| Heart's Content, Trinity Bay
Cable Station Provincial Historic Site
Provincial Government Website > >
May 19 - September 28, 2007
Hours: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
7 days a week, including holidays
Admission
Over 13 years old - $3.00
Group and Family Rates Available
Gift Shop with crafts
For Information
May to Sept- Tel: 709-583-2160, Fax: 709-729-0870
Oct to April- Tel: 709-729-0592, Fax: 709-729-0870
Email: heartscontent@nf.aibn.com
Heart's Content Harbour, September 2007
Photo: Lloyd Rees
Heart's Content, which was incorporated
8/25/1967, is located on Route 80 between Heart's Delight and New Perlican. The town is connected directly to Victoria and Carbonear in Conception Bay by Route 74. The population is 418 according to the 2006 census. The town is peaceful and beautiful fishing community with one of the deepest natural harbours in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Fishing Schooners in Heart's Content
Photo:Lloyd Rees
Heart's Content became world famous in 1866 when Cyrus Field chose the town as the landing site for the first Transatlantic Cable. In July 1866, the Great Eastern landed the cable, which marked the beginning of almost instant communication between Europe and North America. Other cables were laid in the following decades and the Heart's Content station remained in continual service, becoming a focal centre of the Western Union international cable system. By 1965, trans-ocean telephone cable and satellite communication has taken over and the station was closed after almost 100 years as a pivotal point in international communication. More information about the Transatlantic Cable >>
The town today has a boat building industry and a fishing industry, and has many sites of interest to the visitor, including several walking trails.
Trail Between Heart's Content
and New Perlican
Pride in History - Back to 17th Century
Although the most famous event in the town's history is the landing of the first transatlantic cable, the town's harbour was well know to early settlers and migratory European fishermen in the 17th century. John Guy's colonists mention the harbour by name in 1612 when they traveled to Trinity Bay. On September 8, 1612, Henry Crout wrote that 14 Beothuk houses had been seen recently about eight miles from Heart's Content.
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville - 1697
Heart's Content was attacked by French forces led by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville on February 9, 1697. Abbé Baudoin, who accompanied d'Iberville during the attack, called the place Havre Content and reported there were four planters living there and that they employed 20 male servants, owned four boats, and had 2400 cod. The French made a number of trips overland to Carbonear on a well established trail between the two communities to harass the English planters who had escaped to Carbonear Island.
Today the trail that d'Iberville and his men used is Route 74 between Heart's Content, Victoria, and Carbonear.
Cable Station Museum
Museum Guides
Photo: Baccalieu Trail Ambassadors
The Cable Station Museum houses a visitor information center and equipment displays explaining the important role Heart's Content played in Transatlantic Communication for over 100 years.
Interior of Museum
It boasts an intriguing cable operating room in pristine condition, and houses a series of displays on the history of telecommunications, including a replica of the original Victorian cable office and details of the problems encountered during the laying of the first telegraph lines.
Park Near Cable Station
Across the street from the Cable Museum is a area with park benches and a History Board displaying the history of Hearts Content. The board was donated to the town by the Johnson Family Foundation during the "Come Home Year" celebrations held in 1997.
The Mizzen Heritage Society
The Mizzen Heritage Society produces various exhibits every summer which aim
to educate and to promote the heritage of the community. The collection, which includes
artifacts and archival materials outlining the community’s early occupational heritage,
encompassing the seal, inshore cod and Labrador fisheries, and the ship building industry
of the late 1700's, is housed in the Mizzen Hall.
Founding of the Society of United Fishermen (SUF)
SUF Lodge #1
SUF Lodge #1 in Heart's Content was built by the original Society of United Fishermen, a society founded in 1862 by Rev. George Gardener, a Church of England clergyman. Other locals adopted the basic design of the building as the association spread throughout Newfoundland and into Nova Scotia. The SUF Lodge has received a Manning Award from the Newfoundland Historic Parks Association.
Heart's Content Lighthouse
Heart's Content Lighthouse
Photo: Barry C. Parsons
The current Heart's Content Lighthouse, which is located at the northern entrance to the habour, was built in 1901 and was automated in 1931.
Heart's Content Photos
Click for larger version, then right border for next.
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Tourism Association Members
Heart's Content [Municipality on the Baccalieu Trail incorporated 8/25/1967. Population 418 - 2006 census. ] The Town of Heart's Content is peaceful and beautiful fishing community. Although the most famous event in the town's history is the landing of the first Transatlantic Cable, the town's harbour was well know to early settlers. John Guy's colonists mention the harbour by name in 1610.
Contact: heartscontent@nf.aibn.com PO Box 31 Heart's Content NL A0B 1Z0 Tel: 583-2491 Fax: 583-2226
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