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Some
Stats on Blaketown:
Latitude, Decimal: 47.475
Longitude, Decimal: -53.547
Population: 605
Total Dwellings: 306
Total Land Area: 19.94 Square km
Federal Electoral District (MP): Bonavista - Burin - Trinity
Provincial Electoral District (MHA): Placentia - St. Mary's
Telephone Code: 759: Markland through Blaketown; Local
calling through 582: South Dildo - Green's Harbour
Postal Code: A0B 1C0
Location: 1km off T.C.H., turn off at Whitbourne Jct.
(Crossroads) on Route
80 (Exit 28); 60 min. from Clarenville, 45 min from St.
John's & Goobies, 35 min from Argentia Ferry Port
Located between Whitbourne and South Dildo, on the Avalon Peninsula in Trinity
Bay South is the inland community Blaketown. Local tradition states the name
Blaketown originated from the phrase "By-the-Lake-Town" (Dildo Pond
representing the lake). Blaketown is built on one side of Dildo Pond in a forest
area.
Officially, the
settlement was first called the Dildo Agriculture Road and Dildo Pond. This
community was the result of an experiment in farming of the first effort in
government-sponsored resettlement in Newfoundland which was founded by the
administration of Robert Thorburn in 1887. In 1888, the name was changed to
Blaketown in honour or Sir Henry Arthur Blake (Governor of Newfoundland at this
time). Thorburn's plans to expand the economy and create employment resulted in
the community of Blaketown.
In the
beginning it was set up to encourage agriculture and lumbering, and contract
payment for clearing land was offered as a motivation for settlement. Parcels of
land were surveyed, however, land-clearing by contract failed to attract enough
settlers. The work force of Blaketown was primarily fishermen, not farmers; the
soil that was too poor to support full-time farming, resulting in Blaketown
being unsuccessful as an experiment in agriculture.
Although the
Government provided funds for the moving of families to Blaketown, no support
was provided for the re-training the settlers In farming methods, and as a
result, the residents relied upon more traditional work in fishing (from South
Dildo) and lumbering.
Other
branches of employment created in the area because of the mink industry
included: the whale factory and fishmeal plant at Dildo, the commercial fishery
and blueberry industry (offshoot from the cold storage facilities that were
built).
BLAKETOWN ROAD NAMES (From
South to North/Route 1-Trans Canada Highway to South Dildo):
Route 80-Trinity South
Highway (Trinity Road/Main Road/Main Highway), Old Track
Road, River Road, Eldred's Road, Flo's Lane, Country Lane, Holiday Hill
Road/Station Road, Aly Lane, Genesis Drive, Hearne's Road, Mason Lane, Pondside Road, Mercer's Lane, Harley Road, Ethan's Lane,
James Lane, Ella's Lane, Skipper's Lane, Mckinley Drive, Russell's Crescent, Hillier's
Road, Donies Lane, Old Trinity South Highway, North Ridge
Avenue, Evergreen Crescent, Lakeview Drive, Bridle Path,
Timbercrest Estates, Dawe's Hill, Day's Road |
