Community Profiles
King's Point
Trail: Springdale HWY 390
Mayor: Perry Gillingham
Deputy Mayor:
Councillors: Lloyd Blanchard, Sidney Ridout, Andrew Gillingham Jr.
Address: P.O. Box 10, A0J 1H0
Telephone: (709)268-3838
Fax: (709)268-3856
Email: dsnow [at] nf.aibn.com
Availability: Monday - Friday; 9:00am-5:00pm
Introduction
This description of King's Point & Rattling Brook was provided by Alexander Murray in the late 1800's. Murray and James P. Howley, geological surveyors, did an extensive land survey and the charting of bays and inlets in Green Bay. The logging industry is the main employer of the residents of these communities. Agriculture offers some opportunity in the area as well. These communities are situated off the coastal lowlands of a big valley surrounded by high mountains making the land very fertile. These communities boast of its beautiful mountainous and coastal scenery, with the Alexander Murray Hiking Trail as its core tourism attraction.
Population:
The town has 670 people.
Location
King's Point is located on the north shore of the Southwest Arm of Green Bay near the head of the bay. King's Point is 15 miles by road from Springdale (10 km from the TCH).
Local History
The earliest inhabitants of King's Point were the Maritime Archaic Indians and later the Beothuk Indians.
Prior to the 1860's the area was a source of timber for French fishermen and naval vessels occupying the "French Shore". In the 1860's the first known European settler, James King, established fishing premises and a dwelling, on the Point. This is how the community got its name. His dwelling was destroyed by high tides shortly after, and abandoned by Mr. King.
By 1875, when Alexander Murray (head of the Geological Survey of Newfoundland) did an extensive survey of the area, there were already three or four families settled at King's Point, they lived in carved homesteads out of the virgin forests, which according to Murray grew right to the water's edge. Murray and James Howley, surveyed to the Arm, and laid out lots for a proposed community at King's Point in 1875, and also surveyed a route for a proposed road to Indian River along a route almost identical to the present highway 391. He also predicted King's Point future importance in forestry, agriculture, mining, and pointed out its great tourism potential.
A railway was started around 1908, to carry passengers from Europe (to arrive via steamships) from King's Point to Bonne Bay for transport to the United States. Construction started and four miles of rail bed was built before the project was cancelled after the Robert Bond Government was defeated in a general election.
In 1909, Esau Burt, a local resident, discovered the Randell-Jackman mine. He was cheated out of his discovery by Randell and Jackman, who went on to lose over $40,000 of their money on the mine. A shaft(s) was sunk and ore extracted. Some sources say that no ore was ever shipped, but local sources say that five or six shiploads were shipped from it.
By 1900 there were 15 to 18 families, mostly fishermen and farmers living at King's Point. Mines at Colchester and other locations on the south side of the Arm had closed.
In 1903 the first school opened by the Methodists. The first teacher was Moody Batstone (around 18 years old) from Nippers Harbour.
As early as 1870, King's Point has had a telegraph office. In 1880, it became a repeater station on a line running from the Newfoundland Railway line to Tilt Cove and Bett's Cove. Michael Smart became its first operator. In the early 1900s, fishing and farming were the economic mainstay. A herring canning industry was established by the Redmonds, and others with export to Europe. This industry ended prior to 1920. The fishing has never been very important in King's Point since, although there are a few residents today who still depend on it for a living.
As the fishery declined, sawmilling became the main employer. The Thistle family moved in around 1900 and set up a large sawmill and shingle mill, as well as a retail business, on the "Point", which became and remain the major employer until about 1938-1940, when the family moved its operations to Burlington .
From the 1900 to present day smaller sawmills also operated and contributed to the local economy. In the 1940's and 1950's many residents engaged in producing pulpwood for export to Germany. Starting in the 1960's to the present day the production, haulage, and trucking of pulpwood for the papermills at Corner Brook and Grand Falls, has provided the majority of employment to the people of King's Point. Subsistence farming provided part of a living to early residents, and gradually evolved into the commercial farming ventures that are significant contributor to the economy of King's Point and Rattling Brook today.
In 1883, King's Point was served by the Methodist Mission of Little Bay. Later it became the United Church, which still serves the area today. In the 1870's to early 1900's, the Anglican Church served the community but is no longer operating. The first Salvation Army officer was station in King's Point in 1921, and the church is still operating there now. In the 1970’s, the first Pentecostal Church was opened and the Pentecostal Assemblies are still operating today.
The first school was built by the Methodists in 1903. Subsequently, the United Church and the Salvation Army established and operated separate schools here, until the late 1960's, when they amalgamated, to set up Ridgemont Collegiate. Later the system became a part of the Green Bay School District, and since the 1980's Valmont Academy, an all grade school now serves the educational requirements of students in the King's Point - Harry's Harbour area. There is a modern gym, labs, library and other facilities.
Agriculture
The area's topography, with level land and fertile soil, is unique when in general the surrounding area is rugged and has unproductive land.
Therefore, King's Point is an important agricultural area. In the 1950's a mixed farming industry was supplying vegetables to communities all along the northeast coast. Fresh vegetables, flowers, and bedding plants, are offered in season by a number of farms and greenhouse operations.
Commercial Trade
The community has an Industrial Park which houses a number of businesses on the outskirts of King's Point along highway 391, with room for expansion.
The community is serviced by a number of businesses, for example: General and Grocery stores such as Main Street Convince, Budgell's Grocery, Guy Bartlett and Son, King's Point Sales and Service, and Houses Grocery. Restaurant and take-out service is provided by Betty's Snack Bar and By the Sea Cafe. Green Bay Fibre Products plus Specialty Fiberglass, manufacturer of fiberglass fishing and pleasure boats is the community's only manufacturer and employs several residents on a full time basis. The Tilley Memorial Library, which started as a traveling library in 1956, is now (since the 1970's) housed in its own building on Main Street and provides a large number of books and periodicals to its patrons. It also has access to materials from all other public libraries in the Province.
Postal Services
The community's post office was established in the late 1800's and has housed its own building since the 1960's.
Currently it serves the community with a full range of Postal Services including lock boxes, with incoming mail from Monday to Friday and counter service from Monday to Saturday.
Media Data
The regional newspaper, the Nor'Wester, is delivered to the community once a week. The community is serviced by Regional Cable Television.
Health and Welfare
The nearest medical clinic is located in Springdale. Larger medical facilities are located in Grand Falls.
Fire Protection
King's Point has a joint volunteer fire department with Rattling Brook.
There are 30 volunteers in the department. Firemen are notified of a fire through a paging system. The department is equipped with a fire truck. There is an adequate number of fire hydrants.
Transportation
Main roads in the community are paved with side roads being gravel. The condition of the roads are said to be in fair to good driving condition.
Utilities and Power
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro provides electricity to the community of King's Point. Its source of power is the Springdale terminal station with a voltage of 25,000.
Water Supply and Sanitation
The community's source of water is pumped from a chlorine treated pond.
Most of the households (98%) are connected to the main water supply. All of the houses use a public sewage system. Garbage is collected once a week by pick up truck. The garbage dump is located 7 km from the community.
Social and Cultural Data
There are three churches located in town.
Salvation Army
United Church
Pentecostal.
Tourism and Recreation
Softball Field
Alexander Murray Hiking Trail
R.V. Park
Clubs and Orgnaizations
Youth and Recreation
Heritage Society
Fire Department
Alexander Murray Trail Committee
Women’s Institute.
