BONAVISTA AREA PHOTO ALBUM

The Ryan Premises as they looked in the early 1950's. Several small fishing boats can be seen pulled up on the beach. At the time this photo was taken James Ryan Ltd. was no longer engaged in the salt fish industry but its retail store still supplied the needs of Bonavista residents including the local fishermen. In 1978, however, it closed its doors to the public after over 100 years of serving the people of the area. On June 24, 1997, the Ryan Premises were officially opened as a National Historic Site by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II who was in the Town of Bonavista along with Prince Philip, to greet the crew of the Matthew replica when they made landfall. The smell of salt fish still greets tourists who wander through this new National Historic Site.

The Flotilla in Bonavista Harbour on June 24 , 1997. Most of these boats left Toronto on May 10, 1997 and were joined along the way by others from the Eastern Seaboard and the Maritimes. About 70 boats arrived at Isle aux Morts , their first port of call in Newfoundland, on June 2. As they cruised along the south coast , other vessels joined the Flotilla. They arrived in Bonavista in time for the Cabot 500 Celebrations and the arrival of the Matthew on June 24, 1997

In this photo of a schooner tied up to the old wooden wharf you can see several flakes and a fishing stage that were on "Sweetland's Bank" in the early 1950's. Some of the schooners that regularly came into Bonavista harbour did so to bring in loads of coal from Nova Scotia. Coal was one of the main sources of heating fuel, along with locally cut wood, used by the residents of the area. Other vessels came into the harbour to pick up supplies to be taken to small communities in other parts of Bonavista and Trinity Bays. To hear "Lots of Fish in Bonavis' Harbour" click HERE

On a cold, windy June 24, 1997 at approximately 2 PM , the replica of the Matthew sailed out of the fog and entered Bonavista Harbour. This replica was completed in England in 1996. It was built at a cost of $3.4 million. It has an overall length of 24 metres and a displacement of about 81 tonnes. It is equipped with five sails but, unlike the original Matthew, it also has a 200 horsepower engine. On March 24, 1997, the Matthew left Bristol and started its vovage to Newfoundland, timed to arrive at Bonavista on June 24 - 500 years to the day that John Cabot and his crew on the original Matthew are believed to have sighted Cape Bonavista after their historic voyage. The Matthew was a type of ship known as a caravel that had been used in the Mediterranean area from the 14th to the 17th century. As the Matthew replica tied up to dockside, the 19 member crew were dressed in traditional costumes. The little ship stayed in Newfoundland waters for approximately seven weeks and made 16 more ports of call around the province during the Cabot 500 Celebrations of 1997.