Shoe Cove was once known as Shoe Cove Brook, with two other settlements called Stage Cove and Shoe Cove Bight.

These were abandoned in about 1970 so now all three are called Shoe Cove. Although Shoe Cove was settled by English, Scottish and Irish fisherfolk, it was very close to the French Shore area. In fact, a boat by the English fishery was stationed there until the Treaty of Utrecht [1713].

People depended largely on the fishery then and now. At one time a cod liver oil factory operated there.

A photographer's delight, Shoe Cove is one of the peninsula's most scenic communities.

Cape St. John: Located on the west side of Notre Dame Bay, Cape St. John is on the eastern side of the Baie Verte Peninsula.

While it is known for its steep cliffs that rise about 74 m (244 ft) according to information presented in the ENL sources, the area while relatively clear of any major rocks, etc. in the water, the currents are extremely strong particularly in the winter and so it is not a favorite spot of captains of boats especially when there is ice in the area.

The sinking of the Queen of Swansea in winter of 1861 (and the resulting death of all the crew and passengers who died on nearby Gull Island) prompted the Government of Newfoundland to build a lighthouse there.

When it was built in 1884, it was the highest (160 m or 515 ft) in the area (it is actually on Gull Island) and it is reported it could be seen for 42 km (26mi) in clear weather. How Cap St. John got its name is unknown.

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/ShoeCoveLaScie