Also called Hatchers Cove, Newfoundland this settlement is an unincorporated fishing community, located on the northern shore of the Southwest Arm of Trinity Bay, southeast of Clarenville. According to Rex Clarke, Hatchet Cove was founded by the brother of Stephen Blundon {THAT IS ME FAMILY ON MOMS SIDE} of Bay de Verde. (It was Stephen Blundon who founded Hickman's Harbour) Stephen's brother also reputedly visited Hatchet Cove in 1799 to begin a logging operation, and the settlement was eventually founded by ``wintermen,'' seasonal settlers who came from Grate's Cove, Hant's Harbour, Old Perlican, Bay de Verde and Trinity during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries to reap the rich forest stands of the Southwest Arm. As the Labrador fishery developed, more of these seasonal settlers eventually settled where they could build boats, cut wood and conduct a small fishery.
Hatchet Cove was first recorded as a settlement in the Census of 1891 with forty-seven inhabitants, all born in Newfoundland and predominently members of the Methodist Church. By 1901 the population of the settlement had reached fifty-eight and by 1945 it had reached eighty-six. The population of Hatchet Cove did not exceed eighty between 1951 (71) and 1966 (79). In 1971 it reached 101. Early family names associated with Hatchet Cove were Avery, Baker, Bishop, Blundon, Brown, Cramm, Hiscock, Lambert and Robbins.
Ore bodies have been recorded at Hatchet Cove, mainly of slates and sandstones which are notable in the Random area of Trinity Bay. Although slate quarrying was undertaken at numerous settlements in Random Sound, especially at Hickman's Harbour, no mining was done at Hatchet Cove itself. The inshore fishery and lumbering in the late 1800s and early l900s were the main sources of livelihood although at least one large vessel from Hatchet Cove was known to have been used in the Labrador fishery. Like other Southwest Arm communities, Hatchet Cove residents depended on Trinity and Hickman's Harbour merchants for supplies and a market for their fish and lumber. The coming of the railway led to a decline in the Labrador fishery by the early 1900s, according to Clarke, and many residents sought work in railway construction, road work, logging and employment in the growing regional centre of Clarenville.
Sawmilling has remained a source of income in Hatchet Cove from the earliest days of settlement. Jim Blundon and Eleazer Robbins operated a water-powered sawmill at the mouth of a brook until c. 1960. The Blundon brothers and the Robbins brothers were partners in this mill. Another mill located farther up the brook, was also owned by this partnership. In 1982 in Hatchet Cove there were two sawmills owned by the Smith and Brown families. Fishing was confined to some salmon fishing only.
In 1901 a Methodist school was reported open in
Hatchet Cove. According to Clarke, quoting the report of the Church of
England School Inspector in 1907, Church of England schools in Long Beach
and Hatchet Cove were open only for a short period. In 1982 Hatchet Cove
students attended school to Grade IV in the community and travelled to
Hillview qv for their education thereafter. The settlement of Hatchet Cove
also supported separate Methodist and Church of England churches. A new
church, built to serve both denominations was constructed 1970. In 1982
Hatchet Cove had a newly built ball park and recreation area.
Now it has a Golf Course also....
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