S3.E5: Mar Falten, Fanny Goff!
Season 3, Episode 5
Title: Mar Falten, Fanny Goff!
Time: 18 minutes
Locations: Portugal Cove
Story: The Beautiful Fanny Goff
Listen:
About The Episode:
Newfoundland’s Valentine’s traditions range from playful greetings to daring card deliveries, but love on the island isn’t always lighthearted.
The story of Fanny Goff, said to be the most beautiful woman in Newfoundland, is one of romance and tragedy, proving that love can be as fleeting as winter frost.
And sometimes, love isn’t just for people but for place—like the deep connection Newfoundlanders have to the sea. But that love comes with loss, as seen in the Ocean Ranger disaster, a tragedy forever tied to Valentine’s Day, reminding us that love and sorrow often go hand in hand.
Listening Options
You can listen to the episode here or on your favourite platform.
Credits
Ocean and Fog Horn, Shepardr, freesound.org, creative commons 0
Sad Music on Guitar, veterOK777, freesound.org, creative commons 0
Sources & Further Reading
The Beautiful Fanny Goff, Product of Newfoundland
Mar Falten: Valentine’s Day in Newfoundland, Product of Newfoundland
Pretty Fanny Goff, Christmas Bells, 1913
The Story of Fanny Goff, Book of Newfoundland, vol 2
George Goff, Book of Newfoundland, vol. 5.
Fanny Goff, Sites & Memorials, Town of Portugal Cove-St. Phillips
The Lover & The Liar, Christmas Review, 1897
Portugal Cove, Newfoundland Weekly, April 19, 1941
A Bit of the History of Portugal Cove, Shortis Papers vol. 3, MUN DAI
History Society Meeting, Evening Telegram, Nov 11, 1920.
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.
A young schoolteacher’s 1876 Christmas journey from St. John’s to Fogo reveals mummering, bonfires, and outport hospitality — a timeless Newfoundland Christmas story about belonging, tradition, and finding home in unexpected places.
They were supposed to leave before winter. When they didn’t, the Christmas whales of Springdale turned a frozen bay into a story no one would forget.
A starving horse. A loyal Newfoundland dog. And a tragedy so unsettling it sparked outrage in 1882.
During WWI, a Newfoundland dog named Sable Chief marched with The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, lifted spirits, and broke hearts when he died. This is the story of their beloved mascot.
In the early 20th century a mysterious light glowed Trinity Bay and it got people talking. Was it sabotage?