Stephenville Crossing, Newfoundland

History of Stephenville Crossing

(INC. 1958; pop. 1991, 2172). Stephenville Crossing is located at the head of St. George's Bay qv, between Stephenville and St. George's qqv. The community, lying on a flat flood plain, with its western side exposed to a rocky beach, was nearly demolished in 1951 by a December storm that swept away breastworks and covered it with four feet of water.

The first settlers at what is now known as Stephenville Crossing were farming families, including the Benoits, Lucases and Alexanders (who probably moved there from Sandy Point qv) and the Young family, who were fishing at Seal Cove.

In the 1890s the area, which had previously been known as La Grange or The Prairie, became a substantial camp for laborers working on railway construction (and in particular on the bridging of the Gut) and for loggers cutting railway ties. When the line was completed, The Crossing became a regional headquarters for sectionmen, and the railhead for Stephenville and the Port au Port Peninsula.

A notable early settler was Joseph O'Keefe of Placentia, the first station master, and by the mid-1910s Charles McFatridge of Sandy Point had established a general business and Antonio Nardini had established a lumber mill by the River. With the coming of the railway a substantial dairy farm was begun in the area by Charles White, whose name is commemorated in the neighborhood of White's Road, just to the north of The Crossing. Two creameries, manufacturing butter and oleomargarine, were established during World War 1.

Stephenville Crossing first appeared in the Census in 1901, with a population of 112. Increasing to 156 in 1911 and to 512 by 1935, by 1945 the population had reached 925. With the development of the U.S. Air Force base at Stephenville during World War 11, The Crossing became an important transshipment point for mail, supplies and travellers.

For nearly 30 years it was also the health care center for the Port au Port Peninsula, with an eight- bed cottage hospital being opened in 1937. When the American base was phased out in 1966, medical services were relocated to the former base hospital in Stephenville. Although the railway remained the major employer, there was 1 employment in cutting pulpwood after the Comer Brook pulp and paper mill was 1 opened in 1925, while there was also a small amount of herring and lobster fishing.

The effects of the closing of the base in 1966 were initially somewhat blunted by construction of the Labrador Linerboard mill between The Crossing and Stephenville (see PULP AND PAPER), which operated as a linerboard mill from 1972 to 1977, when it was purchased by Abitibi-Price and modified for the production of paper. But the unemployment problem was exacerbated by the scaling-down of railway services, culminating in their closing in 1988.

Gilbert Higgins (interview, Nov. 1993), G.M. Story (interview, Dec. 1993), Wayne Watton (1969), Census (1901-1991), Tempus Fugit Carpe Diem (1976; 19771 1978. Archives (A-7-2/Q). BARRY MOORES. From ENCYCLOPEDIA NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR.

The population of Stephenville Crossing has remained approx. the same since this interview was done in 1991. The main source of employment in the town is a large Senior Complex, operated by the Western Health Care Corporation . Many of the towns residents are also employed in the neighboring town of Stephenville.

The scenery around Stephenville Crossing is quite breathtaking.
Here are some photos showing how beautiful our area of the province is.

Click on the smaller image to see a larger view.