The Dildo–New Harbour area of Trinity Bay has a rich history, beginning with the Maritime Archaic Indians, who inhabited Dildo Island about 4,000 years ago. Early in the seventeenth century, visitors from John Guy’s colony at Cupids examined Beothuk Indian encampments at Dildo Pond and on Dildo Island. In the nineteenth century, Dildo Island was the site of a major cod hatchery and in six years released one billion cod fry into Newfoundland waters.?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The Lester House of Trinity had fishermen stationed on Dildo Island and at New Harbour for the fishing seasons by the early 1760s. By the early 1800s the Lesters had established a major shipbuilding enterprise at New Harbour, an industry that continued until 1935.

A major economic boost to the area came with the start of whaling out of South Dildo in the late 1940s. The combination of whaling, fish processing, and preparation of mink food at the South Dildo complex provided employment for hundreds during the ’50s and ’60s.

It is difficult to separate the histories of both communities, since from the beginning Dildo and New Harbour have been intimately interconnected by social interaction and common economic pursuits. This book celebrates the unique outport heritage of Newfoundland through the shared experiences of the livyers of these two proud communities.

Willis P. Martin was born in New Harbour, his mother’s home, but spent his early years in several Newfoundland communities where his father taught school. Willis completed high school in Dildo, where his father ended his teaching career.After working in the telecommunications industry for eight years, Willis studied engineering at Memorial University, and obtained a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Technical University of Nova Scotia in 1965. After obtaining a Masters of Applied Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and working for a short time in Toronto, Willis and his family returned to Newfoundland where he continued his career in telecommunications. After his retirement in 1993, Willis’s research on the family tree and discussions with former local historian Lloyd George brought to light the need for a record of the rich history of the Dildo–New Harbour area, and this work is the result.Willis lives in St. John’s with his wife, Linda (née Wentzell). Their daughter Lisa is a training consultant in Montreal, and daughter Vickie is a medical doctor in Kingston, Ontario.

Willis P. Martin's profile page