Holyrood was once known as "Hollyrode"
in 1689 when hydrographer, John Thronton, charted Newfoundland
trading. Hollyrode has been interpreted by historians as an old
English name for "Holy Cross" from the ancient Anglo
Saxon word "rode" meaning staff or cross. Like
many other names in Newfoundland, Holyrood breathes a high sense
of religious fervor and faith.
|
 |
|
K. Bruce Lane |
The earliest settlement is believed to
be in 1689, the Martin O'Neil property, which was located at the
center of the main beach.
Many
early settlers of Holyrood were of
Irish Catholic descent. It is believed that many settlers
relocated from Ireland during high immigration in the 1800's.
Holyrood's indirect role in the
fishery played a vital role in it's settlement. Holyrood harbour
offered a consistently rich supply of bait species including caplin and squid
to those vessels on route to the Grand
Banks.
In the early 1830 Holyrood's first
church was constructed. In 1936 an Imperial Act provided funding
for the construction and repair of a road from Holyrood to the
city of St. John's. Saturday,
June 17th, 1939 the citizens of Holyrood experienced a
Royal Visit
by the The King and Queen of England.
In the 1880's Holyrood's socio-economy was
changed forever with the completion of the Holyrood component of
the Newfoundland Railway. Communication and transportation
capabilities increased dramatically with the
railway, telegraph and mail system. Holyrood became a common
communication center point
for other communities including Harbour Main, Chapel's Cove, and St. Mary's Bay
via Salmonier Line. As a direct result of the railway and
corresponding ease of accessibility, Holyrood
became a traveler's paradise with its majestic scenery to people in St. John's.
Another result of the railway was
the impact on the fishing industry in Holyrood. People could now
travel large distances to find work and keep their families in the
community so the dependency on the fishery went into a decline.
The 20th century has witnessed
continuous growth of the community. In 1916 the first cold storage
for fisheries products was built and remains in operation today.
Sir Albert Walsh was
the son of William P. and Sophia Butler Walsh, both of Holyrood.
Sir Albert Walsh became the first Lieutenant Governor of
Newfoundland on April 1, 1949.
The Rubber Plant opened in 1954 was
the first of its kind in Newfoundland, and had a varied history
before it closed in the late 1960's.
In 1969 the Town of Holyrood
incorporated. That same year, the Golden Eagle Refinery was
officially opened and employed 86 people in full operation. The
refinery closed June 1983 and only the fuel storage tanks remain
in use.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
Generating Plant also became a well known landmark of Holyrood.
The plant employs 100 full time employees.
In 1967 the Royal Canadian Mounted Police established a detachment
in the town and still provides services to the Town of Holyrood and surrounding
communities today.
One of the most
dramatic flying boats ever built landed in Holyrood, Newfoundland,
it was called the
Dornier Do-X. This
amazing boat took seven years to design and two years to complete.
Once its completion the Do X was the largest, heaviest and most
powerful aircraft in the world.
More on the Dornier Do X
|
