The re-settled community of Little Harbour is located at the entrance of Smith Sound, about 25 km from Trinity. Around 50 - 60 people lived in the community at the beginning of the 20th century, and by 1945 the population had risen to 158. The community was in the parish of Trinity. The first entry in the vestry register for The Church of England Church of the Holy Nativity at Little Harbour, is for Evensong, held on Feb. 20, 1931 with lay reader B. Burridge. The community was resettled under the provincial government resettlement program in the 1960s, by which time many residents had already left the community. The church officially closed on August 25, 1969.
Source: Church of the Holy Nativity (Little Harbour) fonds; Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Newfoundland Associated Fish Exporters Limited (NAFEL), incorporated in 1947, was a marketing, or brokerage, organization established by the Newfoundland government, with the exclusive right to market all salt codfish produced for export in Newfoundland. The organization maintained its headquarters in St. John's and its first general manager was F.A.J. Lawes. The structure of NAFEL was based partly upon that of the salt codfish exporting agencies (such as the Portugal Exporters Group and the Spanish Exporters Associations, which preceded it), and partly upon that of other marketing agencies in Canada and the United States.
Any person, firm or corporation included in the production and/or export of salt codfish was eligible for membership in NAFEL, subject to approval by the Board of Directors and compliance with four conditions: payment of a $10,000 fee; agreement to all rules and regulations; signature to a contractual agreement; and the provision of personal, corporate or bank guarantees, if required. The majority of the Board (5-10) were from outport areas.
In addition to the membership fee, each member of NAFEL paid an assessment on fish exports. The rate was determined by the Directors and the funds raised were used to finance NAFEL's administration and operation.; NAFEL operated until 1970 when the federal government established the Canadian Salt Fish Corporation.
Holy Redeemer Parish was established ca. 1845. Prior to the establishment of Holy Redeemer Parish, communities from Renews to Cape St. Mary's were part of Assumption Parish, established in 1834. Currently this parish includes the communities of Portugal Cove South, Biscay Bay, Trepassey and St. Shotts, with Trepassey as the ecclesiastical center of the parish.
When Holy Redeemer Parish was initially created in 1845, it also included the smaller settlements of Cape Race, Long Beach, the Drook and Cape Pine. In the 1960s, the people of Long Beach and The Drook resettled in Trepassey and the families living at Cape Race and Cape Pine eventually moved to nearby communities; The first parish priest of Holy Redeemer Parish was Rev. Jeremiah O'Neill (1845-1861). While the exact date of the construction of the first church is not known, a description by Captain Brown of the H.M.S. Danae (1871) notes the presence of a "neat Roman Catholic Church" However, as the first school in Trepassey was opened in 1841, one can assume that a church had been built by that time. The Presentation Sisters and established a Convent School in Trepassey in 1882.
Catholic chapels and schools were constructed in other communities within the Holy Redeemer Parish. The first church in Portugal Cove was constructed prior to 1861 as a report on schools noted that the first school was established in 1861 and was conducted in the Catholic chapel. By 1875, a new school was under construction. Catholic schools were established in Daniel's Point prior to 1875 , Biscay Bay [ca. 1883] and in The Drook by 1911. The first school was built in St. Shotts prior to 1911 followed by the construction of a school-chapel in 1913.
With the consolidation of school boards in 1967, Trepassey accommodated high school students from the surrounding communities. When the new Holy Redeemer Elementary school opened in 1971, smaller schools in the surrounding areas were closed, although the school in St. Shotts, remained open.
Pastors who have served Holy Redeemer Parish include Jeremiah O'Neill (1845-1861), John Ryan (1862-187?), Thomas Hannebury (1871-), J.A. Dunne (-1948), Francis Mullowney (1948-1988). List is incomplete.
St. Thomas of Villanova was established 15 September 1982 when the Archbishop of St. John's, Alphonsus L. Penney, dismembered St. Edward's Parish (Topsail) to create three new parishes: St. Thomas of Villanova (Topsail); Holy Family (Paradise); and St. Edward's (Kelligrews). St. Edward's Parish (Topsail) was established in 1877 and its original boundaries encompassed the whole of the south shore of Conception Bay. With the erection of St. Thomas of Villanova,however, the communities of Topsail Pond, Long Pond, Three Island Pond, Chamberlains, Manuels, and Topsail became a separate entity (a decree issued by the Archbishop 14 September 1982 transferred the seat of St. Edward's Parish from Topsail to Kelligrews, allowing the former community to become the seat of St. Thomas of Villanova). Assets of the former St. Edward's Parish were proportionately divided among the three new parishes created from the division.
After the erection of the parish in 1982, the church in Topsail, built between 1916 and 1922, underwent a name change from St. Edward's to St. Thomas of Villanova. This building was in use until 1986, when it could no longer accommodate the needs of the parish. A sod-turning ceremony for a new church was held in Powers Court, Manuels, 31 July 1985 and the cornerstone was laid 22 September of the same year. The official opening and dedication of the new parish church and centre, annexed to the Powers Court parish hall, was conducted by Archbishop Penney 25 November 1986.
St. Thomas of Villanova Parish actively supported the parochial schools located within its boundaries St. Thomas of Villanova School and Holy Spirit School (later, High School). However, parish support for these schools ceased after denominational education reforms were passed by the Provincial Government in 1997. They are now secular institutions.
A Steering Committee was established in 1982, shortly after the erection of St. Thomas of Villanova, charged with the responsibility of establishing a parish structure. A Parish Council was formed to administer parish affairs and activities and several committees and sub-committees were struck to aid in this cause, including the Finance Committee, the Building Committee, the Properties Committee, and the Liturgical Committee. In addition, church lay societies, including the Catholic Women's League, the Knights of Columbus, and the PowersCourt Pathfinders, were founded within the parish.
Pastors who have served the parish since its establishment in 1982 include: Gregory Hogan (1982-88?); Patrick J. Kennedy, Administrator (1988?); John Wallis, Administrator ([1988?]); James Doody, Administrator (1991-92); and Charles Hogan, Administrator (1988-1991, 1992-).
The Churchmen’s Club at Trinity was established in the 1920s. The club was open to confirmed male members of the church over 16 years of age, who were approved by other members. After the first few years the club was open to all denominations. The clubroom was in the Parish Hall. It was open most evenings and members gathered for cards, darts, billiards and other activities. They also organized tournaments with other clubs in the area. One night per week the club was rented to the Ladies Club. The club remained active until the 1970s.
Source: Churchmen’s Club minute book and rules and regulations.
Reginald (Reg) Smallwood (1916-), farmer and consumers cooperative manager, was born in St. John's, Newfoundland on 4 February 1916, son of Charles Smallwood and Mary Ellen Devanna. He was the fourth youngest of the Smallwood's thirteen children, and younger brother of Joseph R. Smallwood, Premier of Newfoundland (1949-72). By the late 1930s, he married and had two children. Smallwood retired to South River, Newfoundland [ca. 1960].
At age ten, Reg accompanied his brother Joseph to Grand Falls, Newfoundland, where they spent a month in the only available hotel, Cabot House. Reg also worked as a cook on Smallwood's schooner, the Margaret P., recruiting members for Smallwood's Fishermen's Co-operative Union. In 1939 Reg and brother Joseph established and co-managed a small farm in St. John's. The brothers relocated their farming operations to Gander in 1943. They established a piggery, providing pork to nearby RCAF military base.
When World War II ended and the RCAF military base began to cease its operations and activities, the Smallwoods also decided to shut down their farm operations. Joseph entered politics and Reg became assistant manager of the newly-established Gander Consumers' Cooperative, a position he held for seven years before leaving to manage Joseph's Russwood Ranch farm on Roaches Line. Reg Smallwood retained that postion for six years until he retired to the nearby community of South River.