EXTRAS
UNUSUAL OCCURRENCES
by Gail Hussey-Weir
Created Jan. 2020 / Updated Mar. 2026
THE BELL ISLAND BOOM of 1978
This is a Wikipedia description of "The Bell Island Boom" of April 1978:

On April 2, 1978, there was a loud explosion in Bickfordville on the southwestern side of Bell Island which caused damage to some houses and the electrical house wiring in the surrounding area. Two cup-shaped holes in the ground of about two feet deep and three feet wide marked the major impact. Some TV sets in the neighbouring community of Lance Cove exploded at the time of the blast. It was initially thought to be caused by ball lightning. Meteorologists stated that atmospheric conditions at the time were not conducive to lightning. The boom was heard 55 kilometers away in Cape Broyle.

The incident was investigated by scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Some people speculated that they were investigating a secret weapons test and were military attachés. However, it is now believed they were investigating a "superbolt" – an unusually large bolt of lightning, lasting an unusually long time: about a thousandth of a second.

​Source: Wikipedia article on "Bell Island (Newfoundland and Labrador)."
The following are the only articles I have found so far published by local newspapers of the time regarding "The Bell Island Boom." I have not been able to access the St. John's Evening Telegram, however, some of the articles are from the Corner Brook Western Star, which was a 
subsidiary to the Evening Telegram, and republished major articles from it.

NOTE: Bickfordville is a small community immediately west of Lance Cove, Bell Island.

The first article below is from the St. John's Daily News, Apr. 3, 1978, p. 1:
From The Daily News, Apr. 4, 1978, p. 1
From the Western Star, (Corner Brook) Apr. 4, 1978, p. 1
This photo, showing James Bickford pointing out damage to his electrical panel caused by the blast that hit his property, and the next picture, are from the Western Star, (Corner Brook) Apr. 6, 1978, p. 2  
A newspaper clipping from the Western Star of Apr. 8, 1978, p. 1, regarding mysterious booms heard by Nova Scotians and people down the U.S. Eastern Seaboard in the months leading up to the Bell Island "Boom" of April 2nd.
On April 11, 1978, a week after "The Bell Island Boom" occurred, the following story appeared on page 3 of The Daily News in regard to a loud noise heard in Brigus, just north of Bell Island in  Conception Bay. In this story, the cause of "The Bell Island Boom" is attributed to "super lightning."
The following article from the Western Star, June 15, 1978, p. 1, relates one of several theories put forward as to the cause of "The Bell Island Boom," however, no definitive explanation is known to have been found.
Shortly after the event, CBC TV made a good investigative documentary searching for explanations of what might have caused the "Bell Island Boom." It can be found on Youtube with the title "The Mystery Bell Island Boom, April 2, 1978."

For the story of a massive lightning strike on Bell Island in an earlier time period, see the 1896 story next.
* * *
AN 1896 LIGHTNING STRIKE
From the Daily News of November 11, 1896:

"At about 9:30 p.m. on Monday, November 9th, the inhabitants of Belle Isle witnessed an extraordinary flash of lightning. It lasted for five seconds and was the most powerful ever experienced. Its attraction is attributed to the immense bed of iron ore on the island."

Note: Hematite, which is what Wabana's iron ore consists of, is non-magnetic. 
MINOR EARTHQUAKE?
In the summer of 1907, part of the north side of Bell Island disappeared into the sea as a result of two thunder storms, one on July 13th and one less than a week later on the 19th. The section that foundered was about two acres. It was presumed that there may have been a minor earthquake.

Source: Daily News, as reported by Addison Bown in "Newspaper History of Bell Island," V. 1, p. 22, 1907.
RAGING BULL
One day in 1932, a bull was being led through Town Square when it saw its reflection in the plate glass windows of Nathan Cohen's store and, thinking it was seeing another bull, charged through the window, shattering the glass and causing general chaos.

Source: Addison Bown, "Newspaper History of Bell Island," V. 2, p. 47, 1932.
AN UNUSUAL FIND
From the Daily News, July 21, 1942, first reported in The Bell Islander: "There was much speculation over a find made in a garden at the Back of the Island last week when Clyde, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Ivany, went into his garden on Wednesday morning, July 15th, and found a strange contraption attached to a balloon. The balloon was broken and the box was lying on the ground. It measured 9 inches by 8 inches by 4 inches and contained a number of coils and wires like a radio set. The box had a label asking that it be returned to the Superintendent of the Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C. The box was taken to the Post Office where it was prepared by Mr. H.S. Butler for mailing to Washington."
MOOSE SWIMS TICKLE
On October 9, 1981, a yearling moose swan the three miles across The Tickle, coming ashore on The Beach. In an attempt to escape the gathering crowd of onlookers, he made his way up a narrow path on the side of the cliff but had to turn back and take the paved Beach Hill instead. At the top of the hill, he turned east down Long Harry Road, where he entered the woods in the area 
of the Lighthouse. He explored that part of the Island for about 10 days before finding his way to the more densely wooded area of Lance Cove/Freshwater, where he made his home for the next 13 years.

Read the full story of Belle the Moose in "Animal Stories" under "Extras" in the top menu.