Community Profiles
Little Bay
Trail: Springdale HWY 390
Mayor: Bronson Webber
Deputy Mayor: Lewis Coombs
Address: P.O. Box 40, A0J 1J0
Telephone: (709) 267-5555/3200
Fax: (709) 267-3200
Availability: Wed. 8am-12pm
Introduction
Little Bay, once called Indian Bight, is a community 16 miles from Springdale. The community of Little Bay was founded in 1878 when James Howley, a geological surveyor arrived and camped on the unoccupied beach.
Little Bay was once one of the most important mining communities in western Notre Dame Bay. The community developed because of the discovery of a copper deposit by a fisherman who sold the information to three people who had mining licenses in the area. The site was leased by the Betts Cove Mining Company in 1878. Because of the potential of the area, the government extended telegraph lines to the site the same year and the town grew quickly. Within the first year 10,000 tons of ore was shipped to Wales. In 1884, Little Bay was recorded in the Census with a population of 1,538. In addition to miners there were office workers, merchants, farmers and a doctor. There were 832 Roman Catholics and the remainder was Church of England or Wesleyan. The community had three churches. In 1891, the population was 2,116 with 4 teachers employed. With the closing of the mine in 1900, the population decreased in 1901 to 687 people. The situation worsened in 1904, when a fire left 300 people homeless and nearly destroyed the entire community. The population declined steadily and there was 51 people in the community in 1951. The copper mine re-opened in 1962, and the population rebounded to 503, but after 8 years the mine closed again.
Location
Little Bay is located 16 km north of Springdale. St. Patrick's is located 14 km north of Springdale.
Population:
The town has 116 people.
Local History
Little Bay was once one of the most important mining communities in western Notre Dame Bay.
The community developed because of the discovery of a copper deposit by a fisherman who sold the information to three people who had mining licenses in the area. The site was leased by the Betts Cove Mining Company in 1878. Because of the potential of the area, the government extended telegraph lines to the site the same year and the town grew quickly. Within the first year 10,000 tons of ore was shipped to Wales.
In 1884, Little Bay was recorded in the Census with a population of 1,538. In addition to miners there were office workers, merchants, farmers and a doctor. There were 832 Roman Catholics and the remainder was Church of England or Wesleyan. The community had three churches. In 1891, the population was 2,116 with 4 teachers employed. With the closing of the mine in 1900, the population decreased in 1901 to 687 people. The situation worsened in 1904, when a fire left 300 people homeless and nearly destroyed the entire community. The population declined steadily and there were 51 people in the community in 1951. The copper mine re-opened in 1962 and the population rebounded to 503, but after 8 years the mine closed again.
Postal Services
There is a post office located in the community with full counter service.
Post office boxes are available to the residents.
Media Data
Newspaper(s)
Television
Internet
The regional newspaper that serves the community is the Nor'wester delivered by a carrier once a week. Cable television is not available to the community but there is a satellite service. Also, dial-up internet is available.
Health and Welfare
The nearest medical clinic to Little Bay is the Medical Clinic in Springdale.
Fire Protection
Little Bay has a volunteer fire department with 26 volunteers.
In case of fire the fire chief is telephoned and he notifies all other volunteers by setting off the alarm at the fire station. The department is equipped with a truck - with pumps and hoses. In the last year, only one chimney fire was reported.
Transportation
The roads in the community are mostly paved except for a small section near the beach.
The closest airport is located at Deer Lake and the closest emergency air service is located at Springdale Junction.
Utilities and Power
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro provides electricity to the community of Little Bay. Its source of power is the Springdale Terminal Station. It has a voltage of 4160 and a transformer capacity of 1 MA.
Water Supply and Sanitation
Natural occurring pond provides the water supply to the residents and the town has a garbage collection. There is also a running spring.
The community of Little Bay's water supply is First pond, which all household are connected to. All of the community, except the mines, is connected to the new sewage system, which is now completed. The mines have their own sewage system. Garbage is collected once a week. The town does not employ a garbage collector but contracts are awarded to people to collect the garbage.
Social & Cultural Data
No churches and one organization.
There are no churches in the community but residents go to church services in neighboring communities. These are:
St. Patrick's - Catholic
Beachside - Pentecostal
Springdale - United.
There is one organization in the community and this is the ladies auxiliary.
