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History Of Conception Bay South

Conception Bay South is one of Newfoundland's newest towns made up of some of Newfoundland's oldest settlements. The name Conception Bay came from the Portuguese Baia de Conceicao or Comceica, presumably given in honour of the Feast of the Conception, December 8th.

Conception Bay South, incorporated in 1973, runs along the gentle slopes and saltwater lagoons and low beaches of Old Manuels Riversoutheastern Conception Bay. The settlements of Conception Bay South--Topsail, Chamberlains, Manuels, Foxtrap, Long Pond, Kelligrews, Upper Gullies, Lawerence Pond and Seal Cove--were settled about two to three hundred years ago between the mid-1700's mid-1800's by independent individuals. These settlers, a mixture of English and Irish, found that they could fish and farm while the low slopinging inland valleys provided good farmland and wood for the St. John's market as well as firewood and wood for fish flakes.

Beginning around Topsail, the first settlers built close to the shore and built inland woods roads or slide paths. Settlement then spread inland along the slide paths as land was cleared for farming. These old woods roads are now the modern network of local roads and scattered housing--over 60 miles of local roads--which were difficult and costly to maintain and service.

By the mid-1800's, Conception Bay was booming. One of the only places outside St. John's with roads, churches, schools and a railway. But, the coming of the railway to the south shore of Conception Bay in 1880-1881 sparked what is perhaps one the most f amous legends of any Newfoundland community, The Battle of Foxtrap

Local residents of Foxtrap, resistant to the rumour that toll gates to tax residents would be erected at the railway crossings across their fertile land, rioted for five days with pitchforks, broomsticks and shovels to stop the coming of the iron horse. St. John's newspapers ran riot with four-decker headlines:

ARMED RESISTANCE TO THE RAILROAD
FOXTRAP TO THE RESCUE
NATIVE AMAZONIAN TROOPS IN THE FIELD
LATEST NEWS FROM THE FRONT

Despite the resistance of Foxtrap residents, the railway eventually reached Harbour Grace by 1884. The coming of the train meant pleasure trips and travel around southern Conception Bay to Holywood where steamships left for the Conception Bay ports of Brigus, Bay Roberts, Harbour Grace and Carbonear.

In 1885, the Villa Nova Orphanage and Industrial School was opened at Power's Court, Manuels, under the supervision of Father William Morris, who died tragically during a typhoid outbreak in 1889 which also claimed a number of the orphan wards who are buried in a cemetery in Manuels.

By the turn of the century came the end of the great seal fishing and marine merchant trade and the coming of the motor car bringing loads of St. John's tourists to bask in the sun on Topsail beach and promenade on the boardwalk.

Summer houses had sprung up and were becoming year-round homes after the First World War. Many people commuted by boat or shifted to Bell Island to work in Wabana's mines on Bell Island which operated from 1893 to their closure in the 1960s.

The communities of southeastern Conception Bay continued to grow and spread between the two World Wars, building homes wherever land was available, most without water and sewage.

Some small groups believed after Confederation that incorporation was the only answer to building a modern, clean, well-serviced town. Others feared the loss of rights, property taxes and other heavy expenditures for services they could ill afford.

It was not until 1970 that a Citizens Committee of 18 to 20 residents from all communities on the Shore met with government to begin the task of incorporation beginning with a vast campaign to poll residents by secret ballot about whether they wanted municipal government. In 1971 six communities--Topsail, Chamberlains, Manuels, Long Pond, Kelligrews and Upper Guillies were incorporated as the Local Improvement District of Conception Bay South.

"Together We Stand" is the motto chosen by the town fathers of Conception Bay South at its incorpation in 1971 as the Local Improvement District of Conception Bay South. Incorporation brought together the communities of Topsail, Chamberlains, Manuels, Long Pond, Kelligrews, Upper Gullies and the Conception Bay Highway in Seal Cove. Conception Bay South continued to grow with the addition of Foxtrap, Seal Cove and Lawerence Pond on January 1, 1986. In 1987, it had over 15,000 people along its more than 20 miles of low, sloping coastline and its many river valleys. Along with the town's own motto, coat of arms and logo, CBS also has it's own town song.


Conception Bay South Chronology


1700 to 1800   First settlers move around Topsail.
1800 to 1900 Settlement begins to spread inland along woods roads and along sloping shores.
1881 to 1882 Battle of Foxtrap. Local residents resist the coming of the railway.
1884 Railway completed to Harbour Grace.
1885 Villa Nova Orphanage and Industrial School, manuels, opens under the supervision of Father William Morris.
1914 to 1945 Population grows; more housing and settlement; market area St. John's; many people commute to work in war jobs.
1949 Newfoundland joins Canada in Confederation.
1970 Local committee formed for incorporation
1971 Community ballot taken. Topsail, Chamberlains, Manuels, Long Pond, Upper Gullies say YES; Foxtrap and Seal Cove say NO.
1973 Local Improvement District of Conception Bay South incorporated. Ward system instituted.
1977 Foxtrap incorporated in Conception Bay South. Over 800 citizens petition government to have incorporation overturned.
1978 Citizens Committee initiates court actions; Minister of Municipal Affairs overturns incorporation.
1986 Foxtrap and Seal Cove incorporated Conception Bay South



Coat of Arms

Newfoundland is represented by a moose, England by a lion, Canada by the maple leaf, and the nine communities incorporated in the town by nine gold crowns. A tuna symbolizes the industry for which Conception Bay South is most famous. The town's earliest settlers are portrayed by the farmer and fisherman. Fir trees depicted by the countryside. The white background refers to the town's only major industry, talc mining. The other colors are drawn from those worn by sports teams from the various communities making up the town. The motto, "Together We Stand", underscores the strong bond that exists among the town's people.

Town Logo

Town Logo The logo symbolizes the elements of the Town of Conception Bay South. The circle represents the Town's motto, "Together We Stand" as it embraces the nine communities which make up Conception Bay South. Inside the circle are the four elements of the natural world in the Town -- wind, water, earth and man. The house represents the Town's fishing and farming heritage. The sea waves represent our unique coastal habitat. The seagull represents wildlife and the sailboat our marine past and recreation. The slogan "There's more to life in Conception Bay South" expresses our dynamic entrepreneurial spirit and our belief that the Town has much to offer its people -- both past and present.