Newfoundland
Stories
The Legend of Father Duffy’s Well
A fiery feud, a priest on trial, and a spring that sparked a legend. Discover the strange truth & tall tale behind the ‘healing waters’ of Newfoundland’s mysterious ‘Father Duffy’s Well’.
The Goose-Shaped Town: Is Gander Really a Gander?
Discover the quirky story behind Gander, Newfoundland’s unusual street layout. Is the town really shaped like a goose? Explore its origins as a planned community, the postwar design choices, and why old maps might just make you believe in the "Gander gander."
The Double Mystery of Cabot Rock
A centuries-old stone in Grates Cove was said to bear John Cabot’s name—then it vanished. Was it real?
John Phillips: Pirate in a Pickle
From carpenter to pirate to a head in a pickle barrel—John Phillips took a wild turn off the straight and narrow. A tale of bad luck, worse choices, and one truly salty ending.
The Strange Journey of Louisa Journeaux
A woman vanishes at sea off Jersey. A man returns with scratches and a story no one believes. A mystery unfolds — one that ends, far from home, on the west coast of Newfoundland.
What Was The Bell Island Boom?
On a quiet Sunday morning in 1978, a deafening explosion shattered the calm of Bell Island, shaking homes, blasting holes in the ground, and leaving behind a mystery that still echoes today.
The Good Friday Lights
On Good Friday night in 1843, the crew of the Jane & Mary witnessed fire in the sky—two blazing orbs that lit the sea then vanished without a sound.
The Blood-Red Rainbow
On Good Friday, 1842, as the sun set over St. John’s, NL the sky erupted in fire-red light—and a perfect crimson bow appeared over the ice-covered sea.
Bear Visits Home in Port Saunders
In August 1947, a bear invades a sleeping baby’s room in Port Saunders, NL. With only her wits and a well-worn broom, one mother’s courage becomes the ultimate shield.
Trapped on an Iceberg
Inspired by a true story, 11-year-old Samuel and his family are stranded on an iceberg after a shipwreck. They are adrift more than 100km from land, fighting for survival.
Ned Low’s Near Miss
A ruthless pirate, a chance encounter, and a narrow escape — if not for a fisherman’ s words, Ned Low’s reign of terror could have ended in St. John’s.
The Beautiful Fanny Goff
The tragic love story of Portugal Cove’s Fanny Goff — a young woman who shared a love as legendary as her beauty.
Crime of the Ancient Mariner
A stolen fish, a cruel punishment, and a lesson in power—one sailor’s tale will change the way a young man sees the world forever.
Minnie Keefe’s Miracle
In 1902, two-year-old Minnie Keefe disappeared near her home in Colinet, NL. Eight days later, she was discovered alive, leading to stories of miracles, mysteries, and survival.
Swallowed By The Deep?
Just off Harbour Buffet, Placentia Bay a fisherman vanished, his shattered boat was the only clue. It looked like something, some ocean creature, was responsible.
Brennan’s Big Hoax?
In 1891, James Brennan spun a tale of a shipwreck so tragic it shook the Atlantic—until the “wreck” turned out to be pure fiction.
Elfreda Pike’s Last Walk Home
On a moonlit January night in 1870, 16-year-old Elfreda Pike began a walk home from Harbour Grace—unaware it would be her last.
A Grisly Gull Island Christmas
Stranded on a frozen rock at Christmas, the Queen of Swansea castaways faced starvation, despair—and unimaginable choices.
Don’t Sail on Christmas Day
A Christmas voyage gone wrong, the story of the Ellen Munn lives on in song—as a tale of courage, kindness, and the perils of Newfoundland winter.
Tragedy at the Atlantic Hotel
In 1887, a tragic accident at St. John’s Atlantic Hotel claimed the life of beloved porter William Shea. A mistaken step in the dark led to a 36-foot fall, leaving behind a grieving family and community.