Dildo, Newfoundland and Labrador
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Dildo is a town on the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located on the southeastern Dildo Arm of Trinity Bay about 100 kilometres northwest of St. John's. South Dildo is a neighbouring unincorporated community. The town's unusual name has brought it a certain amount of notoriety[1] in the same vein as Fucking, Austria and Hell, Michigan.[2]
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[edit] History
Dildo has a long history, going as far back as 2000 BC when Maritime Archaic aboriginal people resided at Anderson's Cove. By 700 AD Dorset had inhabited Dildo Island. In 1613, Henry Crout, whilst sailing up Dildo Arm, came in contact with the Beothuks, who were residing on Dildo Island at this time. He traded with them and left gifts. In 1711 the inhabitants of Trinity Bay were ordered by Governor Crow to leave their homes during the winter, to defend themselves against the French who burned their houses. Dildo Island was one of the places designated for this purpose. The town of Dildo was founded in the late 1700s and settled to exploit the abundance of marine resources such as fish mostly cod, whales and seals.
[edit] History of All Saints' Anglican Church
The first church was built in 1878 by the people of Dildo. It was a simple structure that had no tower and was 30 feet (9.1 m) wide by 80 feet (24 m) long. It had a seating capacity of 250 people, and was heated by two coal stoves at either end which shared a common chimney. This Church served the community until 1964 when the present (larger) building was constructed.
[edit] Present
Dildo has a fast-growing tourist industry, at least partially on account of the town's unusual name.[citation needed] Dildo offers picturesque scenery, several bed and breakfasts, eating establishments, the Dildo Museum interpretive centre, the Historic Dildo Days celebration in August, boat tours, the Society of United Fishermen, the Lions centre, several Industrial Heritage structures, walking trails, and many businesses. A song about Dildo and other odd Newfoundland place names can be found on The Arrogant Worms album Russell's Shorts.
[edit] South Dildo
South Dildo is an unincorporated community which had a population of 272 in 1991.[citation needed] At the beginning of the 20th century, South Dildo was primarily involved in lumbering and supplied a schooner to the Labrador fishery. South Dildo had the roadside attraction of a wooden life-size humpback whale head, however after many years it was destroyed at the beginning of the 2006-2007 winter.[citation needed]
[edit] References
Coordinates: 47°33′52″N 53°32′57″W / 47.56444°N 53.54917°W
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