Early Morning on Change Islands

Red Fishing Stage in Durrell

"A fishing stage is a wooden vernacular building, typical of the rough traditional buildings associated with the cod fishery in Newfoundland, Canada. Stages are located at the water's edge or "landwash", and consist of an elevated platform on the shore with working tables and sheds at which fish are landed and processed for salting and drying. Traditionally, they are painted with a red ochre paint, though colours other than red are sometimes seen."

- Wikipedia

Ferryland Lighthouse 2007

The circular tower of Ferryland lighthouse is constructed of brick and clad in an outside sheathing of steel to guard against fire and the hazards of winter ice storms. The main tower and adjoining lightkeepers house were built in 1871. The light is now automated and the once empty and decaying house has been renovated by local entrepreneurs and now serves as a teahouse for lighthouse picnics.

Cape Pine Lighthouse in the Fog

Cape Pine is the southern most light station in Newfoundland. It was constructed in 1850 and is the fourth oldest lighthouse in the province standing 350 feet above sea level. The lighttower is a sixty-five foot cast iron structure designed by well-known British building designer, Alexander Gordon.

I have visited this station on two occasions. On my first vist the lighthouse was enclosed in plastic sheeting for sandblasting and on this occasion,the lighthouse was obscured by fog. I could barely see the top of the tower. By setting my camera for maximum contrast and brightening the foreground shadows, I was able to get this surrealistic vision of the lighthouse.

Osprey ( Fish Hawk )

The osprey or fish hawk is a common summer resident around Newfoundland coasts. It is frequently seen fishing in the ocean, large rivers, lakes and ponds. Hovering high above the water, the osprey will drop 100-200 feet and catch its prey in it's razor sharp talons. The osprey's diet consists mainly of fish such as small flounder, tomcod, trout and salmon. I spotted this osprey near it's nest on the road to the ferry on Change Island.

A Long Long Time Ago on Change Island

The old house, grey and cold, stands alone amid the the warm colored grass and summer flowers. Happy faces and quiet footsteps are only a memory now.

Going Nowhere

"TODAY I will let the old boat stand
Where the sweep of the harbor tide comes in
To the pulse of a far, deep-steady sway.
I will rest and dream"

- Waiting - Carl Sandburg (1878–1967)

Before the Storm

Newfoundland weather can change very quickly. These brooding storm clouds soon changed day into night accompanied by gale force winds and lightning.

Postcard of Change Island

"Change Islands still retains the "look and feel" of the last century and still maintains a fishing tradition. The house styles and the lifestyles here are from another time. White painted, narrow clapboarded homes sit in well-kept green gardens facing the main tickle or the open sea. Fishing stages and stores, painted in the traditional red ochre colour line the shore. Small boats traverse the many harbours, tickles and coves. There's even a general store where you can buy the makings for a picnic that can be enjoyed at an abandoned fishing hamlet at nearby Puncheon Cove."

- from the Town of Change Islands Website
http://www.changeislands.ca/home.htm

United Church - Change Islands - Est. 1896

"Three men who put in so much time at the work of the church were not privileged to worship at very many services. The first to be called away was Eli Diamond, who died in June, 1897 and was buried from the South Side School by the Rev. Wm. Harris. Jonathan Bursey was the second to go. He died in February, 1898. His was the first funeral service to be held in the new church, being conducted by Rev. A. J. Holmes. The third man, Frank Ginn, who was shot off the White Islands in search of seals on the 4th of April, 1898, only living a few hours after the accident. It was a sad day for Change Islands. In him the church lost one of her staunch supporters. The funeral was very largely attended, the church being almost filled to capacity with over six hundred persons inside the doors that eve."

- Short History, Change Islands Church, 1897-1947".

Iceberg and Debris Field - Twillingate

The non-uniform melting of an iceberg can cause a shift in equilibrium making the iceberg very unstable so that it can roll over without any warning. While I was photographing the nearby lighthouse a loud cracking and thunderous bang broke the evening silence but I was too late to photograph the breakup. Seconds earlier this iceberg was a single irregular berg that was now in three pieces surrounded by a debris field.

Abandoned Church - Gander Bay

This old church seems to have been neglected for some time as evidenced by the pronounced crook in its steeple.

Change Island Fishing Room

In 1867, a fisherman by the name of Joseph Elliot was sitting in St. James Church on Change Island pondering the New Testament story of the miraculous catch of fish and conceived the idea of the Newfoundland cod trap....so the story goes! That same cod trap was used with some modification by Newfoundland fishermen until the cod fishery closed in the mid-1990's.

Long Point Lighthouse - Twillingate

This lighthouse is unique among Canadian lighthouse designs - the all red tower rises from a square base and then angles inward towards the upper lip which forms twenty four facets. The lantern also, with its triangular glass panels, repeats this geometrical complexity. The light keeper's house is a fine example of 19th century Newfoundland - Irish architecture and is connected to the light tower by a covered walkway which extends to the fog alarm building. In spring this light station is a ready observation deck for the march of icebergs calved from Greenland's glaciers.

Ship Wreck at Fredrickton

I have finally identified this derelict ship beached near the old wharf in Fredrickton, Newfoundland.

On January 9,1960, the Ahern Trader ran aground during a winter storm after off loading a load of hay for a local business in Gander Bay. After leaving the Wharf in Fredrickton ,the captain in spite of dropping the anchor was unable to keep the ship off the rocks. The crew were able to abandon ship with the help of local fishermen and further attempts to free the ship were unsuccessful.

Dan Greene's Stable - Tilting

In Tilting, the purpose of an outbuilding could change depending on circumstances : a fish and carpentry store could later be used as a stable. Dan Greene's shed was used for wood storage as well as a stable.

Fishing Premises - Joe Batts Arm

The origin of the name Joe Batt's Arm is shrouded in mistery but local legend has it that this outport is named for a deserter of Captain James Cook's crew who jumped ship while it was anchored here in 1736.

Church - Our Lady of the Snows - Fogo

This historic Roman Catholic church in Fogo was built in 1887. To the left one can see the oldest one room school in Newfoundland ( 1888 ). Both buildings look much as they did a century ago. The schoolhouse still has its old texts and desks, a potbelly stove, an old style organ and other period furnishings.

Keefe's Stage - Tilting

The most prominent out buildings in Tilting are the fishing rooms. Fishing premises with their stores, stages and flakes were an important part of the fisherman's property. Allan Keefe's stage, built in 1943 is probably the most identifiable and most photographed fishing stage in Newfoundland. Because of its support on a large flat surfaced rock, it needed very little wood for the foundation. Over time, the west wall has acquired a pronounced slope among other deformities.