Newfoundland
Stories
Tangly, Timeless, and Totally True-ish
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The Spooky Side of the Map: Newfoundland’s Creepiest Place Names
Newfoundland has some place names that sound like they belong in a ghost story. This Halloween, I’m exploring some of the island’s creepiest names and the curious stories behind them.
The Isle of Skye Comes Home
It was well after dark but it certainly sounded like a schooner was coming into the harbour. The people of Holyrood rushed to the shore, what they found —or more importantly —didn’t find, has kept this story alive for more than a century.
The Fetch of Proctor’s Cove
One moonlit night in Proctor’s Cove, Sarah saw Jake walking across a frozen bog. There was just one problem: Jake was sitting at home, and he hadn’t been out all evening.
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.
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.
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.
The Strange Case of Charlie Verge’s Miracle
According to the newspapers, a strange glow in the water off Newfoundland lead a drowning man to salvation… but was it just a tall tale?
Escape from Gull Island
Stranded on a barren island just after Christmas, two men built a boat from scraps, rusty nails, and ice—then trusted it with their lives.
Paddy Kelly and the Christmas Cat
On Christmas Eve, 1726, Paddy Kelly met something on the road near Keels — a black cat that seemed to growing larger with every step it took.
The Tangled Lore of Dogberries
Discover the strange and magical folklore behind Newfoundland’s dogberry trees—from weather predictions to warding off curses. Dive into a slice of Newfoundland history where nature and superstition collide.
The Black Barque: Newfoundland’s Ship of the Dead
Legends tell of a black-sailed ship that appears before tragedy—fire, famine, or shipwreck—and some say she still haunts Newfoundland’s coast today.
A Trinity Bay X-File
In the early 20th century a mysterious light glowed Trinity Bay and it got people talking. Was it sabotage?
The Charles Haskell and The Ghostly Fishermen
After a deadly collision in 1869, the Charles Haskell became the most feared schooner in North Atlantic history when her crew claimed be haunted by ghostly fishermen.
A Haunted Hotel In St. John’s
A haunted room in St. John’s, a mysterious knocking that wouldn’t stop, and a stranger who never checked out—together build one of the city’s creepiest legends.
Peter Easton: The Pirate Admiral Who Ruled Newfoundland
Peter Easton ruled Newfoundland’s seas as the legendary “pirate admiral.” Discover his daring exploits, pirate kingdom, and lasting legacy in this thrilling tale of maritime adventure.
The Bell Island Pterodactyl
In 1902, miners on Bell Island uncovered a massive fossil deep underground. It was described as having wings, talons, and a shark-like tail, whatever it was remains a mystery and its story lives on as a local legend.
The Legend of Sheila NaGeira
She was said to be an Irish noblewoman, bound for a life of quiet devotion—until a ship, a capture, and a chance meeting changed everything. Swept from one world to another, Sheila NaGeira’s story became part legend, part love story, and entirely unforgettable.