Newfoundland
Stories
Tangly, Timeless, and Totally True-ish
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Dead, Buried And Not Quite Done: George Gaulton’s Final Message
George Gaulton was a fiercely independent man in life, who played by his own rules. If this old story is to be believed, death did little to change that.
Moses Power and the Torbay Ghost
According to one newspaper, Torbay was gripped by a ghostly disturbance in 1877. Night after night, Moses Power’s home was under attack…
Margaret Campbell Macpherson: St. John’s to Paris
In 1894, a painter from St. John’s was exhibiting her work in Paris. Margaret Campbell Macpherson built an international career — and somehow became a nearly forgotten Newfoundland story.
Sister Gertrude’s Miracle
After years of illness, a Newfoundland nun left the island praying for a miracle. She returned convinced her prayers had been answered.
Sheep Dead, Strange Animal Caught
Something was killing sheep near Little St. Lawrence in 1958. Then a strange, five-foot-long animal was captured. Its skull was sent to St. John’s for identification…
The Trouble with Newfoundland Thunderstorms
Old Newfoundland newspapers have given me many things: fascinating stories, strange history—and an unreasonable fear of thunderstorms.
What the Heck is Newfoundland Nectar?
I was supposed to be researching murder, superstition and heroic deeds. Instead, a mysterious 19th-century soft drink sent me down a rabbit hole. What exactly was Newfoundland Nectar?
The Grim Secret of the Three Brothers
A battered schooner discovered off Newfoundland’s west coast seems to have no one aboard. When rescuers bring her ashore, they discover a tragedy that began weeks earlier.
The Nose in the Snow
When a strange nose poked through the snow, two boys made a terrible mistake. What followed was a tale of terror and tragedy.
The Scandalous Swimwear of Harbour Grace
A complaint about skinny-dipping, a call for public whippings, and a mysterious signature… Victorian Newfoundland gets weird.
Mystery Lights At Port de Grave
Long before Port de Grave became famous for its Christmas lights, mysterious glowing lights were reported off its shores. Discover Philip Tocque's 1800s account of Newfoundland's eerie "weather lights" and the mystery that still has no clear explanation.
Charles MacKay and the Two-Year Iceberg
One 19th-century author claimed an 800-foot iceberg lingered in St. John's Harbour for two years. Was it fact or one of Newfoundland's greatest tall tales?
The Captain, the Bear, and the Sea Serpent
Captain James Walsh never captured a giant bear or encountered a sea serpent. So why did Newfoundland newspapers insist he did? A true tale of hoaxes, humour, and mystery.
Come From Aways: Newfoundland’s Invited Animals
Moose, rabbits, squirrels and more: you might be surprised which Newfoundland animals are ‘come from aways.’
Flying Saucers Reach Newfoundland
Just one day after the Roswell UFO incident made headlines, four glowing objects streaked across the skies over Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador — sparking local fears that Earth might have more extraterrestrial visitors.
French Invasion and False Alarm: The Story Of Trinity’s Fort Point
French forces once seized Trinity Harbour. Decades later, a cannon blast sent the town into panic—for nothing. A true story of war, fear, and a prank that echoed through history.
Sir Humphrey Gilbert and the Lion
In 1583 Sir Humphrey Gilbert’s Newfoundland voyage ended in disaster — but not before he spotted a strange creature in the North Atlantic that he could only describe as a lion.
The Story of Jiggs’ Dinner: Newfoundland’s Traditional Boiled Meal
What is Jiggs’ Dinner? Explore Newfoundland’s iconic Sunday meal—its ingredients, surprising origins, and how a borrowed tradition became a lasting piece of local culture.
John Vincent: The Fisherman Who Painted The Pope
In the early 20th century John Vincent, a young artist from Newfoundland, caught the attention of art critics on both sides of the Atlantic and soon became famous as ‘the fisherman who painted the pope’.
Sleeping in a Watery Grave
The sad true-life tale of 17-year-old Newfoundlansailor Stephen Drodge and his final voyage on the schooner Jesse.