J.W. Hodge. Change Island Branch (N.L.)

J. W. Hodge (Change Islands, Newfoundland ) was a branch of J. W. Hodge, a fish and fishery supply business headquartered in Fogo, with branches at Twillingate, Change Islands, and Joe Batt's Arm from 1887-1918. John Wheadon Hodge established himself at the head of a business that became one of the most prominent mercantile firms operating in northeastern Newfoundland. Hodge also owned a small fleet of fishing schooners.

From the 1870s to 1887, the business at Change Islands was owned by William Waterman & Co., a partnership which included Thomas Dorman Hodge, Richard Dorman Hodge, William Waterman, and William Edward Waterman. This partnership operated businesses at Fogo, Twillingate, and Change Islands. The Change Islands branch was managed by James Cox Waterman. In 1887, John Wheadon Hodge purchased the Change Islands operations from the partnership and operated it under his own name as J.W. Hodge. He retained J. C. Waterman as agent, who was later suceeded by Lewis G. Hyde.

In 1918, J. W. Hodge withdrew from business and Hyde assumed control of the Change Islands branch, operating it independently until 1922, when he sold it to the Newfoundland and Labrador Export Company. Members of the Hodge family owned shares in the business under Lewis G. Hyde. They were also major shareholders in the Newfoundland and Labrador Export Company.

Created - April 20, 2013

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