Wild Bight - Beachside: Located on the north side of Little Bay in western Notre Dame Bay, one can easily figure out how this community got its name.

From the US Hydrographic Office (1931) publication "Sailing directions for Newfoundland: Including the coast of Labrador from Cape St. Lewis to Long Point" comes the following description: Wild Bight, the shores of which are foul for about 150 yards, affords anchorage for small vessels, in 10 to 13 fathoms (18.3 to 23.8 m), with shelter from northerly and westerly winds, but the holding ground is not good.

With light northeasterly winds a swell sets in, and when the wind is strong the whole of the bight appears to be breakers.

According to information presented in the ENL Wild Bight, commonly known as "Beachside" was settled in the 1850s but probably was used as a summer station long before that by fishermen fishing out of Twillingate.

By 1858 there were 16 inhabitants, by 1874 the population had increased to 55 it most likely remained "at a similar level until the mid-twentieth century".

According to Wikipedia contributors, the population decreased in the mid-1920s as "younger men left to work on the construction of the pulp and paper mill at Corner Brook, and later as loggers" and by 1935 there were only 36 people left in the community".

However, the community rally again in the 1940s and 1950s when people moved in from Southern Arm, Springdale, Little Bay or Little Bay Islands.

In 1956 there were 172 people, but the most recent census (2016) shows that it has slid back and there are only 132 residents, a 12% decrease from the 150 recorded in 2011.

There is also a "Wild Bight" on the Strait of Belle Isle, the northwest side of Newfoundland's.

Great Northern Peninsula, between the two communities of Cape Norman and Cook's Harbour.

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/Beachside