The Victoria Community Development Corporation
Victoria's Birth

A tiny wisp of smoke rising from the trees about halfway down the valley.

One spring's day during the early 1830's, two men from Carbonear walked over "the Ridge" and made their way down a rough path into the well-wooded valley. Most likely they were fishermen looking for a good source of timber. Legend tells us these two men were named Cole and Stephenson. As they picked their way along the path, they marveled at the fine stands of timber they encountered. This valley would be a good source of timber to build the boats, barrels, flakes, wharves and buildings they needed in the fish trade. The forests of Carbonear had been cut and no viable stands of timber remained. These two men felt they were the only ones who knew about these fine trees growing so tall and thick.Mr. Cole and Mr. Stephenson continued their exploration of the valley. Climbing a small hill, they could see small rivers twisting and winding their way between the trees to finally empty into the sea down at Salmon Cove. Yes, this would be a good site to cut timber. As the two men surveyed the trees and wondered at the wildlife that might live there, their attention was held by a tiny wisp of smoke rising from the trees about halfway down the valley. "It couldn't be smoke, could it?" they wondered. After all, they were the only ones here.

Mr. Cole and Mr. Stephenson continued their exploration of the valley. Climbing a small hill, they could see small rivers twisting and winding their way between the trees to finally empty into the sea down at Salmon Cove. Yes, this would be a good site to cut timber. As the two men surveyed the trees and wondered at the wildlife that might live there, their attention was held by a tiny wisp of smoke rising from the trees about halfway down the valley. "It couldn't be smoke, could it?" they wondered. After all, they were the only ones here.They wound their way through the trees in the direction of the smoke. Finally they broke out into a small clearing. In the middle of the clearing was a sod house with smoke rising lazily from a makeshift chimney. Seeing or hearing no one, they walked quietly to the door and knocked softly. It was opened almost immediately by a tall man. He invited them inside for a cup of tea. It seems Mr. Cole and Mr. Stephenson had stumbled upon the King family who had lived in the valley for a couple of months. The Kings had followed the stream upriver from Salmon Cove and decided to make a new beginning in these virgin woods

From these humble beginnings the Town of Victoria grew and developed. Our history had begun!

Word quickly spread up and down the shore that the valley just over the Ridge from Carbonear was a fine source of timber. Fishermen from Carbonear, Crocker's Cove, Blow-Me-Down, Otterbury, Freshwater, Flatrock, and Salmon Cove travelled the path that ran inland. They cut the trees, made the paths wider, and began clearing the land. In time the main path became a "road." Because it lay in the direction of Heart's Content, someone called it "Heart's Content Road."
As more land was cleared, more people moved to the area Wood for flakes, stages, and boats was the primary reason people came, but as the settlement grew, land was cleared and small-scale farming was begun, livestock was introduced, and wooden houses were built to replace sod houses and tilts that housed the people when they first arrived. The fledgling settlement of Heart's Content Road grew rapidly. Heart's Content Road was not a suitable name any more, and it was renamed Victoria - Victoria Village.

We know that the population had grown to 200 by the early 1860's. Sarah Powell, an enterprising woman for her time, decided the children of the village needed to be schooled. In 1864 she opened a school in her home. Besides teaching, Sarah Powell also ran a small store from her home and she also became the postmistress when mail service arrived in "the Village."

We now know the first child born in the settlement known as Heart's Content Road was Robert Stephenson. He was born in 1847. The first marriage was that of Susanna Ash (of the settlement) and Thomas Burke (of Carbonear). This happy event took place December 4, 1860. The first burials were those from the Baldwin family. Patrick Baldwin, aged 80 years, was buried on October 12, 1859. The next year, two Baldwin children were laid to rest. It is possible they were twins. The fourth (and the first female burial) was that of Mary Baldwin. This marriage and these burials were recorded as being from Heart's Content Road.We now know the first child born in the settlement known as Heart's Content Road was Robert Stephenson. He was born in 1847. The first marriage was that of Susanna Ash (of the settlement) and Thomas Burke (of Carbonear). This happy event took place December 4, 1860. The first burials were those from the Baldwin family. Patrick Baldwin, aged 80 years, was buried on October 12, 1859. The next year, two Baldwin children were laid to rest. It is possible they were twins. The fourth (and the first female burial) was that of Mary Baldwin. This marriage and these burials were recorded as being from Heart's Content Road.

Victoria Village continued to grow. In 1910 "Villiage" was officially dropped from the town's name and it was simply called Victoria. In 1971, Victoria was incorporated as a municipality and the people elected their first municipal government. Why was the settlement called Victoria? When people began moving to take up residence on Heart's Content Road, a packet (coastal) boat, the Victoria, ran between St. John's and Carbonear. The residents who moved over the Ridge from Carbonear may have named the settlement in its honour. Also, in 1837, at about the same time Heart's Content Road was beginning, a young princess was handed the crown of the British Empire. Like countless other places around the world, Victoria may universally agreed that our town was named in honour of the young Queen.