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Businesses Related to Shipbuilding (Con Fitzpatrick)2004
Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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Businesses Related to Shipbuilding (Con Fitzpatrick)The tradition of building ships in Mortier Bay was driven by the many business firms in the area.
Reddy Bros. Ltd. was established in 1896, lasting into the 1980s.
In 1897, Joseph Baker started in business, as well as Michael T. Flynn around the same time.
In 1912, G & A Buffett Ltd. was established; and also in 1912, Marystown Trading Company Ltd. owned by G.C. Harris was started up.
J.W. Wiscombe Ltd. started in 1923 and James Baird Ltd. (a St. John's firm) came to Marystown in the 1930s.
T.F. Murley Ltd. established in the 1940s and is still in business today.
Those businesses were involved in fishing and the processing of fish. They also ran retail stores in the Marystown area. Their proud Mortier Bay schooners traded salt fish and freight goods in many parts of the world.
Also driving the shipbuilding were the shipyards on Brake's Beach, established by government: The Marystown Co-operative Enterprises Ltd. from 1939-41; the Marystown (Longliner) Shipyard 1959-1966; the Newfoundland Marine Works Ltd., from 1967-73; the Marystown Shipping Enterprises Ltd. from 1974-78; the Marystown Shipyard Ltd. from 1979-97; then sold to an American company, Friede Goldman (Newfoundland) Ltd. from 1998-2001; and in 2002, taken over by American company Kiewit Offshore Services Ltd., who currently own the shipyard and Cow Head facility.
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The Marystown Trading Company in Baldwin's Cove.1913
Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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The Marystown Trading Company was owned by Samuel Harris and carried on a retail and salt fish exporting business. The operation closed out in 1923.5
The Marystown Trading Company1913
Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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Five three-masted tern schooners, of about 150-190 tons each, were built for Samuel Harris after World War I. Renowned as the Generals, the schooners were called after British Generals who fought in various conflicts and wars. They were called the General Smutz, General Allenby, General Maude, General Trenchard, and General Wood.7
An image of Reddy Bros., one of Marystown's oldest businesses.1982
Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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In 1896, Mr. Hugh Reddy moved from Burin to Mortier Bay to set up a business, Reddy Bros. Ltd. He built his own large schooners, boats and dories and completely fitted the schooners for the bank fishery as well as supplying many private fishermen. This was the start of a new era in shipbuilding in Mortier Bay.9
The Schooner Commander at the premises of Reddy Bros. Ltd. in 1904.1904
Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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The Schooner Commander at the premises of Reddy Bros. Ltd. in 1904. The Schooner Commander carried dried and salted codfish to Halifax from the Reddy Bros. premises.11
The E. J. Reddy schooner photographed in June 1915.June, 1915
Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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Some of the earliest of records of shipbuilding in Marystown date back to 1908, when the schooner E.J. Reddy was built not far from today's Canning Bridge. This 50-ton schooner was built for Mr. Hugh Reddy and was constructed by Mr. Tom Palfrey of Placentia with a work force from the Marystown area. Other vessels that were built for the Reddy's fishing business included the salt bankers Mary Reddy and Western Queen.13
James Baird Limited operated a retail and salt fish premises in Baird's Cove.1938
Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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James Baird Limited operated a retail and export salt fish premises in Baird's Cove. |
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