We are fortunate to be able to obtain the information from whom this schooner was named – Winnie (Warren) Brown. Mrs. Brown, who was born in 1919, recalled that her father, Albert Warren Sr., had the schooner in 1928 and estimates a period of fours years before that. What she didn’t know was whether her father built the boat or if it was purchased from a previous owner.
In 1934, the Warren family moved to Broad Cove, Placentia Bay. Albert Warren repaired the Winnie that year. He cut a new keel and his daughter, Winnie, now fourteen years old, sewed new sails. Mr. Warren bought most of the other supplies he needed from Freeman Wareham in Spencer’s Cove. Mr. Wareham had just had his first child, a son, named Eric. He asked Mr. Warren if he could add his sons’ name to the boat.
During the time Albert Warren Sr. owned the Winnie and Eric, he fished the Merasheen Banks with a crew of three and made routine trips to St. Pierre for “spullys”
Eric Bolt of Tack’s Beach bought the Winnie and Eric from Albert Warren Sr. in 1942 (approx.) and he fished off Merasheen in her with his father, Samuel Bolt, and one other crew for about twenty five years.
Eric moved to Arnold’s Cove in 1966 as part of the Resettlement Program and two years later, he sold the Winnie and Eric to Nelson Adams of Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Nelson was the great-grandson of Thomas Adams, who came over from Sturminster Newton, Dorset, Great Britain around 1820 and set up a farm at Bordeaux. Nelson's father moved to Montreal but Nelson came back to Bordeaux for summer vacations every year. Nelson used the schooner as a pleasure craft, sailing around Newfoundland and St. Pierre, salmon fishing on the South Coast. He sailed her around the Maritime provinces starting at Richibucto and docking at St. John. The following year, he sailed her south along the eastern seaboard to Maryland. She remained in New Brunswick until she was returned to Arnold’s Cove in the summer of 2007.
The “Lady Anderson” was originally built as a yacht for a lumber merchant in the United States. She was later purchased by the Newfoundland Government to use as a hospital ship that provided medical service to the islands of Placentia Bay and the Southwest coast. Throughout the mid 1900’s the ship serviced to twenty six ports in the Placentia Bay area once a month bringing a doctor to provide medical care as well as emergency transportation to the Argentia hospital. The trip would start at Red Island and go out as far as Port Elizabeth Island.
Every day when the ship stopped in port the deck of the boat would fill with patients that needed medical care. Most days the doctor would see 25 or 30 patients. Some larger ports they could be stopped for a couple of days.
Tuberculosis was an epidemic at that time and they came across cases in which the individuals came on the boat to be treated and ended up in the sanatorium where they would stay for long periods of time before being able to go home.
If the doctor couldn’t do anything more for the patient, they would be brought to Argentia to the hospital.
She was eventually sold to Geoff Sterling of St. John’s and used her as a personal yacht. She was later bought by Guy Earl Company in Carbonear and finally ended up anchored in Wesleyville and she sunk at anchorage and she was blown up to remove her from the area.
The Christmas Seal, previously known as the USCB Shearwater was built in 1943 as a crash rescue boat operating out of Argentia for the United States Army Air Force. The 104 foot vessel was equipped with emergency medical facilities which could accommodate up to twenty-three people. She served the US Armed Forces until 1947, when she was purchased by the Newfoundland and Labrador Tuberculosis Association for $5,000 US and converted into a floating clinic. The vessel had gotten its name from the TB Assoc. sale of Christmas Seals, small stamps which were placed on mail during the Christmas season and used to raise funds and awareness of the lung disease, tuberculosis. The sale of the stamps continued, in an effort to fund the operations of the vessel and its dedicated crew. Tuberculosis was a dreaded, contagious disease which attacked many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. No nook or cranny in our province was spared. From 1947, the Christmas Seal sailed to isolated outports along the coast screening residents for TB, which was the leading cause of death in our province, at the time. Under the command of Captain Peter Troake of Twillingate, the vessel was fitted to provide chest x-rays, test for diabetes and carry out vaccinations for TB and polio (Oh! Those dreaded scratches!). It also provided emergency medical evacuations and circulated general health information to folks all along our coastline. Investment in the Christmas Seal definitely paid off. In 1947 there were 500 deaths caused by TB in our province and just eleven years later, in 1958, it had declined to 64. By 1970, roads around our province had improved greatly and the rate of infection declined. This meant the “Old Girl” wasn’t needed, anymore. After spending nearly a quarter of a century serving the people of our province, the Christmas Seal was sold and later chartered to perform oceanography work, out of Halifax, NS. It was there she performed her last task. During the morning of May 13, 1976 there was an explosion in her engine room. The ship burned and eventually sank. No lives were lost....Just the way the “Old Girl” would have wanted it.
(Photo) The Christmas Seal docked at the old Government Wharf in Arnold’s Cove.
In 1940, Billy Brown of Tack’s Beach started to build a 40-tonne schooner to be propelled by sail and motor for the coasting trade. It was to be called the “Susan and George” however, just before its completion, Mr. Freeman Wareham of Spencer's Cove heard of this boat and sent Captain Alex Rodway to look at her.
As a result, a deal was made and a chequek for $1000 and an old 27 tonne western shore boat (the Polyanthus). Mr. Wareham called the new Boat Ernst Baxter. It was first used as a trader by Mr. Murdock Beck of Swift Current but for most of its life it was a lobster collector around the bay and skippered by Mr. Clev Rodway or Mr. Gordon Rodway from Kingwell.
It spent its last days on the beach in Kingwell.
Built at Shelburne, Nova Scotia in 1941, schooner, 148 gross tons, official number 170668, registered at St. John's, Newfoundland and owned by W.W. Wareham Limited, Harbour Buffett, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland in 1959. Burnt at the wharf at St. Kyran's, Placentia Bay on 23 November, 1966.
The Anna V. Fagan was built for the Fagan Family in St. Mary's in 1935. In 1958 along with Jim Vaters of Spencer's Cove, Philly Pardy Jr. and Philly Pardy Sr. of Port Anne, and Billy Bolt of Tack's Beach, William Brown rebuilt the Anna V. Fagan for H.C.Brown and Sons Ltd. in Tack's Beach. She was enlarged from 35 tons to 50 tons. She was later sold to M.A. Powell in Carbonear in 1967.
Built at Creston, Newfoundland, by T.J. Hodder in 1950, 243 gross tons, wooden fishing schooner, official number 191250, owned by Alberto Wareham Ltd., St. John's, Newfoundland in 1956. Caught fire and sank off Port Royal, Long Island, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland on 13 November 1956 under the command of Capt. Lawrence Walsh.
Built at Collingwood, Ontario in 1960, 460 registered tons, official number 311861, registered at St. John's, Newfoundland and owned by the Ministry of Transport, Ottawa, Ontario. Coastal boat, used mostly in Placentia Bay. Caught fire in Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, March 14, 1984. It was towed out and sunk, June 22, 1984
Ex "Petit Forte"- '61 - Built by Saint John Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Saint John, New Brunswick, 1961, 1036 gross tons, official number 311873, registered at St. John's, Newfoundland and owned by the Canadian Government (Ministry of Transport) in 1962. She originally operated in Placentia Bay, but subsequently served on Newfoundland's south coast and Labrador's coast. She held 98 passengers but no automobiles. Retired from active service with CN Marine at the end of 1982.
In 1946, Clem Berkshire of Spencer’ s cove decided to get a schooner built and John Pomroy was hired to the do the job. He engaged people at Marystown to cut the timber and purchased the plank and decking at Glovertown. The 52 tonne Bertha Joyce was built at Great Paradise, and launched in August 1947. She was brought from there to Spencers Cove where she was fitted with a 66 horsepower Diesel engine and also fitted with a aForesail, Riding Sail, and Jumbo to help her along. Theis schooner was to be used mostly between St. John’s and communitys of placentia Bay, bringing supplies from St. John’s and taking Sald Cod, Cod oil, mackerel, hering etc. to St. John’s.
On May 6, 1960, the Bertha Joyce became a total loss when she ran into a cliff Northwest of St. Shotts while enroute to St. John’s from Placentia Bay. The incident happened about 3:00 am in dense fog. She did not strike bottome but sailed straight into the cliff. She was backed clear of the face of the cliff but was leaking so badly that she sand within 20 minutes. It was a very calm night however, and the crew had no difficulty in launching the dory and rowing to he beach at St. Shotts. Theere they hired a Taxi to tkke them to St. Jouhns.
Clem purchased the Annetta Lovetta, a 66 tonne vessel built in 1935 from George Bennetof Port Aux Bras. The vessel had been laid up for a couple of years and had to have repairs She was repaired in Spencer’s Cove and when she was rebuilt, the Annetta Lovetta was renamed Bertha Joyce.
Clem would always take a few of the younger men from the area on a trip and many Placentia Bay seafarers today got there first true taste of the sea under the watchful eye of Clem Berkshire.
By the late 1960’s most of the people had left the islands of Placentia Bay due to resettlement.
The Bertha Joyce was used as a collector boat in Placentia Bay. Sold to Harry Wareham of St. John’s c1972.
Later it was purchased by Tom Brewer of Southern Harbour and he changed the name to the Placentia Bay Queen.
Built at Stockton Springs, Maine, 1919, 1109 gross tons, official number 177035, schooner, registered at St. John's, Newfoundland and owned by Alberto Wareham Ltd. of Spencer's Cove, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland in 1947. In June of 1947, under the command of Capt. Alec Rodway, on a voyage from Gibraltar with salt for Newfoundland she ran into a heavy gale and sank about 500 miles off Cape St. Vincent.
Built at Meteghan, Nova Scotia in 1932, registered at St. John's, Newfoundland in 1941, 48 gross tons, official number 158145, owned by Freeman Wareham, Spencer's Cove, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland.
In the early 1960’s Billy Brown repaired the Evette a 16 tonne boat in Spencer’s cove for Freeman Wareham. She was built for Alberto Wareham Ltd. In Spencer’s Cove in 1945, by Philly Pardy of Burnt Island (Port Anne).
Built in Essex, Massachusetts in 1919, 270 gross tons, official number 142946, registered at St. John's, Newfoundland #18 in 1920, owned by Isaac Wakely, merchant of Harbour Buffett, Placentia Bay in that same year. By 1924 she was owned by Jeremiah Petite (jr.) of St. John's until 1931. After that she does not appear in the records.
Built at Bar Haven, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, registered at St. John's, 1936 #091, official number 170034, schooner, 31 gross tons, owned by Alberto Wareham , merchant of Harbour Buffett, Placentia Bay at that time.
Billy Brown went across the bay to Woody Island to rebuild a 19 tonne boat for Alex Lockyer that he bought in Clattice Harbour. She was built in St. Anns, Placentia Bay in 1943 for James Flynn. Billy and Timmy Hollett of Tack’s Beach rebuilt the "James and Lucy" that Alex used for many years carrying mail and food supplies around the bay. The "James & Lucy" delivered the mail to thirteen post offices in Placentia Bay, twice a week. The service it provided was commonly referred to as "The Arnold's Cove and Isle Valen water service." This year-round service wasn an important service for the people of Placentia Bay.
Tweedsmuir was built at Milltown, Bay d'Espoir, Newfoundland in 1935, official number 170005, schooner, 49 gross tons, owned by Wilfred W. Wareham of Harbour Buffett in 1937.
The Delroy wasb built at Burnside, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland in 1949, 82 gross tons, and registered at St. John's, Newfoundland. She was owned by Jerry Petite and Sons Limited, English Harbour West, Newfoundland in 1959.
The Delroy caught fire and sank on July 27, 1972 between Merasheen and Arnold's Cove, Placentia Bay. Of the fifteen people on board, nine were lost.
On April 11, 2013, 41 years after the tragedy, Loyola Pomroy, who survived the sinking, and Ray Berkshire, captain of the "Bertha Joyce", were presented with the Canadian Red Cross's Rescuer Award, for their help in saving six lives that night.
Captain Raymond (Ray) Berkshire 1937 - 2016
Captain Ray Berkshire spent his Life on the Sea and for much of that time he was dedicated to servicing the residents of Placentia Bay. Born in Spencers Cove in 1937, he started his career as a teenager with his father Clem, on the family owned schooner Bertha Joyce. The vessel had been built for Clem in 1946-47 and named for his two oldest daughters. They primarily collected Salt Cod, Cod oil etc. brought it to St. John’s, returning with supplies for the isolated communities around the Bay. The original Bertha Joyce was lost near St. Shotts, in the spring of 1960. Fortunately all hands were able to abandon the ship safely. Shortly after, they purchased another schooner, repaired it, renamed it Bertha Joyce, and were soon back trading again.
In 1965 Ray resettled with his young Family, to Arnold’s Cove as did many other families from the Bay. By the late 1960’s, resettlement had brought about change to the family business. The Berkshire’s trade was now primarily focused on collecting fresh Cod from the resettled fishermen who now went back to their recently abandoned homesteads in the summer months to fish. This fish was brought in to be processed at the fish plant in Arnold’s Cove.
In the early 1970’s the decision was made to sell the Bertha Joyce, Clem retired and Ray was thinking of pursuing a new venture on land. This plan was short lived however. The Sea called Ray back and within a year he had been persuaded by the new owner of the Bertha Joyce to go back onboard as Captain. Shortly after Ray bought the vessel back, the pull of the Sea was too strong.
Now in his early 30’s, Ray started his own business, continuing to collect Fresh and Salt Cod, Lobster etc. from the fishermen of Placentia Bay, and also pick up any other freight contracts he could find!
Not only did he collect the fish but he also provided other essential service to the fishermen, picking up supplies to bring out to them such as groceries, building materials and other day to day essentials. Ray would take notes, get these items picked up and deliver them to the fishermen so that they did not have to lose valuable time away from the fishing grounds themselves. The other invaluable service he provided was the transport of the fishermen themselves, as well as their families, back and forth from their homes, to the Summer fishing stations. The collection service was 6 days a week and there was seldom a day went by when there wasn’t at least one and often several people, catching a ride along some part of the route. Other people often just came onboard for a day on the Bay. There was never any charge to these people, for the delivery of goods or their passage and when meal times came around, everyone onboard was welcome to whatever was on the menu. Everyone was treated alike whether they were lifelong friends or complete strangers. One Longshoreman in St. John’s who was often treated to the hospitality offered on the Bertha Joyce fondly referred to the vessel as “The Orphan’s Home”
The Berkshire’s were also very much a starting point, or training ground, for many young men who first got their “Sea Legs” with Captain Ray, or his Father before him, and went on to enjoy long and rewarding careers for themselves on the Sea.
In 1979 with the opening of the new larger Fish Plant in Arnold’s Cove, Ray added to his fleet with the purchase of a larger vessel, a 105 foot schooner which he renamed “Bertha Joyce II”. The name Bertha Joyce was now synonymous with Ray, around Placentia Bay.
The 1980’s saw Ray expand his business north into Labrador as well, while still maintaining the fish collection service in Placentia Bay. The The 80’s also saw the transition from wooden to Steel Cargo ships with increased Capacity, in 1984 he purchased the 137’ freighter Paradise Sound in England. This vessel replaced the Bertha Joyce II. This was the first of 4 steel freighters the family would purchase and bring across the Atlantic over the next 26 years. By now Rays two sons were both Captains as well and following in their Father and Grandfather’s footsteps. 1997 saw the Addition of the 175’ Placentia Sound, in 2001 came the 170’ Saint Oran and lastly the 206’ Long Island in 2010.
On the night of July 27, 1972 Ray was to play a key role in one of the most devastating maritime tragedies ever in Placentia Bay. Another fish collector, the schooner Delroy, was returning to Arnold’s Cove from the resettled community of Merrasheen when fire broke out in the engine room. The Delroy carried a Crew of 5 but also had onboard 10 additional Men, Women and Children, returning from a summer vacation visiting with Family members fishing in Merasheen. Less than an hour from safely reaching Arnold’s Cove, the Delroy experienced a rapidly intensifying engine room fire. The Bertha Joyce was ahead of the Delroy, only moments from port when they saw an eerie orange glow in the Sky behind them in the area where they knew the Delroy should be. Unable to reach them by radio, Ray turned around and headed back to investigate. Once he got within a couple of miles it was clear that the vessel was ablaze. He circled the Delroy several times as closely as he could but could see no sign of anyone. He then proceeded to the nearest Island, to see if those onboard may be there. After finding nothing he returned to the Delroy and shortly after spotted a target on the Radar some distance away. When he got to it, he found the Delroy’s overturned Dory with six survivors clinging to it. Of the 9 souls that did not survive, only one body was ever recovered. If Ray and his crew had not returned to the scene and been persistent in the search effort the tragedy would have been even worse. In 2013, 41 years after the tragedy, Ray, along with Loyola Pomeroy, one of the survivors pulled from the water that night, were formally recognized for their roles in saving those lives.
Ray was a very humble and patient man, a friend to all who knew him. He treated everyone with the same respect, no matter their social status. Never one to get upset or agitated whatever the circumstance. Some years ago, a St. John’s merchant, not known for being very free with compliments, referred to Ray as “One of Nature’s Gentlemen”. A very fitting description for skipper Ray.
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