HISTORY
POSTAL SERVICE
by Gail Hussey-Weir
Created April 2025
by Gail Hussey-Weir
Created April 2025
When I.C. Morris, a St. John's businessman, visited Bell Island in August 1900, he crossed from Portugal Cove to the Island in the sailboat run by Matthew and William Jackman. The following week, his article about the visit appeared in The Daily News in which he noted, "The Jackmans have been operating a mail and passenger boat across the Tickle for 60 years [so since about 1840]. The boat carried three sails." [Source:
Bown, p. 13, 1900. It is assumed that Morris got this information directly from one of the Jackmans on the trip across the Tickle.] The first mention found in the Newfoundland Yearbook and Almanac of who was operating on the Tickle in the 1800s was the 1887 edition, p. 37, under "Ferries & Ferrymen": "Bell Isle (Lance Cove) to Topsail - Wm. Clements; Portugal Cove to Bell Isle Beach - Matt. Jackman."
Before 1871, there was no mention in the Newfoundland Almanac of postal service to Bell Island (then known as Bell(e) Isle).
In the 1853 edition, page 12, under "Local Events," it was noted that on October 11, 1852, "Steam communication was established between Harbor Grace, Carbonear, Brigus and Portugal Cove" but there is no mention of Bell Isle.
In the 1857 edition, under "Post Office Department, Postal Routes," the only route mentioning Portugal Cove was between it, Harbor Grace, Carbonear and Brigus by boat five days a week. There is no mention of how mail was delivered to Bell Island.
In the 1860 edition, it was noted that in summer mail was carried between St. John's and Portugal Cove by coach [horse drawn] daily, and between Portugal Cove, Brigus, Harbor Grace and Carbonear, by steamer, tri-weekly. While winter delivery was given for St. John's to Brigus, Harbor Grace and Carbonear, Portugal Cove was not mentioned, nor was Bell Island.
The first time Postal Service for Bell Isle was mentioned in the Newfoundland Almanac was in 1871, p. 40, when it was noted that the designated "post town" for Bell Isle, St. John's East district, was Portugal Cove. There was no mention of how or if the mail was delivered to Bell Isle, and there was no mention of Lance Cove or of ferrymen for those places. In the 1874 edition, p. 37, Mrs. Dooley was listed as Way Mistress [as opposed to Post Mistress] for Portugal Cove. [A "Way Officer" was a person who was responsible for the delivery of mail along a specific route of "way."]
More information was given in the 1887 Yearbook and Almanac of Newfoundland: The designated "post town" for Bell Isle (Beach), St. John's District, was still Portugal Cove; for Bell Isle (Lance Cove), St. John's District, it was Topsail; for Freshwater, Belle Isle, St. John's District, it was Topsail. Also, there were people living on Little Belle Isle, Harbor Main District, at the time; its post town was Manuels. William Clements was listed as ferryman for Bell Isle (Lance Cove) to Topsail, and Matthew Jackman was listed for Portugal Cove to Bell Isle Beach.
1890 was the first year a Way Officer was listed for Belle Isle (Bell Island, Conception Bay), when,
under "Way Offices," the following were listed: Belle Isle, St. John's District, Matthew Jackman, Way Officer. William Clements was listed as Way Officer for Lance Cove, Belle Isle, St. John's East District.
In 1892, Matthew Jackman was listed as an officer for Belle Isle, St. John's District, and William Clements was listed as an officer for Lance Cove, Belle Isle, St. John's East District. Mail was deliver "by waggon" for Portugal Cove and Belle Isle every Tuesday and Friday. The "Post Town" for Belle Isle (Beach) was still Portugal Cove, and Belle Isle (Lance Cove) was still Topsail, as was Freshwater, Belle Isle.
In 1894, with mining about to start up on Bell Island, Matthew Jackman was now listed as Postmaster for Belle Isle, St. John's District, and Ferryman for Portugal Cove to Belle Isle Beach. William Clements was listed as Postmaster for Lance Cove, Belle Isle, St. John's East District, and Ferryman for Belle Isle (Lance Cove) to Topsail. The "Post Towns" were still listed as Portugal Cove and Topsail. This information remained the same through 1900. In 1900, the Yearbook and Almanac began listing the residence of the ferrymen. Matthew Jackman's residence was given as Portugal Cove, with him on the Portugal Cove to Bell Isle run. Wm. Clements' residence was Bell Isle.
Meanwhile, in 1897, it was reported in The Daily News that, "A petition was presented in the House of Assembly on May 3rd asking that a daily mail be dispatched to the island during the coming season. It was intended to have a steam launch ply between Lance Cove, Topsail and Portugal Cove. Up to that time, the mails for the island were being dispatched daily by train to Topsail, but were not sent over every day due to lack of a means of transportation. When the matter came up in the House [of Assembly] on May 7th, it was stated that 'the place has become important in the economic life of the Colony as 500 men were expected to be employed there that summer.'" [Source: Bown, p. 6, 1897]
The building in the foreground of the photo below is the first Government Building on Bell Island. Erected in the autumn of 1900, it contained the Customs, Magistrate, Police and Post offices and was known locally as "The Court House." It was located on Court House Hill at The Front. 1907 was the first year in which I found any mention in the media of Bell Island's first Post Office as having been located in this building, but it was probably there from the beginning. The 1901 Newfoundland Yearbook and Almanac was the first year that Belle Isle (Beach) was listed as a "Post Town." From a 1907 newspaper item, we learn that the office was only 10' x 12', which was typical for that time period. [This photo is copied from an album at the Bell Island Community Museum.]
Bown, p. 13, 1900. It is assumed that Morris got this information directly from one of the Jackmans on the trip across the Tickle.] The first mention found in the Newfoundland Yearbook and Almanac of who was operating on the Tickle in the 1800s was the 1887 edition, p. 37, under "Ferries & Ferrymen": "Bell Isle (Lance Cove) to Topsail - Wm. Clements; Portugal Cove to Bell Isle Beach - Matt. Jackman."
Before 1871, there was no mention in the Newfoundland Almanac of postal service to Bell Island (then known as Bell(e) Isle).
In the 1853 edition, page 12, under "Local Events," it was noted that on October 11, 1852, "Steam communication was established between Harbor Grace, Carbonear, Brigus and Portugal Cove" but there is no mention of Bell Isle.
In the 1857 edition, under "Post Office Department, Postal Routes," the only route mentioning Portugal Cove was between it, Harbor Grace, Carbonear and Brigus by boat five days a week. There is no mention of how mail was delivered to Bell Island.
In the 1860 edition, it was noted that in summer mail was carried between St. John's and Portugal Cove by coach [horse drawn] daily, and between Portugal Cove, Brigus, Harbor Grace and Carbonear, by steamer, tri-weekly. While winter delivery was given for St. John's to Brigus, Harbor Grace and Carbonear, Portugal Cove was not mentioned, nor was Bell Island.
The first time Postal Service for Bell Isle was mentioned in the Newfoundland Almanac was in 1871, p. 40, when it was noted that the designated "post town" for Bell Isle, St. John's East district, was Portugal Cove. There was no mention of how or if the mail was delivered to Bell Isle, and there was no mention of Lance Cove or of ferrymen for those places. In the 1874 edition, p. 37, Mrs. Dooley was listed as Way Mistress [as opposed to Post Mistress] for Portugal Cove. [A "Way Officer" was a person who was responsible for the delivery of mail along a specific route of "way."]
More information was given in the 1887 Yearbook and Almanac of Newfoundland: The designated "post town" for Bell Isle (Beach), St. John's District, was still Portugal Cove; for Bell Isle (Lance Cove), St. John's District, it was Topsail; for Freshwater, Belle Isle, St. John's District, it was Topsail. Also, there were people living on Little Belle Isle, Harbor Main District, at the time; its post town was Manuels. William Clements was listed as ferryman for Bell Isle (Lance Cove) to Topsail, and Matthew Jackman was listed for Portugal Cove to Bell Isle Beach.
1890 was the first year a Way Officer was listed for Belle Isle (Bell Island, Conception Bay), when,
under "Way Offices," the following were listed: Belle Isle, St. John's District, Matthew Jackman, Way Officer. William Clements was listed as Way Officer for Lance Cove, Belle Isle, St. John's East District.
In 1892, Matthew Jackman was listed as an officer for Belle Isle, St. John's District, and William Clements was listed as an officer for Lance Cove, Belle Isle, St. John's East District. Mail was deliver "by waggon" for Portugal Cove and Belle Isle every Tuesday and Friday. The "Post Town" for Belle Isle (Beach) was still Portugal Cove, and Belle Isle (Lance Cove) was still Topsail, as was Freshwater, Belle Isle.
In 1894, with mining about to start up on Bell Island, Matthew Jackman was now listed as Postmaster for Belle Isle, St. John's District, and Ferryman for Portugal Cove to Belle Isle Beach. William Clements was listed as Postmaster for Lance Cove, Belle Isle, St. John's East District, and Ferryman for Belle Isle (Lance Cove) to Topsail. The "Post Towns" were still listed as Portugal Cove and Topsail. This information remained the same through 1900. In 1900, the Yearbook and Almanac began listing the residence of the ferrymen. Matthew Jackman's residence was given as Portugal Cove, with him on the Portugal Cove to Bell Isle run. Wm. Clements' residence was Bell Isle.
Meanwhile, in 1897, it was reported in The Daily News that, "A petition was presented in the House of Assembly on May 3rd asking that a daily mail be dispatched to the island during the coming season. It was intended to have a steam launch ply between Lance Cove, Topsail and Portugal Cove. Up to that time, the mails for the island were being dispatched daily by train to Topsail, but were not sent over every day due to lack of a means of transportation. When the matter came up in the House [of Assembly] on May 7th, it was stated that 'the place has become important in the economic life of the Colony as 500 men were expected to be employed there that summer.'" [Source: Bown, p. 6, 1897]
The building in the foreground of the photo below is the first Government Building on Bell Island. Erected in the autumn of 1900, it contained the Customs, Magistrate, Police and Post offices and was known locally as "The Court House." It was located on Court House Hill at The Front. 1907 was the first year in which I found any mention in the media of Bell Island's first Post Office as having been located in this building, but it was probably there from the beginning. The 1901 Newfoundland Yearbook and Almanac was the first year that Belle Isle (Beach) was listed as a "Post Town." From a 1907 newspaper item, we learn that the office was only 10' x 12', which was typical for that time period. [This photo is copied from an album at the Bell Island Community Museum.]
In 1901, after mining had been underway for six years, for the first time, the "Post Town" for Belle Isle (Beach), St. John's East District, was listed as Bell Island; it was also noted that it was a money order office. At the same time, the Post Town for Belle Isle (Lance Cove), St. John's East District, was still listed as Topsail, as was Freshwater, Belle Isle. The information regarding Postmasters and Ferrymen remained the same. After 1901, there was no mention of postal service for Freshwater, Belle Isle.
The Daily News reported in July 1901 that, "The Greyhound, was the first steamer for the passenger service on The Tickle. She made three runs daily with mail and passengers. Her route was from Bell Island to Portugal Cove, from there to Broad Cove [St. Phillips] and then Topsail to connect with the train at Kelligrews, and returning to Bell Island by way of Lance Cove." [Source: Bown, p. 15, 1901]
Then, in 1903, "The steamer, Progress, started in service on The Tickle in early August. [The Greyhound had been sold in early 1902.] The Progress sailed from Pitts' wharf in St. John's with freight for Bell Island every Tuesday. On other days, she made a round trip from the Island via Portugal Cove to Kelligrews and return, connecting with trains and mails to and from St. John's." [Source: Bown, p. 17, 1903]
"In the spring of 1904, residents were petitioning for better mail service. The Daily News commented on April 4th, "...no section of the Colony contributes anything like the proportion of wealth to the public treasury; in the face of which, their mail service is abominable, the roads are neglected, and the wharf conveniences necessary for the trade of the place are practically valueless." [Source: Bown, p. 17, 1904]
The following mail information was given in the 1905 Newfoundland Yearbook and Almanac:
p. 77: "By Waggon [mode of transportation] for Portugal Cove and Bell Island every day (Sundays excepted). During winter, on Tuesdays and Fridays only.
Under "Ferries and Ferrymen," p. 197: Wm. Clements, Bell Isle, St. John's East District / Bell Isle to Topsail;
and Matthew Jackman, Portugal Cove, St. John's East District / Portugal Cove to Bell Isle.
In 1906, "The little steamer, Nereus, made her first appearance on the local service that summer, owned by Capt. Bartlett of Bell Island. She was being used in the mail and passenger service on the Tickle." [Source: Bown, p. 19, 1906]. Then later in 1906, The Nereus was still carrying the mail and "Mr. Jackman was still the mailman. The service was described as 'a marked improvement over the old system of carrying mails across in a skiff.'" [Source: Bown, p. 20, 1906]
In 1907, "A petition in the House of Assembly in March asked for a new post office to replace the 10 x 12 structure on Bell Island... A complaint was received in St. John's in the first week of August that the Bell Island Post Office, which was then located in the Court House [on Court House Hill] was closed on Regatta Day." [Source: Bown, p. 22, 1907]. And on p. 23, of Bown, "1,500 people were said to be living in the mining area at that time and they had to walk to and from the post office at The Front for mail. An agitation was started for a delivery office at the Mines [ie. Town Square area]. This came on October 8 when an office was set up with the Burke brothers in charge. [I believe this was near the bottom of Town Square on the east side, so across from the Bell Island Boys and Girls Club location.] At the same time, W.K. Murphy was appointed Postmaster at the Front."
Meanwhile, from the 1907 Newfoundland Yearbook and Almanac, p. 64, under "List of Post Offices in Newfoundland": "Bell Isle" in District of St. John's. Postmaster's name: Matthew Jackman. [The changes mentioned in Bown above had not been made when the 1907 edition was published.]
Lance Cove was named as a Post Town for the first time, with William Clements still Postmaster. The post town for Freshwater was also listed as Bell Island but there was no postmaster listed for Freshwater, so it may have been that William Clements in Lance Cove was the Postmaster for both communities. He was still listed as Ferryman for Bell Isle to Topsail and Jackman was still listed for Portugal Cove to Bell Isle.
The Daily News reported in July 1901 that, "The Greyhound, was the first steamer for the passenger service on The Tickle. She made three runs daily with mail and passengers. Her route was from Bell Island to Portugal Cove, from there to Broad Cove [St. Phillips] and then Topsail to connect with the train at Kelligrews, and returning to Bell Island by way of Lance Cove." [Source: Bown, p. 15, 1901]
Then, in 1903, "The steamer, Progress, started in service on The Tickle in early August. [The Greyhound had been sold in early 1902.] The Progress sailed from Pitts' wharf in St. John's with freight for Bell Island every Tuesday. On other days, she made a round trip from the Island via Portugal Cove to Kelligrews and return, connecting with trains and mails to and from St. John's." [Source: Bown, p. 17, 1903]
"In the spring of 1904, residents were petitioning for better mail service. The Daily News commented on April 4th, "...no section of the Colony contributes anything like the proportion of wealth to the public treasury; in the face of which, their mail service is abominable, the roads are neglected, and the wharf conveniences necessary for the trade of the place are practically valueless." [Source: Bown, p. 17, 1904]
The following mail information was given in the 1905 Newfoundland Yearbook and Almanac:
p. 77: "By Waggon [mode of transportation] for Portugal Cove and Bell Island every day (Sundays excepted). During winter, on Tuesdays and Fridays only.
Under "Ferries and Ferrymen," p. 197: Wm. Clements, Bell Isle, St. John's East District / Bell Isle to Topsail;
and Matthew Jackman, Portugal Cove, St. John's East District / Portugal Cove to Bell Isle.
In 1906, "The little steamer, Nereus, made her first appearance on the local service that summer, owned by Capt. Bartlett of Bell Island. She was being used in the mail and passenger service on the Tickle." [Source: Bown, p. 19, 1906]. Then later in 1906, The Nereus was still carrying the mail and "Mr. Jackman was still the mailman. The service was described as 'a marked improvement over the old system of carrying mails across in a skiff.'" [Source: Bown, p. 20, 1906]
In 1907, "A petition in the House of Assembly in March asked for a new post office to replace the 10 x 12 structure on Bell Island... A complaint was received in St. John's in the first week of August that the Bell Island Post Office, which was then located in the Court House [on Court House Hill] was closed on Regatta Day." [Source: Bown, p. 22, 1907]. And on p. 23, of Bown, "1,500 people were said to be living in the mining area at that time and they had to walk to and from the post office at The Front for mail. An agitation was started for a delivery office at the Mines [ie. Town Square area]. This came on October 8 when an office was set up with the Burke brothers in charge. [I believe this was near the bottom of Town Square on the east side, so across from the Bell Island Boys and Girls Club location.] At the same time, W.K. Murphy was appointed Postmaster at the Front."
Meanwhile, from the 1907 Newfoundland Yearbook and Almanac, p. 64, under "List of Post Offices in Newfoundland": "Bell Isle" in District of St. John's. Postmaster's name: Matthew Jackman. [The changes mentioned in Bown above had not been made when the 1907 edition was published.]
Lance Cove was named as a Post Town for the first time, with William Clements still Postmaster. The post town for Freshwater was also listed as Bell Island but there was no postmaster listed for Freshwater, so it may have been that William Clements in Lance Cove was the Postmaster for both communities. He was still listed as Ferryman for Bell Isle to Topsail and Jackman was still listed for Portugal Cove to Bell Isle.
By the time of the publication of the 1908 Newfoundland Yearbook and Almanac, Postmaster for Belle Isle was listed as W.K. Murphy, and the Postmaster for Belle Isle Mines was listed as Robert Burke. [This may have actually been Norbert Burke, who is listed as the Postmaster in the 1909 - 1911 Yearbooks.] The Postmaster for Lance Cove was still William Clements; there was no mention of Freshwater's postal service. Neither was there any mention of Jackman, Clements, Bell Island or Portugal Cove in the "Ferries and Ferrymen" listings. In 1909, Freshwater was listed with the Post Town of Bell Island, but no entry for Postmaster. Again there was no mention in "Ferries and Ferrymen" of Bell Island or Portugal Cove. However, in The Daily News in 1909, "Tenders were being called by the Postmaster General for the conveyance of mails and passengers by steamer between Kelligrews and Bell Island, calling at Portugal Cove and Broad Cove to connect with the train at Kelligrews twice daily, that is, with outgoing train from St. John's in the morning and with incoming train to St. John's in the evening." [Source: Bown, p. 28, 1909]
In the 1910 Newfoundland Yearbook and Almanac, for the first time, a Postmaster was listed for Freshwater, George Parsons.
In 1910, 12-year-old Charles Cox was engaged as a postal messenger during his summer holidays carrying messages from the telegraph office at The Front to the Mines because there was no telegraph or phone link between the two offices at that time. There was also no Davidson Avenue yet or other road link between Court House Hill and the Mines area, so people would walk the Dominion East ore-car track to get from one place to the other. Many even jumped on the moving ore cars to hitch a ride. Sadly, the young boy lost his life one July day when he was run over by an ore car while carrying out his duty. [Source: Bown, p. 31, 1910]
In 1911, "Because of an ice blockade that winter, only four mails were received between February 13 to March 6th." [Source: Bown, p. 35, 1911]
"On April 2nd, it was stated in the House that the mail subsidy to the Island was $2,800 per annum. Fares on the Cove Road by carriage were $4.00. The ferries were still calling at Kelligrews as well as Portugal Cove. In May, the Reid Newfoundland [Railway] Company were offering through fares from St. John's to Kelligrews and thence by boat to Bell Island for $1.25 first class and 95 cents second class." [Bown, p. 36, 1911]
In 1912, "On May 1st, the Postmaster General called for tenders for the erection of a postal telegraph building at the Mines. This service* was previously carried out exclusively from the Front of the Island. The Wabana Druggist [a monthly periodical edited and published by Louis Lawton] protested that the specifications were too small and it would be outgrown in a few years." [Source: Bown, p. 38, 1912] *I think Bown is referring to the telegraph part of the service as the postal part had been set up at the Mines in October 1907. See above.
In 1913, "A Bill known as 'A Bill Relating to Construction of Tramways on Bell Island' was introduced in the House of Assembly on April 2. It gave the Bell Island Transportation Company a 50-year franchise to operate a tramway on the Island. The Government voted $1,000 annually toward the upkeep of a wharf, which was then being built, and an annual subsidy of $100 for carrying the mail over the hill." [Source: Bown, p. 41, 1913]
By 1915, "Miss Minnie Murphy was Postmistress at the Mines [Post] Office, which was still a branch office. All mail was first sorted at The Front [Post Office]." [Source: Bown, p. 48, 1915]
In 1921, "The whole of Conception Bay was frozen over on February 2nd. Only one mail was received at the Island in a fortnight and that was brought across the ice from Horse Cove." ... A letter to the editor of The Daily News of February 4th, and signed 'Scotia Ridge,' asked, '...seeing that it was planned to send an airplane to Labrador with mail, why not send one to Bell Island?' The suggestion was not adopted until the following year." [Source: Bown, p. 63, 1921]
"Bell Island received its first air mail on February 1, 1922." [Source: Bown, p. 66, 1922]. Bown described the first "airmail" delivery to Bell Island: "The bundles were dropped from the plane from a height of 100 feet as it circled low over the Island. The plane did not attempt to land, and another 10 years were to pass before the first airplane landing took place on the Island." [Source: Bown, p. 67, 1922]
In 1926, "A post office branch was opened at West Mines with James R. Butler, postmaster, and Thomas Power, mail courier." [Source: Bown, p. 14, 1926]
In 1927, "Miss Bride Hammond resigned as postmistress at the Mines; she was succeeded by Miss Bride Jackman." [Source: Bown, p. 18, 1927] Kathleen Davis was assistant to Bride Jackman in 1928. [Source: Bown, p. 26, 1928]
"A new system was instigated for mail sorting to Bell Island in the spring [of 1928]. Up to this time, all mail for the Island went to the Front Post Office first, where it was sorted for the Mines. From now on, mail for the Front and the Mines was sorted at the General Post Office in St. John's and sent to the Island in separate bags." [Source: Bown, p. 23, 1928]
In February 1930, "Thieves broke into the Mines Post Office, which was then located on Town Square, and hacked open the cash register with an axe." [Source: Bown, p. 31, 1930]
In 1931, "It was noted that in spite of hard times, business was booming at the money-order wicket of the post office as residents laid in a stock [of liquor] for Christmas." [Source: Bown, p. 42, 1931]
In 1932, "Due to Government economies, postal deliveries to West Mines and Lance Cove were reduced to three per week." [Source: Bown, p. 43, 1932]
"Nathan Cohen's lower store on Town Square and the dwelling of Elias Gosine and family were destroyed by fire on April 10th [1932]. The firemen saved the Mines Post Office and the home of W.F. Billingsley." [Source: Bown, p. 44, 1932]
In 1932, "Drastic reductions were made in local postal services due to economies in the public service. The West Mines branch was closed and the Front office was converted into a branch. D.J. Jackman took over the Mines Post Office. The telegraph office was moved from the Front to the Mines Post Office." [Source: Bown, p. 47, 1932]
"As an economy in the postal service, the telephone line from the Front to the Mines Post Office was dispensed with that fall [of 1934] ... For 6 days, ending January 2nd [1935], no mail was delivered to the Island due to the Beach Hill being impassable [due to snow] and a dispute between the Government and the Bell Island Transportation Company, whose charter to carry the mail over the hill on the Tramway had expired in 1934." Meanwhile, "a new Post Office was being built on Bennett Street by James Case. It occupied the site where Bowring Brothers store" was located in the early 1960s, ie. a few hundred feet east of the intersection with what is now Steve Neary Boulevard. "Applications were being received for the position of Postmaster. [Meanwhile,] Kathleen Davis had resigned from the Front [Post] Office. Her sister, Marjorie, was in charge of the Front Post Office." The new government building on Bennett Street, housing the Post Office and Postal-Telegraph Office, and measuring 25' x 45', opened on March 12th, replacing the former Post Office on Town Square, "which had been the subject of many protests and complaints because of its size." [Source: Bown, p. 56, 1934-35]
In the photo below, looking east on Bennett Street from the intersection with what was then the East Track, the white, flat-roofed building just left of center was Bowring Brothers store in the early 1960s. This was the location of the government building that housed the Post Office and Postal-Telegraph Office from 1935 to 1942. [I am not certain at this time if it was the same building.] [Photo #65 of Southey Collection, courtesy of A&SC, MUN Library]
In the 1910 Newfoundland Yearbook and Almanac, for the first time, a Postmaster was listed for Freshwater, George Parsons.
In 1910, 12-year-old Charles Cox was engaged as a postal messenger during his summer holidays carrying messages from the telegraph office at The Front to the Mines because there was no telegraph or phone link between the two offices at that time. There was also no Davidson Avenue yet or other road link between Court House Hill and the Mines area, so people would walk the Dominion East ore-car track to get from one place to the other. Many even jumped on the moving ore cars to hitch a ride. Sadly, the young boy lost his life one July day when he was run over by an ore car while carrying out his duty. [Source: Bown, p. 31, 1910]
In 1911, "Because of an ice blockade that winter, only four mails were received between February 13 to March 6th." [Source: Bown, p. 35, 1911]
"On April 2nd, it was stated in the House that the mail subsidy to the Island was $2,800 per annum. Fares on the Cove Road by carriage were $4.00. The ferries were still calling at Kelligrews as well as Portugal Cove. In May, the Reid Newfoundland [Railway] Company were offering through fares from St. John's to Kelligrews and thence by boat to Bell Island for $1.25 first class and 95 cents second class." [Bown, p. 36, 1911]
In 1912, "On May 1st, the Postmaster General called for tenders for the erection of a postal telegraph building at the Mines. This service* was previously carried out exclusively from the Front of the Island. The Wabana Druggist [a monthly periodical edited and published by Louis Lawton] protested that the specifications were too small and it would be outgrown in a few years." [Source: Bown, p. 38, 1912] *I think Bown is referring to the telegraph part of the service as the postal part had been set up at the Mines in October 1907. See above.
In 1913, "A Bill known as 'A Bill Relating to Construction of Tramways on Bell Island' was introduced in the House of Assembly on April 2. It gave the Bell Island Transportation Company a 50-year franchise to operate a tramway on the Island. The Government voted $1,000 annually toward the upkeep of a wharf, which was then being built, and an annual subsidy of $100 for carrying the mail over the hill." [Source: Bown, p. 41, 1913]
By 1915, "Miss Minnie Murphy was Postmistress at the Mines [Post] Office, which was still a branch office. All mail was first sorted at The Front [Post Office]." [Source: Bown, p. 48, 1915]
In 1921, "The whole of Conception Bay was frozen over on February 2nd. Only one mail was received at the Island in a fortnight and that was brought across the ice from Horse Cove." ... A letter to the editor of The Daily News of February 4th, and signed 'Scotia Ridge,' asked, '...seeing that it was planned to send an airplane to Labrador with mail, why not send one to Bell Island?' The suggestion was not adopted until the following year." [Source: Bown, p. 63, 1921]
"Bell Island received its first air mail on February 1, 1922." [Source: Bown, p. 66, 1922]. Bown described the first "airmail" delivery to Bell Island: "The bundles were dropped from the plane from a height of 100 feet as it circled low over the Island. The plane did not attempt to land, and another 10 years were to pass before the first airplane landing took place on the Island." [Source: Bown, p. 67, 1922]
In 1926, "A post office branch was opened at West Mines with James R. Butler, postmaster, and Thomas Power, mail courier." [Source: Bown, p. 14, 1926]
In 1927, "Miss Bride Hammond resigned as postmistress at the Mines; she was succeeded by Miss Bride Jackman." [Source: Bown, p. 18, 1927] Kathleen Davis was assistant to Bride Jackman in 1928. [Source: Bown, p. 26, 1928]
"A new system was instigated for mail sorting to Bell Island in the spring [of 1928]. Up to this time, all mail for the Island went to the Front Post Office first, where it was sorted for the Mines. From now on, mail for the Front and the Mines was sorted at the General Post Office in St. John's and sent to the Island in separate bags." [Source: Bown, p. 23, 1928]
In February 1930, "Thieves broke into the Mines Post Office, which was then located on Town Square, and hacked open the cash register with an axe." [Source: Bown, p. 31, 1930]
In 1931, "It was noted that in spite of hard times, business was booming at the money-order wicket of the post office as residents laid in a stock [of liquor] for Christmas." [Source: Bown, p. 42, 1931]
In 1932, "Due to Government economies, postal deliveries to West Mines and Lance Cove were reduced to three per week." [Source: Bown, p. 43, 1932]
"Nathan Cohen's lower store on Town Square and the dwelling of Elias Gosine and family were destroyed by fire on April 10th [1932]. The firemen saved the Mines Post Office and the home of W.F. Billingsley." [Source: Bown, p. 44, 1932]
In 1932, "Drastic reductions were made in local postal services due to economies in the public service. The West Mines branch was closed and the Front office was converted into a branch. D.J. Jackman took over the Mines Post Office. The telegraph office was moved from the Front to the Mines Post Office." [Source: Bown, p. 47, 1932]
"As an economy in the postal service, the telephone line from the Front to the Mines Post Office was dispensed with that fall [of 1934] ... For 6 days, ending January 2nd [1935], no mail was delivered to the Island due to the Beach Hill being impassable [due to snow] and a dispute between the Government and the Bell Island Transportation Company, whose charter to carry the mail over the hill on the Tramway had expired in 1934." Meanwhile, "a new Post Office was being built on Bennett Street by James Case. It occupied the site where Bowring Brothers store" was located in the early 1960s, ie. a few hundred feet east of the intersection with what is now Steve Neary Boulevard. "Applications were being received for the position of Postmaster. [Meanwhile,] Kathleen Davis had resigned from the Front [Post] Office. Her sister, Marjorie, was in charge of the Front Post Office." The new government building on Bennett Street, housing the Post Office and Postal-Telegraph Office, and measuring 25' x 45', opened on March 12th, replacing the former Post Office on Town Square, "which had been the subject of many protests and complaints because of its size." [Source: Bown, p. 56, 1934-35]
In the photo below, looking east on Bennett Street from the intersection with what was then the East Track, the white, flat-roofed building just left of center was Bowring Brothers store in the early 1960s. This was the location of the government building that housed the Post Office and Postal-Telegraph Office from 1935 to 1942. [I am not certain at this time if it was the same building.] [Photo #65 of Southey Collection, courtesy of A&SC, MUN Library]
In 1937, "An ice blockade lasted from February 1st to mid-March. The Maneco was frozen in at Bell Island and its crew brought the mail over on catamaran whenever possible." [Source: Bown, p. 63, 1937]
"There was no mail from December 29, 1937 to January 3, 1938; electricity was frequently cut off due to a succession of storms." ... "Ice came in the middle of February and ferry service was discontinued for 45 days. The Maneco left Portugal Cove on the 17th and took three days to butt her way to the Scotia Pier...Bell Island was completely surrounded by ice and a solid bridge across The Tickle enabled men and horses to move freely across. After The Maneco became blocked in, her crew took to the ice with a komatik and a team of dogs to carry the mail back and forth, thus carrying out their contract to deliver the mail." [Source: Bown, p. 69, 1938]
From 1942 to 1958, Bell Island's main Post Office was located in the present-day Public Building on Bennett Street, which is just opposite the intersection with Steve Neary Boulevard. This is the cream-coloured building in the left of the photo below. [Photo #75 of Southey Collection, courtesy of A&SC, MUN Library]
"There was no mail from December 29, 1937 to January 3, 1938; electricity was frequently cut off due to a succession of storms." ... "Ice came in the middle of February and ferry service was discontinued for 45 days. The Maneco left Portugal Cove on the 17th and took three days to butt her way to the Scotia Pier...Bell Island was completely surrounded by ice and a solid bridge across The Tickle enabled men and horses to move freely across. After The Maneco became blocked in, her crew took to the ice with a komatik and a team of dogs to carry the mail back and forth, thus carrying out their contract to deliver the mail." [Source: Bown, p. 69, 1938]
From 1942 to 1958, Bell Island's main Post Office was located in the present-day Public Building on Bennett Street, which is just opposite the intersection with Steve Neary Boulevard. This is the cream-coloured building in the left of the photo below. [Photo #75 of Southey Collection, courtesy of A&SC, MUN Library]
Evening Telegram, July 25, 1957, p. 3: new Federal Post Office building.
Daily News, Feb. 4, 1958: Federal Post Office
Daily News, Feb. 4, 1958: Federal Post Office