Town of Fortune

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Historical Milestones

In A Nutshell

The town of Fortune was:
* discovered in the early 1500's*
* used as seasonal fishing base in the 1600's*
* permanently settled in the 1700's*
* economically and socially developed in the 1800's*
* embarking on development of the tourist trade in 2000*

Some Important Dates

1763...first known settlers in Fortune
1817...(John) Woundy became first teacher
1824...first Methodist chapel built
1825...first school built
1863...Henry J. Haddon became first Justice of Peace
1864-1882...Joseph G. Haddock was town's only resident doctor
1867-1913...James N. Haddon was teaching legend
1871...Masonic Society formed
1872...Henry J. Haddon became first Postmaster
1877...Rev. Jabez Hill was first resident Methodist clergy
1880...John E. Lake operated can-manufacturing factory
1883...Masonic Lodge constructed
1889...first Salvation Army Citadel built; Capt. James Bowring first resident Officer
1896...fire surrounded the town for several days and burnt out the entire countryside
1907...John E. Lake established furniture factory; first in province; burned down in 1917
1913...Lake & Lake Ltd. established; town's longest surviving business
1922...harbour blocked solid by ice from December until February 1923
1930...January 4th; first electric lights turned on in town
1935...Henry B. Mayo, grandson of H. J. Haddon, became town's first Rhodes Scholar
1944...Public Library established
1946...Fortune was incorporated; John R. Dixon became first Mayor
1947...first volunteer Fire Brigade formed; Russell Lake was first Fire Chief
1949...South Coast Bakery Ltd. Opened; first bakery on Burin Peninsula
1977...fossils discovered in the Fortune Head area
1994...Fortune Head declared an Ecological Reserve and site of the Precambrian-Cambrian geological boundary