Battle Harbour Historic Trust Inc.Portugal Cove-St. Philips, NL

BATTLE HARBOUR, a restored village on an island off the southeast coast of Labrador, was home to a major cod and seal fishery operation, and a thriving base for commercial trade. Beginning in the 1770s, Newfoundland fishing schooners considered the coastal community their primary port of call. In its heyday, the island community of 300 had its own school, a church and, at one point, a hospital. The Newfoundland Ranger Force had a detachment, and the Canadian Marconi Company built two wireless towers there. The community’s development was unparalleled along the Labrador coast.

In the mid 1960s, after the fishery declined, most families were resettled on mainland Labrador. The island’s fish processing facilities continued to be used until the collapse of the inshore fishery in 1990, when the newly founded Battle Harbour Historic Trust (BHHT) Inc. was given the property rights of the outport. Its mandate is to help create a ”living museum,” commemorating life and society in a salt-fishing village in the 18th and 19th centuries.

With help from government seed money, 22 of the buildings have been painstakingly restored, some dating back to the 1700s. Wharves, flakes and walkways have also been reinstated, down to the smallest detail.

Restoration is ongoing; the BHHT continues to provide financial support for research and preservation. The site is open for visitors, tours and events from mid June to mid September. Revenue comes from donations, site admission, meals, boat tours, marina services and sales at the restored General Store.

Volunteers organize an annual dinner and silent auction. The annual Fun Day at Battle Harbour offers games of chance, skill-testing activities and food.
There’s another, unique source of revenue: visitors can more fully immerse themselves in the sights, sounds and smells of the authentic salt-fishing village by staying overnight in one of the restored buildings, amid period furnishings and fixtures.

For more information contact:
Gail Pearcey, Executive Director
Battle Harbour Historic Trust Inc.
25 Oliver’s Pond Rd.
Portugal Cove–St. Philips, NL A1M 3M4
(709) 921-6325
battleharbour.com