Community Profiles
Port Anson
Trail: Beothuk Trail HWY 380
Mayor: Shawn Burton
Deputy Mayor: Vera Morey
Councillors: Jeffrey Brown, Daffine Hewlett
Address: General Delivery, A0J 1N0
Telephone: (709) 652-3656/3683
Fax: (709) 652-3820
Availability: Should contact Town Clerk anytime after 3:00 or from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Introduction:
Port Anson is situated on the southwestern shore of Sunday Cove Island on Notre Dame Bay. Port Anson was originally known as Sunday Cove Tickle, then as Newtown, the community was named Port Anson around 1903. Tradition says that the name Port Anson came from Port Handsome. The community is surrounded by lavish green forest, fertile land and the natural beauty of the sea, making it a delightful area to explore. These characteristics undoubtedly enticed the early settlers to this region. The main industry is the fishery, but some residents are involved in the logging industry as well.
Population:
The town has 155 people.
History:
Port Anson was originally known as Sunday Cove Tickle, then as Newtown, the community was named Port Anson around 1903. Tradition says that the name Port Anson came from Port Handsome.
The earliest Census did not list separate communities on Sunday Cove Island, therefore, the population recorded in 1857 of 63 people included the whole island. Settlers recorded in 1869 included Thomas Hewlett and Abram Rowsell who were known to live at Port Anson. Early settlers were attracted to Port Anson by good timber stands as well as by good agricultural land. By 1911 when the first Census records recorded separate figures for the communities on the island, Port Anson had a population of 144.
Some settlers were fishermen or miners and others sold farm produce. Three residents reported farming as their employment as late as 1921. Eventually local lumber operations and pulpwood cutting in Roberts Arm was also a source of employment. By 1940 five sawmills were being operated by Port Anson residents. One of these resident T.J. Hewlett and Sons became a major supplier and employer for the entire area. In 1961 the population had increased to 407.
In the 1950's when Hewlett's moved to Springdale some people left to work in the logging industry in Central Newfoundland. When the resettlement program was in existence in the 1960's, many families took advantage of it and moved to Roberts Arm and Springdale. In 1971 there were only 123 people left in the community.
Early settlers of Port Anson were mostly Methodists. In 1911 the Salvation Army was established and the Pentecostal Assemblies arrived in the mid 1930's. The Salvation Army operated a school for a few years in 1924. A community school operated from 1947 to 1967 until the Pentecostal Assemblies assumed control. In 1974, a causeway was build across Sunday Cove Tickle, since then high school students were bussed to Roberts Arm.
Fishery Industry
The community has 5-6 residents employed in the fishing industry.
Housing
Port Anson has 56 houses with 51 being occupied.
Education
There is one elementary school located in Port Anson.
This is Elias Goubie Pentecostal Academy under the Port Anson Board of Education Pentecostal Assemblies. It consists of both a primary and elementary school that was built in 1976. It has 3 ½ teaching units and 47 students. 29 of the students bussed from Miles Cove, while 18 are from Port Anson.
High school students are bussed to RW Parsons in Roberts Arm.
Postal Service
There is a post office located in the community.
Media
The local newspaper, the Nor'wester, is delivered to the community once a week.
Health & Welfare
The nearest medical centre to Port Anson is in Roberts Arm.
Fire Protection
Port Anson has a 20 member volunteer fire brigade.
They are equipped with pumps and hoses; breathing apparatus and protective fire-fighting clothing. Port Anson does not have a fire truck, volunteers use their own vehicles.
Transportation
Community Travel.
Bus Service.
Airport.
The main road through Port Anson is paved and in good condition. Side roads are gravel but they are in fairly good driving condition. Road maintenance is the responsibility of the Department of Transportation and the community council. The nearest CN Road Cruiser stop is at South Brook Junction. The nearest airport to the community is located in Deer Lake and an emergency air service is located at Springdale Junction.
Utilities & Power
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
Water Supply & Sanitation
Chlorine treated water supply.
Sewage System.
Garbage Collection.
The community's source of water is a chlorine treated, gravity flow water supply system which is analyzed once a year. All households are connected to this system. All households use public septic tanks as their sewage system. Garbage is collected once a week and the community's dump/landfill is located 1.7 km outside the community.
Social & Cultural Data
Churches.
Organizations.
There is one Pentecostal Church located in the community. There are two church organizations in the community these are Pentecostal Women's Ministries and a CA Youth Group.
