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Situated in the waters of Conception Bay, Bell Island, though small in size, has a big story to tell.

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Aerial photo of Bell Island, Newfoundland.
1995
Bell Island, Newfoundland

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Sitting high above the ocean, Bell Island was favoured by sixteenth century European fisherman because of its strategic position within the bay and proximity to rich fishing grounds. As word spread out about this island others started using it as a stopping ground and eventually Bell Island acquired a resident population.

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Jukes, Joseph Beete
1840
England

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In May of 1839 Joseph Beete Jukes, a scientist from England, visited Bell Island and started a geological survey of the area. At this time he noted that there were several houses there and a number of inhabitants, a reflection of the fact that during this period in history Conception Bay boasted a larger population then St. John's, the present capital of Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Map of Conception Bay, Newfoundland, Canada
1995
Conception Bay, Newfoundland, Canada

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In 1895, a large scale mining operation began on Bell Island. The population of the island increased dramatically during the following decades, from 709 people in 1891 to 3084 people in 1911. Many of the miners who moved there to work migrated from the surrounding communities in Conception Bay.

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Bell Island Mining Museum
August, 2000
Wabana,Bell Island, Newfoundland, Canada

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As time passed, it was realized that Bell Island was an economic gold mine and with the influx of Canadian and other foreign capital (at this time Newfoundland was still its own country) the Bell Island mines expanded and developed a highly skilled workforce. The story of the mining operations on Bell Island can be found at the local Miner's Museum located on Bell Island, NL.

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Bell Island Miner's Museum
14 March 2006
Wabana,Bell Island, Newfoundland, Canada

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The No.2 Mine
2000
Bell Island Ore Mines, Bell Island, Newfoundland, Canada

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The Old Surgery
1940
Wabana,Bell Island, Newfoundland, Canada

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With the increasing rates of immigration to Bell Island and the difficult and dangerous work which many of the residents took part in daily, health care providers on the island were often stretched to the limit, providing a number of necessary services to the workers and families living there.

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Miner loading Ore car
1930
Bell Island Ore Mines, Bell Island, Newfoundland, Canada