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Ingornachoix Region
The following are profiles of communities in the Ingornachoix Region.
Port au Choix
The town of Port au Choix is well known as for its rich history and fishery. Known as the "fishing capital" of Western Newfoundland, it boasts a large fishing fleet, a modern shrimp processing plant, Federal Fisheries Offices, Parks Canada Visitor Reception Centre, restaurants, motel, RV Park, modern sports complex, bank, as well as other financial institutions and government services. Port au Choix is a National Historic Site and the community is regarded as one of the richest archeological finds in North America! Burial sites uncovered in the town in the 1960's & 70's provide evidence of it's most early settlers - from the Maritime Archaic Indians to the Groswater and Dorset Palaeoeskimos to the Recent Indians (ancestors of the Beothuks). While prehistoric coastlines elsewhere have long since slipped beneath the encroaching ocean, the raised shoreline and alkaline soil conditions at Port au Choix have combined to preserve a time capsule of great historical importance. Because of the cultural significance of this burial site, and a successful local lobby, the site was officially designated a National Historic Site by Parks Canada in 1984. In 2001 Parks Canada constructed a new Visitor Centre and Museum dedicated to the rich history of these native people - the first ever to inhabit Newfoundland, dating back over 5000 years. The earliest European presence in Port au Choix dates to the 1500's when the town received its name, Portuchoa, meaning "little port" from Basque fishermen who operated in the area. The town's original European residents were mainly descendants of French and English fishermen who settled in the area after 1904 when France relinquished its rights to fish, and for the first time permanent settlement was allowed. Under the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713, the French were given exclusive rights to fish in an area known as The French Shore, which this area is part of. At Point Riche, The French Shore Treaty monument is erected to commemorate this historic event in Newfoundland history. The modern town of Port au Choix is an amalgamation of three once separate communities - Old Port au Choix, Gargamelle Cove and Port au Choix. In 1857 there were at least 37 people living in Old Port au Choix. The first family settled in Gargamelle Cove in 1874 and the community of Port au Choix was established by 1911. By that time the French Shore no longer existed, France's rights having terminated in 1904. Today's Port au Choix still retains its close association with the sea and its cultural history. There are other sightseeing attractions, including Pointe Riche Lighthouse, the Heritage Museum, the French Shore treaty site, Studio Gargamille, and Fishery Products International Plant.Port Saunders
Port Saunders, with its hospital and other services and facilities, is a major hub of the Tri-Town area, and an exciting part of any visit to the Northern Peninsula. The community is named after British Admiral "Sir Charles Saunders" who, under the command of Major General James Wolfe, commanded the British warship, Neptune, during the successful expedition designed to capture Quebec from the French in1760. During his first survey and mapping of the Newfoundland coastline in July 1766, Captain James Cook named this sheltered harbour in 1766 in honor of his commanding officer during the Battle of Quebec. Port Saunders well protected harbor has been a haven for many ships throughout history and that proud marine tradition still continues with the modern fishing industry of today. Unique to Port Saunders is the historical waterfront of individual fishing stages and wharves of the small boat fishers, dotted from one end of the harbor to the other with the Marine Centre servicing the large fishing fleet at the bottom of the harbour front. In years gone by, when boats were the dominant mode of travel, Port Saunders was a major port of call. Evidence remains in some of the old buildings on the wharves. Near the mouth of the harbour is Keppel Island, where the lighthouse guides the harbour entrance. Tourists can enjoy a visit to the island and view the lighthouse. For weary travelers looking to escape highway driving - a view of the waterfront, a breath of salty sea air, a walk along the Crow Head Walking Trail with a sunset view of the lighthouse at Keppel Island - Port Saunders offers tranquility by the ocean.Hawke's Bay
The town of Hawke's Bay is situated at the mouth of the mighty Torrent River, nestled at the end of a beautiful inland bay protected from the cold wind and fog often experienced along the coast. Hawke's Bay was named in 1766 by Captain James Cook to honor British Admiral Edward Hawke and his great navel victory over the French fleet at Quiberon Bay in 1759. With its two major rivers and excellent sport fishing, Hawke's Bay became a favored enclave for tall ships from both the British & French navies during the early struggle for control of North America. The first known permanent settler was Michael Walsh in the early 1900s. There was no resident population until then because it was too far inland from the coast for fishing and was considered remote. A whaling factory was established in 1903 on the north side of the bay, but due to the decline in whale oil it closed the following year. Hawke's Bay also played a part in early aviation as one of the stops on the "First Round the World Flight" by U.S. Army Air Service in 1924. The first Air Mail service in Newfoundland was run from Hawke's Bay, by Major Sydney Cotton who operated a seaplane base as well as a small hotel catering to American sportsmen. Hawke's Bay is historically a logging town. with the first major economic activity and growth coming in 1933, when the International Pulp and Paper Company established pulpwood harvesting in the area. Hawke's Bay was incorporated as a town in 1956, and despite the many "boom and bust" periods during the past seven decades, many residents of Hawke's Bay still work today in the forestry. During the 1970's & early 1980's, all the zinc mined at Daniel's Harbour was shipped from here creating employment in trucking and stevedoring. Today the community boasts having two unique natural attractions including the Torrent River Nature Park & The Hogan trail boardwalk, which leads hikers to a fantastic view of Torrent River Falls and Fishway and the all new Atlantic Salmon Interpretation Centre where Atlantic Salmon can be seen heading upriver to spawn. A little-known Newfoundland geological treasure is the Glacier Striae, right in the middle of the community of Hawke's Bay. There are three sets of striae that show the directions of glacial flow in the flat rock limestone beachfront of Hawke's Bay. Miles of inland roads link countless lakes and ponds, where anglers challenge the large speckled brook trout, well known in this region and where you can expect to encounter many local species of wildlife and unforgettable scenery. Nature lovers will enjoy a visit to this area.River of Ponds
The community of River of Ponds, whose name originates from the scenic river nearby, is a sports fisherman's paradise. The river is connected by a series of ponds from the head waters of the Long Range Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, and is one of Newfoundland's most popular scheduled salmon rivers. To complement this, River of Ponds is also home of one of the most attractive campgrounds in Newfoundland - "River of Ponds Park & Campgrounds", nestled between the river and the community. From the early 1700s, the French maintained some seasonal fishing premises on the river and it was known by them as Rivieres des Rochs (River of Rocks). The name "River of Ponds" was first used by Captain James Cook in 1770. The first English settler is believed to be Charles Paine who lived there around 1870. Salmon and cod fisheries were important to the community during the 1800s and by the early 1900s the area became popular to American sports fisherman because of its abundant salmon runs. Today, the river remains a major tourism attraction for sports fisherman. Visit the man-made breakwater and beachfront for a unique view of the Newfoundland inshore fishery. Local fishermen continue to fish cod, lobster, and other ground fish. In recent years the outfitting business has also become a popular attraction, and a major source of employment in the community, with hunters from across North America visiting the area to hunt big game in the interior. River of Ponds Park & Campgrounds provides summer recreation and is one of the most popular parks in the region. From the boat landing you can get a fantastic view of Blue Mountain. Berry pickers would find a paradise nearby, with raspberries, blueberries, partridgeberries, bakeapples, gooseberries, marshberries, and dogberries in season. The pristine seashore at River of Ponds Brook and the Sprity Cove road with a magnificent view of the Atlantic Ocean is an interesting and remote part of the Ingornachoix Bay.Eddies Cove West
The community of Eddies Cove West is actually located within the St. John Bay just north of Ingornachoix Bay on route 430. Because of its close proximity and historical ties to the Ingornachoix area, Eddies Cove West has been included with the Ingornachoix area marketing initiative. The natural beauty of Eddies Cove West includes a sheltered cove, sandy beaches in a pristine environment with majestic views of Doctors Hills, St. John Island and St. John Bay. Visitors to the village are impressed with the community spirit, and appreciate local escorts to the beautiful and mysterious St. John's Island, site of a French fishing station, a whaling factory and historic French graves of the 1800's. Local lore has it that St. John Island, which is the largest island in the bay, was frequented by pirates. There is legend that treasure is buried somewhere near the famous blowhole found on the island. Eddies Cove West is a quaint fishing village at the northern entrance to the Ingornachoix region. The primary fishery is lobster, evident by the large number of neatly stacked traps, supplemented by other ground fish species when available for commercial harvesting. Logging and sawmilling have also provided income to the community's economy as well the growth and harvesting of local vegetables is a tradition that's still maintained even today. Residents are provided with the minimum of services in the community, and depend on the nearby towns of Hawke's Bay, Port Saunders and Port au Choix for its educational, recreational, social, commercial, and medical facilities.