Isle aux Morts

This article is about the town in Newfoundland and Labrador. For other uses, see Isle of the Dead (disambiguation).

Isle aux Morts Island of the Dead
—  Town  —
Isle aux Morts Location of Isle aux Morts in Newfoundland
Coordinates: 47°35′17″N 58°58′40″W
Country	Canada
Province	Newfoundland and Labrador
Population
• Total	718
Time zone	Newfoundland Time (UTC-3:30)
• Summer (DST)	Newfoundland Daylight (UTC-2:30)
Area code(s)	709

Isle aux Morts is a small town on the Southwest Coast of the Island of Newfoundland, with a population of 813. It is an approximate 16 km drive from the Marine Atlantic Ferry Terminal in Port aux Basques. It has been a popular town in the past with over 1000 residents but since then, the main resource, the fishery has declined greatly causing the closing of the fish plant (main source of employment in the town) and the moving away of people to find a new job. The town has also lost its high school and now only has a K-9 school. LeGallais Memorial School has about 66 students.

History

Isle aux Morts has a rich Atlantic heritage and great scenery^{[citation needed]}. There are two walking trails: Harvey Trail, named after George Harvey and his family (information below), and Boat Cove Trail, named for Boat Cove Pond. These two trails offer a great view of the harbour and the town. Also two wharves which show great scenery. There are many friendly people in this town and various things to do^{[citation needed]}. The Walters House museum, which is in an old-style house which shows what life was like in the past in Isle aux Morts. The house acted as the first school and church in Isle aux Morts. There are two convenience stores and a bar.

Name origin

The town is named after a formerly inhabited nearby island and is a reference to the many shipwrecks off the coast. Isle aux Morts translates from French into English as "Island of the Dead".

Archeology

On November 26, 1981, Wayne Mushrow discovered a very rare and working Portuguese mariner's astrolabe on a shipwreck near Isle aux Morts. The year "1628" and "Y. Dyas" are stamped on the astrolabe, indicating that it was likely made by known astrolabe maker Joas Dyas. Portuguese mariner's astrolabes are unique because they are graduated for zenith distance only.

In 1983, at the same site, Mushrow found a French mariner's astrolabe stamped with the year "1617" and the name "Adrian Holland". It is unknown whether he was the maker or owner of the astrolabe. In 2001, the Mushrow Astrolabes were designated heritage treasures by the provincial government and placed in the collection of the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Notable persons of community

The town is probably best known for George Harvey, his 17 year old daughter Ann Harvey, her 12 year old brother and their dog, Hairy Man. They are known because of their bravery in rescuing sailors from two sinking ships, the Despatch and The Rankin.

A chamber opera based on the story of Ann Harvey entitled "Ann & Seamus" was written for Shallaway - Newfoundland and Labrador Youth in Chorus by Stephen Hatfield in 2007. The opera was based on the narrative poem by Kevin Major.

Pronunciations

French Pronunciation -- E-lo-mor
Pronounced by Residents as—I-la-mort

Time Line

• The 1st school in IAM was built in 1868. It was also used as a chapel for the church services. Today it is the Walters House Museum.
• The IAM Lodge was constructed in 1914 with free labor by a group of men who previously used the school for their meetings.
• The 1st Fishery Products plant was constructed in 1939. It burned down in 1943.
• A cottage hospital was built in IAM near the Fishery Products plant in 1944.
• Construction began on a highway leading to PAB in 1955.
• The 1st LeGallais Memorial school started in 1958.
• The Isle aux Morts Town Hall was built in 1960.
• Construction began on the local breakwater in 1961. Completed in 1962.
• Electricity came to Isle aux Morts on October 28, 1965
• On February 18, 1968, the whole community of Isle aux Morts was serviced with a telephone system.
• The Community Stage was built in 1970.
• The Marine Center was built in Isle Aux Morts in 1976.
• The 1st Town Council was formed on February 10, 1979.

See also

• List of cities and towns in Newfoundland and Labrador
• List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador

External links

• Province receives heritage treasures
• Identifying The Astrolabe
• The Mushrow Astrolabe
• Ann & Seamus - A Chamber Opera Official Site
• Exploring Newfoundland and Labrador