Page 11 - The Shores of Jupiter - December '21

The Shores, Page 11
St. John’s: Capital City Of Newfoundland And Labrador

By Don Kiselewski, MCC, Cabot setting his foot on shore didn’t make it a
D.S., Palm Beach Gardens simple matter for the land to be claimed by Britain.
Travel Leaders The issue of ownership was in controversy for the
Natives and longtime next 265 years. It was only one of the many disputes
residents of the island of between the French and British that existed at the
Newfoundland are likely to time. In 1762 the final decisive battle between the two
promptly take you aside and nations took place, with the British finally claiming
politely let you know that the decisive victory. This victory established a clear
island on the far eastern tip of division between the English possessions and the
North America isn’t a fund, “French” Quebec to its west.
but instead was “found” as a St. John’s is the capital of Newfoundland and
new land by John Cabot (also Labrador, two landmasses separated by the Strait
known as Giovanni Caboto). And he called it New-found-land, of Belle Isle. The two areas became Canada’s two
which they still do … it’s the rest of the world who have dropped lighthouses along Newfoundland’s rocky coast.
the “o” when pronouncing the name of the largest part of this St. John’s operated for two centuries after it was
Canadian province (Newfoundland and Labrador). populated before getting the first light in 1810, at Fort
There is evidence that the island had been reached by the Amherst, on the south side of the inlet. The Cape Spear
Vikings around 1000 lighthouse has operated since 1836.
A.D. Their presence is Nick Croke and Bill Parker, two St. John’s The 1836 Cape Spear lighthouse has been replaced by a more modern
indisputable because contractors, built the two-story lighthouse that took lighthouse and is now a museum.
of communities that a year. The structure was a true
we r e e st a b l i she d “lighthouse.” The keeper and his
and then abandoned, family lived and worked within the
perhaps because of the structure that today remains as an
harsh climate. It is also authentic museum of the day. In
believed that there were 1878 the foghorn was added to help
few women among guide mariners into the bay, which
these early Scandinavian is truly needed. After sailing several
visitors, which greatly days in “fog as thick as pea soup,”
reduced their chances to I can assure you that it does indeed
propagate. get foggy in the North Atlantic.
There were also A new automated lighthouse was
French fishing outposts, constructed in 1955 and the 1836
but it was Cabot who lighthouse now acts as a museum.
was credited with the Shops old and new combine with
first official landing in historic buildings in the downtown
Newfoundland. Cabot core of St. John’s. Because of steep
arrived on June 24, 1497, hills, many of the homes resemble
which happened to be the row houses of San Francisco, City of St. John’s and the Basilica of St. John the Baptist
the feast day of John the The newer Cape Spear lighthouse, each brightly colored with their own
Baptist. This is where the constructed in 1955, helps guide architectural identity. One need only look at the cityscapes to John the Baptist, St. Andrew’s, United Church, the Anglican
harbor city of St. John’s mariners into St. John’s harbor. Its spot the plethora of churches that dot the city center. In a row Cathedral and the red-brick Masonic Temple, just to name a
gets its name. predecessor now acts as a museum. stepping down from the ridge you will find the Basilica of St. few. These along with the governmental building, which mark
the identity of the city center are an easy walk, but watch out
for the cobblestone streets that give the city character. Most of
the wooden structures have been rebuilt after the two great fires,
one in 1846 and the other in 1892.
Numerous small fishing villages surround St. John’s,
springing up in the many small, well-protected harbors that have
easy access to the ocean. Puffins, whales and caribou make up
the bulk of the animal population in this area. Moose and caribou
were imported to Newfoundland from the Canadian mainland,
which has become a bit of a problem because they have no natural
predators.
Newfoundland was granted a coat of arms in 1637; however,
it was lost in antiquity. Rediscovered in 1928, it was reinstated
by the Newfoundland government. It’s nice to find royalty in
your family. It contains the Cross of St. George, the lion and
unicorn, and even two Beothuk Indians, now an extinct tribe of
Newfoundland.
St. Johns is
one of the oldest
settlements in
North America
with European
characteristics,
and is an old-
world charm. Its
people are eager
to brag of their
history with their
favorite saying:
“There is more
history here than
the rest of Canada
put together.” I’m
not going to get
into that battle. Cabot Tower on Signal Hill
One thing is for
sure: They live by their own standards. Even their time is one-
half hour different than the adjacent time zone.
Don Kiselewski writes from his personal experiences, having
Licensed and Insured traveled in 122 countries and cruised the oceans, seas and rivers
of the world. Palm Beach Gardens Travel Leaders, his family
owned and operated agency, is located at Mirasol Town Square,
11360 North Jog Road, Building A, Suite 102-6, Palm Beach
Gardens. The agency has been serving the travel needs of the
South Florida area for over a quarter of a century. Contact him
at (561) 694-9696 or Aussie@PBGTravel.com.
Photos by Don Kiselewski