In the early days it was known as Child’s Point officially, although I imagine the mountain itself was always Mt. Moriah. However, if you lived west of Bartlett’s Turn in the early days you were considered a resident of Mt. Moriah or more affectionately `The Mountain´. Actually, the community was divided into two parts. You had what was known as Ballentine Cove to the east which covered the area between Bartlett’s Point and the Perrett property, and to the west you had Child’s Point. Of course today the Ballentine Cove area belongs to the City of Corner Brook. In fact, the boundary of the City of Corner Brook divides the mountain. Another part of the community that was and still is very popular is Cook’s Brook. Located at the western part of the community, this brook was named by Capt. James Cook when he chartered the waters of the Bay of Islands.......

..... Another part of Mt Moriah that was quite popular in the early days would be Soper's Crossing. This was the part of Mt. Moriah where the railway passed through. This of course was named for the Soper family who lived in that area. Today the road running adjacent to the railway is named Soper's Drive. Soper's Crossing was an important link to Corner Brook in the early days of the operation of the paper mill as well.

In 1925 when the paper mill was opened in Corner Brook, cars were very scarce. Therefore, for transportation to and from the mill, the railway was used. As many of the people working in the mill lived outside Corner Brook, they used a rail car known to everyone as the `Coach´. Soper's Crossing was the starting point for this service. A siding or Wye as the older residents of Mt. Moriah knew it as was installed at Soper's Crossing. There, you boarded the Coach for you trip to Corner Brook. Of course not all passengers were mill workers. Many people took advantage of the Coach for shopping or visiting. It was the same as taking a bus today. However, as time went by and more cars were being purchased the Coach became less and less depended upon, so it was eventually discontinued.....

.... No history of the early days would be complete without mentioning the early names and landmarks of the community. Besides the obvious names as Child's Point, Soper's Crossing etc. you had other names as well. You may notice another mountain near Mt. Moriah. This was and still is known as Mt. Mary Ann. Then you had another brook as well as Cook’s Brook. Though not so big, it still was very popular. This is of course Welshman's Brook. This brook was named after one of the early settlers, as were two ponds in the community named Murley's and Porter's Ponds. The hills had their own names as well. Perret’s, Morrison’s, MacDonald’s and Welshman's hills were all named after early settlers. Perhaps Duggan’s Hill near Cooks Brook was also named for someone who lived or had property near there.

Now that we haven dispensed with the early names, lets have a look at some of the old landmarks. Probably the most popular landmark or landmarks (there were two of them) were the `Big Rocks´. They were situated one on each side of the road with just enough room for a road between. Actually, there wasn't enough room for a road of the present day dimensions, which is why they were removed. However, they were very popular to the residents of Mt. Moriah, particularly the children. I would venture to say that practically every kid in Mt. Moriah one time or another climbed one of these rocks to or from school....to the older people they were indeed a very popular and familiar landmark. I remember a former resident telling me that the most important thing he missed when he returned were the `Big Rocks´. They had been removed while he was away...

..Now, lets take a walk just a short distance to what we called `Morrisons Slide´. This wasn't really much of a slide as slides go. Actually, it was only a small incline that left the road open to the bay. But, it you told someone you would meet them at the slide, they knew where it was. The slide was located at the bottom of Morrisons Hill near the property of Mr. Murdock Morrison.....

.... there are a couple of events in the history of Mt. Moriah worth mentioning. On September 24, 1918 an express train from the old Nfld. Railway was wrecked at Soper’s Crossing. This train left the tracks and plunged over the trestle that crosses Welshman's Brook near the present day property of Mr. Lawrence Ellworth. Unfortunately, one person was killed - Miss P. O'Neil of Holyrood, Nfld. - and 22 others injured. I can recall my mother, Lucy Critch, telling me about this accident. She, along with other children, were gathering firewood on a nearby hill when the derailment took place. They rushed to the scene and helped care for the injured. As far as I can recall that was the only fatality to occur on the railway in the Mt. Moriah area.

 The other serious event took place on June 11, 1899. This of course was the fire that not only affected Mt. Moriah but the whole surrounding area. This fire covered a 7 mile area and before it was over 54 buildings had been destroyed. As far as can be learned, there were no fatalities. However, presumably most of Mt. Moriah’s residents were left homeless, as some of the 54 buildings would have to be from there. I recall my late great-aunt Hattie Murley (1887-1978) describing how they had to leave their homes and stay in their vessel out in the bay.
 
 
 
 

back to main page

Mount Moriah index page

next page

previous page