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TOWN OF PORT BLANDFORD
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Newfoundland
Canada, A0C 2G0
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Occupations
The railway was the largest single employer in the community for much of the twentieth century. However, by the 1980’s the railway only provided employment for a handful of men. The tracks were taken up in the Port Blandford area in the summer of 1989.
Labourers have always comprised a large percentage of Port Blandford’s work force. These people were highly transient, taking jobs wherever they could . Most of these men would most likely have been working in the lumber-woods during the winter months. In the later part of the century being a labourer also meant that they were more than likely seasonal workers. Most of these labourers leave Port Blandford in the late spring and head for the mainland and return in the fall. This category comprises the largest part of the work force in the later part of this century
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Fire Patrolmen were hired by the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company ( A.N.D.) who had been doing a lot of business in the area with D.Pelley Ltd. Loggers always comprised a large percentage of the work force.
The later part of the 20th century has brought much diversification to the work force of Port Blandford. Construction has become a very important component but again most of the jobs are seasonal.
For both the mid and the later part of the 20th century women have mainly been involved in the traditional, domestic types of work. However more and more are becoming secretaries, waitresses, etc. and more and more are leaving home to find jobs.
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The Railway was very important in providing employment from its construction in the 1890’s until the 1960’s and less so in the 70’s and 80’s. The primary reason for settling in Port Blandford was the logging industry.
J.B.Jukes, a British geologist, sailed up Clode Sound with a party of men to the site which is now Port Blandford in 1839. Their purpose was to cut timber for a brig which one of the men were building. At that time he notes that most of the big timber around the shoreline was already cut out. so it seems its importance for logging was know.
Saw milling was an important industry in the area since it’s beginnings. Many sawmills such as the Pelley’s were set up in the Port Blandford area. Port Blandford, being the railhead for Bonavista Bay, was also an important collection spot for the lumber sawed farther down the bay ( e.g. Musgravetown) Lumber was sold to the main merchant in Port Blandford, Daniel Pelley, who then loaded it aboard rail cars to be marketed across the island.
Besides the lumber industry, another dominant logging activity in the 1920’s and 30’s was the pit prop and pulpwood business which was again carried out by D. Pelley Ltd. The pit prop industry was started during the first world war when a shortage of timber in the United Kingdom forced the mining industry to seek pit props overseas. Large foreign ships, regularly entered Port Blandford to load pit props. Pulpwood was also shipped overseas but the majority of it was destined for the paper mills in Grand Falls and Corner Brook.
At the height of Pelley’s pit prop and pulpwood operation practically the whole male population of Bunyan’s Cove, Charlottetown & Port Blandford were employed in this venture. Also a substantial number from Canning’s Cove and Musgravetown.
During 1915-18 , Daniel Pelley was involved in another large business venture. Four large schooners were built in Port Blandford for the war effort. This is probably the only large schooners that were ever built in Port Blandford
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Like most small Newfoundland communities, unemployment is a growing problem for the residents of Port Blandford, especially for the young. Many commute to work everyday to such places as Clarenville and Come-By-Chance. Many young men and women are forced every year to leave the province to find work on the mainland. Favourite destinations in the past and still today are such places as Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and Fort McMurray, Alberta.
However the future is looking up for Port Blandford. The Town is a prime location in terms of recreation facilities. Twin Rivers, originally a nine hole golf course was opened in 1983 . It has since expanded to 18 holes, and is indeed the best and most scenic golf course in Newfoundland and among the best in Canada. Along with this top-ranked golf course is a luxurious 80 room hotel. Terra Nova Park Lodge was built in 1990. It overlooks scenic Clode Sound .In addition to providing many construction jobs when it was built, the hotel and golf course provides many full time jobs for the residents.
Residents of Port Blandford have also taken advantage of the tourism trade. Many cabins ,efficiency units, hospitality homes and bed and breakfast establishments have been built in Port Blandford and are booked throughout the summer months.
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