Located further "up" the east side of the Burin Peninsula, this fishing community has been around since the early French migratory fishing days.

It is believed that fisherman from St. Malo, France probably gave the harbour its name, Port au Bras, or "Port of Arms". According to ENL sources, it was most likely settled at the turn of the 18th century "by English fishing servants brought out to nearby Little Burin by West Country traders".

There is evidence that it was settled by 1793, "when the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel established a school to serve Burin, including Port au Bras".

The question of course, is why did they chose to name it "Port au Bras"? The most likely reason is that the harbour is well protected by an "arm" of land that obviously gave the fishermen the shelter than they would need in times of severe storms, etc..

Unfortunately, while the "arms" gave fisherman protection, in 1929 the "arms" played a significant role in the disaster that struck the southern coast of Newfoundland.

The town of Port au Bras was basically destroyed by an enormous tsunami which travelled up the inlet, hemmed in the by the two arms of land on either side.

On November 18, 1929 at 5:02 pm Newfoundland time, a major earthquake occurred approximately 250 km south of Newfoundland along the southern edge of the Grand Banks.

This magnitude 7.2 tremor was felt as far away as New York and Montreal.

Traveling at a speed of 140 kilometers per hour, the tidal wave reached the Burin Peninsula at 7:00 p.m. The tsunami struck the southern end of the Burin Peninsula as three main pulses, causing local sea levels to rise between 2 and 7 metres. At the heads of several of the long narrow bays on the Burin Peninsula the momentum of the tsunami carried water as high as 13 metres.

This giant sea wave claimed a total of 28 lives - 27 drowned on the Burin peninsula and a young girl never recovered from her injuries and died in 1933. This represents Canada's largest documented loss of life directly related to an earthquake.

At Port aux Bras a fisherman saw his home being swept away. He tried to save his wife and family but was blocked by another floating house. He was helpless as his imprisoned family whirled into darkness. His house was pulled out to sea faster than a boat could steam.

Mr. Em Cheeseman of Port au Bras on the Burin peninsula in a letter to his brother Jack a few days after the tsunami wrote: "You could hear the poor humans who were caught, screaming, women and men praying out loud. Oh God, Jack, it was terrible... Excuse this scribble but we are not over the shock yet.

Every move one hears one jumps expecting the same to happen again." The Newfoundland government sent ships with doctors and supplies.

Canada was the largest foreign donor donating $35,000 individual Newfoundlanders raised more than $200,000 to help their countrymen.

Daily News Paper (November 18, 1929 - December 2, 1929) Port au Bras was swept clean of all fishery premises and boats and schooners. Fourteen boats were lost or badly damaged. Al is desolation in Port au bras.
L Cheeseman's premises went clean away-with 300 quintals fish. About 500 quintals fish were lost there altogether. All the people had their winter's provisions, fuel, traps and gear of every description in their stores.

Everything is gone. I visited them to-day. There is great distress. There are not 5 barrels flour in the place and no coal.

Waterside Literally Swept Clean: In the afternoon of Saturday, accompanied by Rev. Mr. HISCOCK, and a supply of food etc., I visited Port au Bras. All along the shore on the way there visible piles of wreckage, while in Port au Bras itself the scene on arrival will never be forgotten.

From end to end the waterside was literally swept clean; not a single erection of any sort was left intact.

The settlement is situated on the shore of a semi-circular basin at the head of a long beach. No less than eleven dwellings houses were completely destroyed, one of which was carried out of the harbor with four occupants, Jessie FUDGE and her three daughters, all of whom perished, and drove ashore later that night at Path End, some three miles distant, not a single store, stage or wharf was left standing, provisions and fuel were washed all boats, skiffs and dories destroyed.

People Still Dazed As yet the people do not seem able to realize their losses and are dazed and stunned, though some are already busily engaged reconstructing what little they have succeeded in saving.

No less than 60 families have suffered in Port au Bras alone where the total loss is estimated at $85,000.00. Rock Harbor was similarly swept and the loss there will probably reach $30,000.00.

At Shalloway, Rock Harbor, Jean de Bay and Corbin bridges have been demolished, thereby cutting off whole sections of the settlements. This is a matter which will have to be attended to at once.

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/PortauBras