The Victoria Community Development Corporation

Bay de Verde Heritage House and Baccalieu Island Exhibit
Bay de Verde, Newfoundland

* Two hours from St. John's
* Open June to September
11 am to 5 pm Daily
* Open by Appointment in off season
* Guided Tours for Groups arranged

Contact Information:
Carl T Riggs
P.O. Box 10
Bay de Verde, NF
A0A 1E0
(709) 587-2591 / 2766
(709) 587-2260 (off season)
Located on Blundon's Point
Website: www.aroundthebay.ca/baydeverde/
Email: carl_riggs@hotmail.com
The Town of Bay de Verde

 

The fishing grounds around Baccalieu Island have attracted Portuguese, Spanish, French and finally English fishermen to Bay de Verde harbour for close to 500 years. The descendants of the English settlers developed a thriving fishing community that is one of the most prosperous in the province today.

Evidence of the importance and prosperity brought by the fishery is preserved in the restored Bay de Verde Heritage House built in 1896 by Mr. John Blundon and family of Bay de Verde. Mr. Blundon was a local merchant who owned schooners and traded along the coast. The house was built to accommodate his life style. It is unique in that the Blundon family lived in the more elaborate front section, while shipped men, share men and servant girls lived in the back section. Shipped men and share men worked as sailors on schooners and also in the fishery. Servant girls worked as domestics and also curing fish on the fish flakes. The attic which was once used as a work area is now a "Fisherman's Museum". On display are approximately 200 artifacts related to the fishery. The structure of the house is a good example of Merchant Class Victorian housing built on a gable-ell plan with a five sided front porch and fine exterior and interior detailing.

Nearby Baccalieu Island has been a source of prosperity and pain for many Newfoundlanders. The surrounding waters supplied a rich abundance of marine life for fishermen and food for the largest sea bird colony in the province. These waters have seen much tragedy with loss of life through ship wrecks on the island's rocky cliffs. The Baccalieu Exhibit preserves the history of the island through old photos, artifacts and stories.

The Bay de Verde Heritage House and the Baccalieu Island Exhibit is located in Bay de Verde. Turn right off the Trans Canada at Exit 31, follow Route 75 (Veterans Memorial Highway) to Victoria, then take Route 70 to Bay de Verde.

Learning Resources for the Bay de Verde Heritage House and Baccalieu Island Exhibit.