Welcome to the home of some brief historical
facts about the community of Conche, and some links to other areas, on the left.This page has some quick facts about the
history of Conche. If you want to read a more detailed and descriptive outline of Conche's history, read P.O'Neill's
story on the left, by local historian Patrick O'Neill. It's very interesting, and provides a good description of
Conche.
The first permanent English settler in
Conche is believed to have been James Herbert Dower. He came around 1790.
The first School
in Conche was established about 1860. However, a teacher was not continuously employed there until 1890. This was
after a schoolhouse was built in 1883, with the aid of the government. The first teacher was a Mr.Dower, but afterwards
a young girl from the community acquired proper training, and took over the job. (Newer schools were later built
around 1904 and 1943)
The first telegraph office was set up in
1912, which provided community residents with a way to easily communicate with the rest of the world (or at least
the rest of the province).
A nursing station was established in Conche
in 1960. One nurse who served in Conche over the years was Ms. Joan Cattell, who has been awarded by the Grenfell
association. Mission planes would also visit the community to help those with serious sicknesses, or transport
them to the nearest hospital (St. Anthony). Sir Wilfred Grenfell is said to have visited the community on more
than one occasion.
A fish plant was opened in 1978, and it
still operates (to some extent) today.
The first Church
built in Conche was not really a Church. It was a sort of chapel attached to a fishing room owned by a Captain
Alano. The priest would come and visit here whenever he had the chance. In later years residents of the community
built a church in about the same location, but it burned down in an accidental fire. The residents built a second
church after this, but it also burned down. Nowadays, we have a church which many of the older people say is not
as praiseworthy as the older churches were in terms of structure and decoration.
Conche harbour was the scene of an encounter
between British warships and French fishing ships. Two ships involved in such battles sunk in the bottom of Conche
harbour. These can be seen through the water on calm days when you pass over them in boat. Some are still equipped
with cannons.
Some of the first residents in Conche complained
of Indian disturbances, and evidence of their inhabitance of the Conche peninsula still exists, in the form of
arrowheads, which have been found in the Chest Head area.
The Conche Logo is basically like this: 
and was designed by Adrian Dower
in a local contest a few years ago.