Job's Cove: Job, as you may remember, was the central figure in the "Book of Job" in the Bible. A good man, Job is beset by Satan (with God's permission) to be "stressed to the max"; everything he held dear to him and his family were taken away from him - his family, in particular his offspring; his health; and even his property.

Originally known as "Devil's Cove" (how appropriate), Job's Cove, on the north shore of Conception Bay, was settled as early as the late 1600s.

According to researchers, in 1812 the decision was made to change this "execrable and impious" name. But the name had a long and "curious" beginning" - local lore says that visiting priest, looking at the steep side of the hills surrounding the cove, stated the people must have the patience of Job [to climb it each day]".

Sometimes traditional folklore contributes to the story behind a name. In this case, Shamus MacDonald shared the story "behind" the origin of Devil's Cove, in his article entitled "Newfoundland Toponymy:

Some Links with Folklore": in it Devil's Cove is located in Green Bay about three miles from Robert's Arm. It got its name, quite a number of years ago by a man who was rowing past the cove after dark.

This man looked into the cove and saw another man waving to him. After going into the cove to see what he was hailed for, the stranger asked to be given a ride to the other side of the bay.

The fisherman who came into the cove to see what the man wanted was very willing to give him a ride. Now the next moming while the fisherman was out tending his nets, he went into the cove to see what that man was doing there.

After getting out of the boat and walking around the shore, he saw the man's tracks.

One print was that of a man but the other was a cloven hoof and the fisherman's story was believed and to this very day some people are still afraid to go out to Devil's Cove.

Devil's Cove was not or is not the only community/landmark that had the "devil" According to Hamilton (1998) there were several more.

Used with permission from "Uncovering the Origin of 1001 Unique Place Names in Newfoundland and Labrador" 2021 Jennifer Leigh Hill

Address of this page: http://nl.ruralroutes.com/JobsCove