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21-604: Shearstown is a settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador . It is part of the Town of Bay Roberts . Shearstown Brook runs through the community to the Shearstown Estuary, then flowing into Spaniard's Bay . The brook valley consists largely of terraced sand and gravel deposits, likely deposited in an ice-distal glaciofluvial environment. Starting in the early 1800s, men from Mercer's Cove and French's Cove visited

42-465: A general store, featuring everything from a post office to barrels of salt beef. Carpenter George Parsons and his wife Jessie set up a small grocery in the community in 1949. Their daughter Della continued the business, moving across the street from the original store in 1985. The first school and church in Shearstown were built in 1866, on the site occupied by St. Mark's School in 1994. The school

63-546: A new Trinity United Church in 1962). A Pentecostal church was opened in 1953, with a new church under construction in 1994. The Cromwell Loyal Orange Lodge No. 81, Shearstown, was constructed in 1898 and was dedicated with the name of Cromwell in 1901. It was one of the earlier community organizations to arrive in Shearstown. Its first master was Martin Sharpe. The Lodge is home to the Shearstown Brass Band, which

84-524: A small child, there were foundations and deteriorating fences down there.” A visitor to the community in 1935 wrote, One of the roads through Bay Roberts passes many prim little front gardens and emerges on the shore of Spaniard's Bay, which it skirts for a short way before crossing the Highroad to enter the settlement of Shearstown, and the New District of Harbour Grace. A placid stream flows along

105-538: A total population of 2,323 in the 2021 Canadian Census. The largest Inuit community government in the province by population and land area is Nain with 847 residents and 93.50 km (36.10 sq mi). Postville is the smallest Inuit community government by population in the province with 188 residents, while Hopedale is the smallest by land area with 2.18 km (0.84 sq mi). All five Inuit community governments are within Nunatsiavut ,

126-476: Is Conception Bay South with 27,168 residents and the largest by land area is Baie Verte with 371.37 km (143.39 sq mi). Little Bay Islands is its smallest town by population with zero residents, and Brent's Cove is the smallest town by land area with 1.02 km (0.39 sq mi). The province's newest town is George's Brook-Milton , which incorporated on May 8, 2018. Newfoundland and Labrador has five Inuit community governments that had

147-710: Is found at the List of ghost towns in Newfoundland and Labrador . List of municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador is the ninth-most populous province in Canada , with 510,550 residents recorded in the 2021 Canadian Census , and is the seventh-largest in land area , with 358,170 km (138,290 sq mi). Newfoundland and Labrador has 278 municipalities, including 3 cities , 270 towns , and 5 Inuit community governments ; these communities cover only 2.3% of

168-486: Is one of the principal sources of income to many who dwell here. Farther in the road beyond the hamlet of Butlerville women and children dot the hills gathering the wild grape. Most of Shearstown has been a part of the municipality of Bay Roberts since 1965; in 1992 Shearstown West and Butlerville were also included in the municipality. The main road was paved circa 1971, but in 1977, there were discussions about pulling out of municipal amalgamation. The area remains part of

189-588: The City of St. John's Act , the City of Mount Pearl Act , and the City of Corner Brook Act . These acts give them the power to enact local bylaws and the responsibility to provide local government services. The Municipalities Act, 1999 is the legislation enabling the Lieutenant-Governor in Council to incorporate, amalgamate, and disorganize towns in Newfoundland and Labrador upon recommendation by

210-440: The 2021 Canadian Census. The provincial capital of St. John's is the largest city by population and land area, with 110,525 residents and 446.02 km (172.21 sq mi). Corner Brook is the smallest city by population in the province, with 19,333 residents. Mount Pearl is the smallest by land area, with 15.65 km (6.04 sq mi). The three cities are governed under their own provincial legislation –

231-581: The Inuit Land Claims Area of Labrador. The five Inuit community governments were formed in 2005 with the signing of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement . The agreement granted them powers similar to other types of municipal governments in the province such as the establishment of a local government, municipal parks and recreation, public libraries, and public advertising. Each community elects at-large

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252-615: The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment. It also provides opportunities for towns to annex areas, and establish or alter their boundaries. The prerequisite to undertake these actions is the preparation of a feasibility report, which includes a requirement for a public hearing. Newfoundland and Labrador has 270 towns that had a total population of 304,895 in the 2021 Canadian Census. Fifteen of those towns are in Labrador . Newfoundland and Labrador's largest town by population

273-516: The Town of Bay Roberts. Early settlers like Augustus Mercer worked in the fishery, while John and George Tetford set up a cooperage . From the early to mid 20th century, a number of shops were operated by families in the community: Bertram “Bert” and Bertha Dwyer's butcher shop; Doc's Store; Marjorie and Roy Saunders (who had a jukebox and sold ice cream and chips); Jim and Marcie Earle; Ned Holmes; William “Bill” Saunders; Zippy Dwyer; and Mary and Jesse Badcock (a confectionery store). James Holmes set up

294-491: The area bordering Bay Roberts and Spaniard's Bay “chasing the wood,” a term meaning to collect winter firewood. Some families started to overwinter there, returning to Bay Roberts in the spring. Eventually, they settled there permanently. Shearstown first appears separately in the Census in 1901, with a population of 577. By the 1921 Census, the population had grown to 704 persons in 145 households. The Shearstown pioneers included

315-585: The families of Holmes, Earle, Hedderson, Badcock, Sparkes, Franey, French, Saunders, and Mercer. Originally known as Spaniard's Bay Pond, the name was changed to Shearstown in honour of the Reverend W.C. Shears in 1905. Shears was the Anglican priest at Bay Roberts (1868-1903) who also served at Spaniard's Bay; in 1903 he retired to the U.S.A. The community was also the birthplace of vernacular religious artist, Sister Ann Ameen (1909-1988). During its early years,

336-598: The most prosperous part of Shearstown was the area known as Muddy Hole, near the mouth of the Shearstown River. This was once a bustling trading place for the people of Shearstown and surrounding communities. “People used to live in Muddy Hole. But they do not live there anymore,” Trudy Hutchings told folklore student Abigail Crocker in 2017. “I suppose they came up to be with the rest of the people. Water and sewer were not put through there, but I can remember as

357-417: The power to enact local bylaws and the responsibility to provide local government services. St. John's is Newfoundland and Labrador's capital and largest municipality by population and land area. Little Bay Islands is its smallest municipality by population, and Brent's Cove is the smallest municipality by land area. Newfoundland and Labrador has three cities that had a total population of 152,335 in

378-533: The province's land mass but are home to 90% of its population. The towns were created by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in accordance with the Municipalities Act, 1999 , whereas the three cities were each incorporated under their own provincial statutes. Inuit community governments were created in accordance with the 2005 Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act . These acts grant

399-578: The valley and meets the sea just above the Railway trestle. There is a small island in this inlet; it is a charming islet, prettily wooded. There is a good road up the valley on the west side, and several branches cross the river to the homes on the other bank. This is a farming settlement whose neat cottages and smart barns show signs of the care and attention that have been bestowed upon them. The fields of fine vegetables and hay indicate industry if not prosperity. Picking blueberries in late August and September

420-429: Was constructed as a one-room school, and rabbit and soup suppers were held to raise funds to supply coal and firewood for the building. The original St. Mark's Anglican School was incorporated into the newer school, which was destroyed by arson in 2002. There was also a Methodist school/chapel by 1885. The current St. Mark's Church of England building was erected in 1898, and the first Methodist church in 1910 (replaced by

441-564: Was noted as having approximately 30 members ranging from young children to seasoned veterans in 2018. 47°35′19″N 53°18′10″W  /  47.58861°N 53.30278°W  / 47.58861; -53.30278 List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador Incorporated towns and cities are incorporated municipalities and can be found on List of municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador . Newfoundland and Labrador at Confederation in 1949 had nearly 1,450 communities. Today it has fewer than 700. A listing of abandoned communities

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