History
Constructed from spruce with a tar-paper roof, the house follows a traditional Georgian central-hall design. Decorative woodwork on its corner boards and above the windows and central doorway reflects the craftsmanship and architectural style of the period.
In November 1969, Frank Drake reluctantly floated the house from Haystack to Arnold’s Cove during resettlement. The Drake family continued to occupy it until 2002, and very few alterations were made. Many of the furnishings and household items remain original, while others have been donated or loaned to help interpret the history of the home.
The Drake family donated the house to the Town of Arnold’s Cove in 2002 to preserve the history of Haystack and the island communities of Placentia Bay. It received provincial heritage designation on April 1, 2003. Today, its preserved rooms, furnishings and artifacts offer visitors an authentic glimpse into everyday life in Placentia Bay.
Frank Drake
Frank Drake was born on October 9, 1912, in Western Cove, Haystack. Following generations of his family, he became a fisherman and assumed responsibility for the family fishery at age fifteen after his father died.
When Haystack’s other residents relocated during resettlement, Frank remained alone for twelve years, refusing to participate in what he called the “Shiften’ Racket.” In November 1969, he reluctantly floated his house to Arnold’s Cove but continued returning to Haystack and fishing there until he was eighty.
Frank valued the traditional way of life and worked to preserve his home, fishing premises and boats. He passed away in 2002 and was laid to rest in his beloved Haystack.
The original fishing premises were built by Wilson Wareham and passed down through his family to his son Billy and grandson Lloyd. This replica includes the stage, store and flakes, offering visitors a closer look at the structures and working traditions of the Placentia Bay fishery. The premises are also included as part of the Drake House guided tour.
Arnold’s Cove War Memorial
Unveiled on August 7, 1921, the Arnold’s Cove War Memorial honours those who served and sacrificed during times of war. In 1914, Arnold’s Cove consisted of approximately thirty families, yet eleven local men served during the First World War and four were killed in action. The community raised the money needed to erect the memorial, creating a permanent place where their service would be remembered.
The memorial stands beside the First Anglican Cemetery on the former site of the community’s first Church of England church. It remains an important gathering place for remembrance ceremonies and a lasting symbol of the community’s gratitude. A later memorial project was created to refurbish the monument and surrounding site while expanding recognition to include those who came to Arnold’s Cove from resettled communities throughout Placentia Bay.
Pictures in the Streets
Historic photographs displayed throughout Arnold’s Cove offer glimpses of the people, homes, businesses, boats and traditions that helped shape the community. Many displays are placed near the locations shown in the original photographs, allowing visitors to compare the past with the community they see today.
Travel through Arnold’s Cove at your own pace and discover these windows into local history along the way. Whether you are a resident revisiting familiar stories or a visitor experiencing the community for the first time, each photograph reveals another part of Arnold’s Cove’s changing landscape and heritage.
Stories of Resettlement
Discover Arnold’s Cove through the Stories of Resettlement app, a self-guided tour that brings the community’s resettlement history to life. As you travel through Arnold’s Cove, the app uses your location to introduce stories connected to houses that were moved across Placentia Bay during the Resettlement Program. Listen to personal accounts and explore historic photographs, maps and information about the families and communities behind each location.
Visitors can follow the tour at their own pace, stopping at featured sites throughout Arnold’s Cove. Those unable to visit in person can also explore the stories and locations virtually through the app.
Download the free Stories of Resettlement app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store before beginning your tour.
Bordeaux Trail
Otter Rub/War Path
Otter Rub/War Path
Beginning at Harbour View Avenue, the Bordeaux Trail is an eight-kilometre loop that follows the coastline of Arnold’s Cove. The trail offers magnificent views of Placentia Bay, with opportunities to observe seabirds and other wildlife that frequent the shoreline. Picnic tables and benches are located along the route, providing places to rest and enjoy the surrounding scenery.
Along the way, visitors can stop at the Horse’s Garden, where the shapes of former garden plots remain visible in the landscape. These plots recall the settlers who once used the land to grow vegetables and help support their families. Other historical landmarks found along the trail provide further glimpses into the area’s past.
The route offers a distinctive meeting of old and new, combining the community’s natural and cultural heritage with views of the nearby Whiffen Head Transshipment Terminal and North Atlantic refinery.
Otter Rub/War Path
Otter Rub/War Path
Otter Rub/War Path
During the Second World War, Arnold’s Cove became part of Newfoundland’s extensive defence system. The American military arrived in 1941 and established anti-aircraft units and manned watchtowers at Otter Rub, where personnel monitored the surrounding coastline and Placentia Bay.
Today, the Otter Rub/War Path follows more than two kilometres of coastline from the trail entrance at the end of Peach Street to High Head. Visitors can enjoy outstanding views of Placentia Bay and its islands while exploring a landscape connected to the community’s wartime history. Benches located along the route provide places to rest, take in the scenery and watch for activity along the shoreline.
About Us
Placentia Bay
While visiting Arnold’s Cove, be sure to stop at the Placentia Bay Lookout. This breathtaking vantage point offers panoramic views of the community, the Braya refinery and the Newfoundland Transshipment Limited facility, highlighting Arnold’s Cove’s important connection to Newfoundland and Labrador’s energy industry.
Across the bay, visitors can see islands including Woody Island, Sound Island, Bar Haven, Long Island and Merasheen Island. Once home to thriving fishing communities, many of these islands are closely connected to the families who resettled in Arnold’s Cove. The lookout is also an ideal place to photograph the surrounding landscape and enjoy spectacular sunsets and moonrises over Placentia Bay.
Directions: Take Exit 26A from the Trans-Canada Highway and follow Main Road through Arnold’s Cove for approximately two kilometres. Turn right onto Whiffen Head Road and continue for 1.3 kilometres to the Placentia Bay Lookout turnoff.
Ivy’s Lookout
Located on Hollett’s Avenue, just down the road from the Drake House Museum, Ivy’s Lookout is a peaceful waterfront stopping place featuring a small gazebo beside the water. Visitors can walk along the beach, enjoy views of central Arnold’s Cove and take in the activity along the shoreline.
A signpost beside the gazebo displays the distances to several resettled communities on the islands of Placentia Bay, creating a meaningful connection between the view and the families who made Arnold’s Cove their new home.
Directions: Take Exit 26A from the Trans-Canada Highway and follow Main Road through Arnold’s Cove for approximately three kilometres. Turn right onto Hollett’s Avenue and continue for approximately 100 metres.
