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Becoming strangers in a new town would have seemed daunting to those leaving small, isolated communities. It often meant saying goodbye to a support network of friends and family who they may never see again. It also meant adjusting to life in a much larger community than they were used to and leaving their old ways of life behind. Fortunately, it also came with a number of positives as well. With welcoming neighbors, accessible services, and modern conveniences, families were often able to settle into their new lives with ease. Living in larger areas, they could now enjoy electricity and running water, along with a number of new home fixtures such as lights, bathtubs, stoves and fridges. They also had access to facilities like medical care, postal services, larger schools, grocery and department stores which had been limited to them living in isolation.2
Due to this, most families affected by the resettlement program often look back on their decision to move as a good thing. In hindsight, most people are glad to have been able to leave the hardships of the towns behind for an easier, more convenient life in Milltown and Head Bay d'Espoir. Many did it with their children and grandchildren in mind, awarding them the opportunities for education and future that were not available to them before the resettlement. Many were also thankful for the accessibility of medical care, and are far better off than they would have been living in the isolated communities, especially in their older age.3
Crowd gathered to fufill the last wishes of Bill Chapman, to have his ashes spread in Rencontre West1990-2000
Rencontre West, Newfoundland, Canada
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Pushthrough Reunion of 19911991
Pushthrough, Newfoundland, Canada
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Pushthrough Reunion of 19911991
Pushthrough, Newfoundland, Canada
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Mock Pushthrough Trade in honor of the ReunionPushthrough Reunion, 1991
Pushthrough, Newfoundland, Canada
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Despite all the good that resulted from the resettlement program, there are still those who miss their homes left behind on the coast, and wish they could return to that way of life. Many of these once vibrant communities remain as they were abandoned nearly 50 years ago. Some still have structures and items which have remained since the resettlement, others now used as sites for family cabins, and some are entirely empty without any hints of previous life.While returning to their previous ways of life would be difficult if not impossible, it is important for efforts to be made to preserve the history of these communities, as well as their people, in order to keep their heritage alive.
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The ruins of what used to be a schoolhouse9 July 2005
Rencontre West, Newfoundland, Canada
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What is left of a home in Rencontre West9 July 2005
Rencontre West, Newfoundland, Canada
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Remains of the foundation of a home, overgrown with vegetation3 August 2013
Pushthrough, Newfoundland, Canada
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Remains of the foundation of a home, overgrown with trees3 August 2013
Pushthrough, Newfoundland, Canada
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The remains of the Pushthrough trade buildingPushthrough Reunion, 1991
Pushthrough, Newfoundland, Canada
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