John A. Broomfeild

John A. Broomfield (1909-1976) was born in Big Bay, Labrador. He was educated at the Moravian Mission School and started making his living hunting, trapping, and fishing. Eventually John moved on to working odd jobs with the Hudson’s Bay Company and the Moravian Mission. John Broomfield worked as a tinsmith in several communities on the Labrador coast before moving to Happy Valley as one of the three original settlers of the area. While there he worked on the construction of the base, as well as becoming the founder of the Happy Valley Moravian congregation, for which he frequently served as a lay minister. John eventually landed a job in the USAF sheet metal shop, and became quite proficient in his work, eventually becoming shop foreman. He remained in this position until his retirement in 1956. He was also a researcher and contributor for THEM DAYS magazine. John A. Broomfield died in North West River on February 22, 1976.