Iona
Rams Islands
Abandoned Town
Iona (Harbour Island), 2012
Iona (Harbour Island), 2012
Iona is located in Newfoundland
Iona
Iona
Location of Iona in Newfoundland
Coordinates: 47°25′35.4″N 53°58′22.2″W / 47.426500°N 53.972833°W / 47.426500; -53.972833
Country Canada
Province Newfoundland and Labrador
Census divisionDivision 1
Census subdivisionSubdivision B
Population
 (1951)
 • Total36[1]
Time zoneUTC-3:30 (Newfoundland Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-2:30 (Newfoundland Daylight)
Area code709
BayPlacentia Bay

Iona was a small community in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador made up of small islands that used to be inhabited. The islands were once called The Ram's or Ram's Islands.[1]

History

The population was reported to be 197 in the 1836 Census (the most populous island in Placentia Bay at the time), 100 in 1921 and 67 in 1940.[1] Iona was originally settled by Irish Roman Catholics,[1] which included but not limited to, the surnames of Griffin, Bruce, Fitzpatrick, Murphy, Sweeney, McFarrell (later McFarlane), Duke, Pope, Newman, Northover, Bird, Whiffen, and King.[2] The depression of the 1930s severely impacted the Island's people, causing many people to leave and find work. Also, in 1935 a lightning storm struck and destroyed the Island's school, in the next year the small church located on the island was destroyed by fire, and in 1937 a North Atlantic storm splintered the Island's fleet, and washed away many homes and sheds.[3] Most of the families who migrated from the island moved to the close communities of Ship Harbour, Fox Harbour and Long Harbour.[4]

Aerial photo of Iona (Harbour Island), 1940s

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, Volume 3. St. John's, NL, Canada. 1991. p. 66. Retrieved 11 November 2021.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ↑ "1921 Census - Ram's Island". Newfoundland's Grand Banks. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "Island Harbors Mystery". Calgary Herald. 7 May 1960. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  4. ↑ Butler, Victor (1977). Sposin' I dies in d' dory. St. John's, Nfld.: Jesperson. ISBN 0920502008.
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