
The Government Wharf
Governments of the day built wharves in outport Newfoundland to boost the fishery and to accommodate the moving of passengers and freight by coastal boats mainly due to the fact that most of those communities were not connected by road to the Trans Canada Highway. Vital at the time for the purpose intended, the wharves over time would become an integral part of the infrastructure.
Many of the wharves served multiple purposes. Jutting off from the shoreline out a considerable distance they served as breakwaters, protecting smaller wharves and stages from being destroyed by severe weather.
Government wharves were very beneficial in the fact that they provided anglers with countless hours of recreational fishery for cod, squid and the elusive mackerel. It made a food source more readily available to many not equipped to pursue it at sea. Majestic icebergs and whales were now in close proximity to be viewed, admired and photographed by locals and tourists.
Children returning to outport Newfoundland for the summertime, after being "imprisoned" so to speak in Mainland Canada, enjoyed the freedom of fishing from these wharves under the watchful eyes of their parents. Here they could familiarize themselves with the different species of fish.
Frowned upon now, but back in the day many chose the government wharf as a spot to gather and drink a few beer, keeping a watchful eye out for the law while their evidence of their breaking the law were the long necked bottles floating around in the waters of the cove (before the days of returning empties).
It may be a feeble attempt to inject a bit of humour, but one day my aunt and uncle were parked on the wharf in my hometown, close to the perimeter. Some young chap made an attempt to pass between the car and the side of the wharf, at the very same time my aunt decided to open the car door. Needless to say the poor guy ended up in the "drink".
On a downturn, wharves have been the scenes of many tragedies over the years. Many tragedies were caused by individuals who let their guard down intentionally or unintentionally.
On a moonlight night the government wharf provided a perfect spot for those pursuing romance. A place to whisper "sweet nothings" in one another's ears. A place to make promises, some of which were kept and some of which were broken.
Before the network of roads were complete, helicopters used the wharf as landing pads. Aircraft were used to ensure that politicians got to visit communities in their ridings. In my particular area of the province names like Fred Rowe and Charlie Grainger come to mind. It was always a big attraction for the locals.
The arrival of the coastal boat to the government wharf was always a welcome change from the mundane moments of the cove. As boys we were drawn as if by a magnet to the activity about to occur. We would observe with great detail, who and what got off the ship and who and what got on it. An array of things came by steamers –passengers, livestock, automobiles, provisions and much more were scrutinized by our young minds as everything was unloaded from the ship, wondering where it all originated from.
I recall on quiet Sunday mornings, men of the community making their way to the weekly gathering on the wharf to exchange views and opinions of the weeks happenings at home and abroad until the appointed time for their mid-day meal.
The above reflections come from 70 years living in outport Newfoundland, in the community of Seal Cove, NL.
Gary Rideout
Pasadena, NL
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