Stephenville Crossing, Newfoundland and Labrador

STEPHENVILLE CROSSING (inc. 1958; pop. 1991, 2172). Stephenville Crossing is located at the head of St. George's Bay (qv), between Stephenville and St. George's (qqv). The community, lying on a flat flood plain, with its western side exposed to a rocky beach, was nearly demolished in 1951 by a December storm that swept away breastworks and covered it with four feet of water.

The first settlers at what is now known as Stephenville Crossing were farming families, including the Benoits, Lucases and Alexanders (who probably moved there from Sandy Point qv) and the Young family, who were fishing at Seal Cove. In the 1890s the area, which had previously been known as La Grange or The Prairie, became a substantial camp for labourers working on railway construction (and in particular on the bridging of the Gut) and for loggers cutting railway ties. When the line was completed, The Crossing became a regional headquarters for sectionmen, and the railhead for Stephenville and the Port au Port Peninsula. A notable early settler was Joseph O'Keefe of Placentia, the first station master, and by the mid-1910s Charles McFatridge of Sandy Point had established a general business and Antonio Nardini had established a lumber mill by the River. With the coming of the railway a substantial dairy farm was begun in the area by Charles White, whose name is commemorated in the neighbourhood of White's Road, just to the north of The Crossing. Two creameries, manufacturing butter and oleomargarine, were established during World War I.

Stephenville Crossing first appeared in the Census in 1901, with a population of 112. Increasing to 156 in 1911 and to 512 by 1935, by 1945 the population had reached 925. With the development of the U.S. Air Force base at Stephenville during World War 11, The Crossing became an important transshipment point for mail, supplies and travellers. For nearly 30 years it was also the health care centre for the Port au Port Peninsula, with an eight- bed cottage hospital being opened in 1937. When the American base was phased out in 1966, medical services were relocated to the former base hospital in Stephenville. Although the railway remained the major employer, there was employment in cutting pulpwood after the Comer Brook pulp and paper mill was opened in 1925, while there was also a small amount of herring and lobster fishing. The effects of the closing of the base in 1966 were initially somewhat blunted by construction of the Labrador Linerboard mill between The Crossing and Stephenville (see PULP AND PAPER), which operated as a linerboard mill from 1972 to 1977, when it was purchased by Abitibi-Price and modified for the production of paper. But the unemployment problem was exacerbated by the scaling-down of railway services, culminating in their closing in 1988.

Gilbert Higgins (interview, Nov. 1993), G.M. Story (interview, Dec. 1993),

Wayne Watton (1969), Census (1901-1991), Tempus Fugit Carpe Diem (1976; 19771

1978. Archives (A-7-2/Q). BARRY MOORES.

From ENCYLCLOPEDIA NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR.

Origin of name The name refers to the railroad that served as a junction for people going to Stephenville. Population approximately 2000.

Resource Base The resources it has are Abitibi Price, Bay St.George Seniors Citizen's Home, College of the North Atlantic,St. Michael's School, Bank of Montreal Insta-bank, Karl's Canteen, Irving, Food Centre, Post Office, Skinner's Pharmacy, Fillatre's Funeral Home, Cozy Corner, Russell's Funeral Home, Dentist Office, Clinic,Social Services, Shea's Building Supplies, Whites Building Supplies,Family Hair Care, Library, Town Hall, Power Fitness, Digital Data Design,Westland Hardware,Chicken Coop and the Liquor Store.

History The town of Stephenville Crossing is situated in the area St. Georges Bay on the West Coast of Newfoundland. This is a place that was known as the "French Shore". Stephenville is about a 13-minute drive away and St.George's is about a 15-minute drive.

This town is small but not very isolated because of its proximity to some larger centres and many forms of transportation are all around (i.e. Marine Atlantic in Port Aux Basques and Stephenville Airport).

The Crossing exists because of the railway it was founded on. This railway brought many expert loggers and wood workers in on the trains and they could cut their logs for a living. They helped the community by cutting timber to create ties for railway tracks.

Sports & Recreation The sports that available in the area in summer are baseball, ball hockey, basketball and an Arts and Crafts Program run by the Parks and Recreation in which younger children can get involved. During the winter and school year softball, ice hockey, skating and the groups are Sparks, Brownies, Girl Guides, Cubs, Beavers, and Scouts are all available.

Local Landmarks The landmarks in the area are the Gut Bridge located just before entering Stephenville Crossing coming from direction of St.Georges on route 490, the Water Tower, All Saint's Church (built in the 1930's), and the new Wetlands Project to protect the birds in the area.

Hospital The Stephenville Crossing hospital was opened in the spring of 1937. It was fairly small with only 8 beds, 4 male and 4 female. There was also isolation ward. The only doctor was Dr. W.B. Coulter and there were two nurses. It grew to 22 beds by the time 1946 came along and the staff grew to 9 people. The report of the Committee on Public Health and Welfare stated the number of patient days as being 4167.

In 1946, the hospital received its first x-ray machine. Along with this new piece of machinery, an operator was hired.In 1955 the staff increased to 2 doctors, 3 nurses, 6 ward aides and a secretary. The hospital had 24 beds and cribs and 8 bassinets serving 13,490 people from St. Georges to the Port au Port Peninsula.

A prefabricated building was added to the building in 1959, along with an extension with 14-16 beds and a pediatric ward with 14-16 beds.

When the American base in Stephenville closed down in1966, the hospital was shifted to the old hospital on the base.Most of the staff got transferred to the Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville.

Even though the Thomas Roddick hospital was larger and better equipped than the Crossing's hospital ever was; it was a huge blow to the people in Stephenville Crossing. They had become dependent on the hospital being close to them and with the change had to travel 12 miles for service.

Railway The railway was a major employer for the people of Stephenville Crossing in the early days. The construction work required men to lay the line through the area and was completed in 1898; it was the first train to cross Newfoundland. When the railway was completed, freight sheds were built to maintain the rail service.The first small train came in 1905. The Canadian National Railway Station originated around 1945. Then it closed around 1989.

Climate The weather in Stephenville Crossing has always been fairly mild in the summer and cold in the winter. There are very few hot days during the summer. Instead it stays at a fairly comfortable heat. Once or twice during the summer it hits over 25?C for a "heat wave". The average temperature is around 17-18?C. Usually there is a lot of rain and wind because of the coastal location.

In the winter, temperatures can reach very low levels with the wind-chill factor. It snows a good bit but the past years have been mild compared to farther back in time. This is probably attributable to global warming. Because high winds are sometimes combined with the snow, blizzards can become a major problem, especially during Christmas when people travelling back to other parts of Canada and have to travel to Port Aux Basques were there are extremely high winds, gusting up to and over 150km/h. In sum, Stephenville Crossing gets a lot of precipitation, a fair amount of wind, mild summers and cold winters.

Incorporation In 1957 the Provincial Government appointed the first Intern council which over-saw the community until the first elected council came into being. Stephenville Crossing became incorporated in 1958. William Hogan was the first mayor of Stephenville Crossing until 1965 and Dr. Dermat Murphy was elected mayor.