. Among his colleagues, he was recognized as an earnest and energetic worker. Bishop Angus MacEachern, Arichat (later the Diocese of Antigonish), Nova Scotia, stated in a letter to Bishop Thomas Scallan that FitzGerald did "ample justice to his flock." Fitzgerald directed the completion of the interior of the church that was under construction when he arrived. He also raised sufficient funds to construct a new parochial house, completed by 1828.

Rev. Fitzgerald was considered very strict in his dealings with his parishioners and used strong language in promoting the temperance movement. It was said that he sometimes took liberties when celebrating the liturgy, which earned him the reproach of Bishop Plessis. Rev. Fitzgerald left Charlottetown on 23 June 1829 to return to his convent in Lisbon. The remainder of his life is not documented.

Corporate body · 1913-1977

The Fishermen's Union Trading Co. Ltd. (FUTC) was established in Newfoundland in 1911 by W. F. Coaker as the trading arm of the Fishermen's Protective Union (FPU), organized in 1908. A limited liability company, it was intended as a cooperative venture for its union member shareholders. One of its first projects was to establish a series of cash stores for its members. The Union cash stores were intended to make fishermen independent of the local merchants and the credit (truck) system) by providing families with low prices for consumer goods and payment for fish in cash.

Within two years the FUTC had 31 stores in outport communities. In 1913 the FUTC opened 13 new stores, including Greenspond. The Greenspond store was purchased from James Ryan of Bonavista who had a fishery supply and general store at the site (ca. 1895-1913). Although some of the smaller stores were closed in 1914, Greenspond remained open due to its large customer base. The company's fortunes improved following the war.

Coaker's popularity, and that of the Union generally, diminished in the 1920s and 1930s. Coaker resigned the presidency of the FPU in 1923 but continued to head the FUTC. The FUTC abandoned its cash-only policy and adopted a credit system, which it had so vehemently opposed in its earlier years. The FPU was finally dissolved in the late 1950s. The FUTC went into receivership in 1977, and the remaining stores, including the Greenspond operation, were sold. Having operated continuously for 64 years, the FUTC store was one of the longest running businesses in Greenspond's history.

Fearn, Basil
Person · 1913-1992

Basil Fearn (1913-1992), businessman and shipbuilder, was born in 1913 at Harbour Buffett, Placentia Bay, son of Alice (Tulk) and Percy Fearn . He married Alice Moores, Wesleyville. They had four daughters: Janet, Judy, Susan and Cathy. Fearn died in 1992.

When Fearn was four years old, his family relocated to St. John's, where his father opened a furniture business. Fearn was educated at Memorial University College. When he left university he managed his father's business in St. John's. In the late 1940s he established Basil Fearn Limited, a marine engine and equipment business, in St. John's.

In 1947, in cooperation with fish merchant Spenser Lake, Fearn purchased the Clarenville Shipyard. The shipyard built a wide variety of vessels, including schooners, longliners, yachts and trap boats.