Newfoundland
Stories
Francis Pickmore’s Worst Winter. Ever.
How bad can a Newfoundland winter get? How about snow drifts in the governor’s bedroom? Not that the governor complained much - he couldn’t, he ended up pickled in a barrel of rum.
How Did Dildo, Newfoundland Get Its Name?
Owing to its name, Dildo may be one of the best known communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. How the town got such an unusual name is a matter of debate.
John B. Garland and The Blood Book
John B. Garland, Newfoundland’s first speaker of the legislature, had an interesting hobby — making blood collages.
Candlemas Day: Cake, Candles and Kings
There’s more to February 2nd than groundhogs and weather lore. People of Newfoundland have celebrated Candlemas for generations and have lots of interesting customs that have nothing to do with looking for shadows.
Mary Travers Sells The Speaker’s Chair
It’s often said Newfoundland’s first legislature was held in a tavern. What’s less-well-known is that they failed to pay their tab and that the owner, Mary Travers, collected her due in a way the government wouldn’t soon forget.
How to Push Your Luck in Newfoundland
From pigeons and brooms to uni-brows and whistlers, Newfoundlanders have no shortage of superstitions. In honour of Friday the 13th, here’s a collection of 13 things that are (or were once considered to be) bad luck in Newfoundland.
Kicking the Concern and Other Curious Christmas Customs
Kicking the concern and other strange Newfoundland Christmas customs.
Mummers, Murder and Mayhem
Not every mummer story has a happy ending. In 1860 a group of mummers killed a man in Bay Roberts , NL — that was only one incident in a string of violent behaviour.
Death at the Barn Dance: The K of C Fire
On Dec 12, 1942, 99 people died in a tragic fire at the Knights of Columbus Barn Dance— and it may not have been an accident.
Rockyfoot: Newfoundland’s Krampus
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that ol’ Rockyfoot was not drawing near.
The Wicked Wreck of the Waterwitch
The story of a terrifying Newfoundland shipwreck, a harrowing rescue and a song that still gets sung today.
Botwood: Flying Boats & Bob Hope
When World War II came to Newfoundland Botwood was forever changed — and Bob Hope got to add a joke to his repertoire.
Giant Squid: Giant Feast from a Giant Beast
On November 2, 1878 a giant squid came ashore in Thimble Tickle, Newfoundland. It became a world record holder, inspired a life-sized sculpture and appeared on a stamp. It also became dinner.
The Gruesome Gibbets of Newfoundland
Murder, macabre justice and mayhem! In 18th century Newfoundland there was a punishment worse than death — the gibbet.
Sea Serpents and Lake Monsters of Newfoundland
There are mysteries in the deep but from time to time the come to the surface — here are 10 times Newfoundland sea serpents and lake monsters made the news.
Outer Space to Outer Cove: Newfoundland UFOs
The truth is out there… maybe in Gander, Harbour Mille or Random Island, NL
Mr. Kinchler and the Devil
Re-telling of a folktale about how the devil came to leave his mark in a rock outside Fortune Harbour, Newfoundland.
The Day The Sky Fell
On October 19, 1936 some parts of Newfoundland thought the world was ending. Literally.
The 5 Best Places to See a Ghost
Haunted, historic and open to the public — five of the most convenient places to encounter a ghost in Newfoundland.