If one would drive through Perrys Cove today, one would hardly imagine that at one point during the communitys more than 200 years of history this tiny settlement once boasted three churches, several schools and a lifestyle as rustic and rugged as the community itself. Perrys Cove is located in the rolling hills and valleys between Salmon Cove and Kingston. Perrys Cove received its name when early settlers by the name of Perry arrived on its shores at the turn of the century. But Perry wasnt the only surname amongst the first settlers from England, who left the old country to find a new home and a new way of life in the so called New World. There were others such as King, Butt, Swain, Kelloway, Budden and more. There was also a Roman Catholic Population as well. These were surnames such as Dwyer, Power, White and Reardon. These people lived on what is called Whites Room and Bull Birds Hill. At one point these were more than 100 families living in Perrys Cove. Life wasnt easy for these families. But with sheer will, determination and intestinal fortitude they longed ahead and built their homes and eked out a meagre living from the land out the sea. Life in the community of Perrys Cove was strictly a partnership affair. While the women tended to the home and children, gutted fish in the stage, and made fish on the flakes. The men fished for cod and took part in the seal fishery and the mining industry either in Sydney. Novas Scotia, Buchans or the Iron Mines on Bell Island. The first settlers in Perrys Cove were of the Anglican fate. They built the first Anglican school near where the United Church now stands today. In the early 1800s the first school teacher came from England. This was a man by the name of Master Swain. From then on all children could go to school. As other people came to live in Perrys Cove, another religion the Methodist was founded. They erected their church on a hill known as the March Hill in the centre of the community which served for many years as a school as well as a church. This church was later taken down and a new Methodist Church was built in the same spot. They also built their school near by. This church was opened in the year 1912. In 1925 this methodist church changed to the United Church of Canada during the union of Methodist, Congregational and Presbyterian Churches. The clock for the new church was brought from Boston by Miss Janie Kelloway of this community for the cost of $ 30.00. It was paid for by the Sunday School. It kept its place for more than 50 years until the church was taken down in the year 1962. A new church was built at the foot of Perrys Cove Pond where the church stands today. The old clock was put in the new church and stayed there until a new electric clock was presented by the C.G.I.T. Meanwhile still more people moved in the Perrys Cove and brought another Religion, Roman Catholic. They built their church down on what is known as Whites Room by the seashore. This church served as a school as well. During this time all the Anglican people except one family joined the Methodist Church late 1925 the United Church. This one family later moved to Carbonear leaving just two regions in Perrys Cove. Today there is only one Religion United Church. About the year 1946 the Roman Catholic people began to move to Carbonear and in 1951 the last family moved to Carbonear. The R.C. church remained until 1956 when it was taken down and carried to Carbonear where the Anglican people used it to build a hall. There have been three United Church Schools in Perrys Cove, all of them on the hill where the church was. The last was build in 1947 and was closed in 1969 and taken down in 1971 by Mr. Butt of Blackhead. The children went to Salmon Cove Elem. and Persalvic High School. Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Rose taught school the last fifteen year during which the school remained opened. There are 3 cemeteries in Perrys Cove today. One belongs to the Roman Catholic Church and two belongs to the United Church. The first headstone was put in the R.C. Cemetery in remembrance of John White died Nov. 29th 1916 age 46 years. The oldest headstone in the first U.C. Cemetery is in remembrance of Grace Budden, daughter of Mary and Charles Budden died May 16 1874 age 14 years. The new U.C. Cemetery was opened in the year 1959 and the first person buried there was James N.B. Kelloway who was accidental killed in the Iron Ore Mines on Bell Island Nov. 6/59. King Edward Loyal Orange Association #70 was organized April 30th 1901 with Brother John W. Kelloway as Worshipful Master. Shortly after this organization was formed the young men built their Lodge through going in the woods getting the supplies and building it free labour. The Lodge is still standing on the hill today where the old United Church and School once stood. The Worshipful Master today (1996) is Brother Robert Kelloway relation to the first Worshipful Master John W. Kelloway. Jethro Royal Black Preceptory was organized June 19th 1912 with Sir Knight Arthur Kelloway as worshipful Preceptor. This Royal Black Preceptory had members from Salmon Cove and Carbonear. However the members from Salmon Cove formed their own Preceptory a few years also. Jethro Royal Black Preceptory was named after Jethro Penney of Salmon Cove. The Worshipful Preceptor for the year 1996 is Arthur Kelloway nephew of the first preceptor Arthur Kelloway. The loyal orange association has now become dormant in Nov. 1996. However the L.O.B.A. has now taken over the Lodge at Perrys Cove. Onward Lodge number 1122 of the Ladies Benevolent Association was organized at Perrys Cove, September 6th 1946 with sister Winnie Swain as Worthy Mistress. They have always held their meetings in the Orange Hall. Worshipful Grand Mistress sister Elfreda Cuff of Buchans organized Onward Lodge 1122 of Perrys Cove in 1946. Mrs. Judy King is the Worthy Mistress of Onward Lodge 1122 of Perrys Cove for this year 1996. The Orange Young Bretons was organized May 7th 1948 with Brother Ambrose Swain as the Worshipful Master. The Ladies Aid Society was formed in the year 1908 with Mrs. Mary Kelloway as president. The United Church Women now replaces the Ladies Aid Society. The president for this year 1996 is Mrs. Ruby King. The C.G.I.T. was formed in the year 1932 with Miss Ermie Kelloway the school teacher at the time being leader. The C.G.I.T. worked for a number of years but today it doesnt exist. The Mission Band was organized in Perrys Cove in the year 1952 under the direction of Mrs. Annie King. There were other groups that were organized such as the Explorers, Sigma C, and the Young Peoples Group but they are not functioning today. The first shop to be opened in Perrys Cove was owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Kelloway in the year 1880. Mrs. Elizabeth Kelloway was also the first Post Mistress in Perrys Cove also around the year 1880. She was Post Mistress for a number of years. Her daughter Mrs. Lizzie Kelloway took over as Mistress when her mom could no longer operate. In 1912 the Post Office was taken over by Miss Janie Kelloway, grand daughter of the first Post Mistress. Miss Janie Kelloway carried on her duties until the year 1962 when she reached retirement. Miss Kelloway received a pin and scroll for her 50 years service. Also she received a Certificate of Merit on her retirement. In 1962 Mrs. Winnie Swain took over the Post Office until it closed in 1970. Since 1970 each family has their own mail box either on their own gate post or on one of the sites in Perrys Cove. The mail is carried to and from Carbonear every day except Saturday and Sundays by Mr. George Penney. On March 31st 1914 the S.S. Nfld. lost 78 men at the ice fields. Among the men lost was Mr. Albert Kelloway of Perrys Cove. The men became separated from their ship in a snow storm and could not be picked up for 2 days. Also among the men who spent 2 days on the ice and survived was Mr. Charles Kelloway brother of Albert Kelloway (deceased). During the month of Nov. 1932 the motor vessel, Exotic, ran ashore in a snow storm off Shamslers Cove and was a total lost. The Exotic was owned and skippered by Mr. William J. Kelloway of Perrys Cove. He was on the way from St. Juliens after a summer fishery. On Sept. 19th 1933 the motor vessel Armeania with Skipper Ed. Seward from Trinity Bay in command ran aground on a rock off Perrys Cove and was lost. All the crew got to land safely and stayed at the homes in Perrys Cove. The first road went through Perrys Cove in 1894. Until then there was no way through Perrys Cove except a foot path. The residents visited other places by boat. The first car in Perrys Cove was a 1934, fawn colored, V8 Ford, owned by Rev. Guy Case of Perrys Cove. At that time there was around 100 families living at Perrys Cove. Today there are 38 families with 40 cars, 15 trucks and 4 four wheel drives. The first telephone in the cove was owned by Miss Janie Kelloway. She received it in the year 1920. The first radio in Perrys Cove was owned by Miss Ermie Kelloway and was bought in the year 1932. The first T.V. set in the community was owned by Mr. William E. Swain. It was bought in the year 1955. At present every house has a T.V., telephone and one or more radios. Some today have a computer and V.C.R. The oldest couple in Perrys Cove today is Lew and Edith Swain. There ages are 70 and 68. The oldest woman in Perrys Cove is Mrs. Susie King aged 82. The oldest man is Jim King aged 80. This History was completed by Robert Kelloway. The Information was supplied to me by my father, Fred Kelloway aged 78 years old.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 22:02:55 +0000
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