History of St. Bride's
 
                            The first settlers to arrive in St.Bride's came from Ireland.
                            They were a part of Ronald Sweetmans's fishing crew in the
                            early 1800's.  At this time, St.Bride's was called La Stress
                            Cove.  The French People named this area La Stress Cove
                            because of it's green and fertile plains.  Then, just like most
                            other French names, La Stress was later given an English
                            conversion - Distress.  This name, not being a pleasant
                            sound, was later changed to St.Bride's.
 
                            St. Bride's was first known for its agricultural industry.
                            Most  residents farmed and/or fished for a living.  Fishing
                            commenced in St. Bride's in the mid 19th century.
                            Primarily, fish landings  were small for there were very few
                            fishermen.  However, it gradually grew to become the
                            number one industry of the community and area.
 
                            The fish was sold in salt bulks, until the early 1960's when a
                            fresh fish processing plant was opened in St.Bride's.  In
                            1962,  Newfoundland Quick Freeze, owned by Mr. Con
                            O'Brien, built a plant that bought, processed, and shipped
                            fish from St.Bride's in frozen blocks.  In its peak year, this
                            plant employed 225 people. Consequently, when the fish
                            plant was burnt down on July 4, 1968, the people of St.
                            Bride's were greatly affected.  At this time, it was estimated
                            that there were 88 families in  St.Bride's and 458 people
                            were dependent on the fishery. Nevertheless, part of the
                            operation was eventually rebuilt and continued to operate
                            until 1981, when the company went into voluntary
                            liquidation.  Presently, the Fish Plant in St. Bride's is
                            owned by Mr. Jim Lewis.  This plant employs many
                            individuals during the summer months.

                            Furthermore, the first people buried in St.Bride's were
                            buried at  La Perche and they were of French descent.
                            Then, in 1979, a new graveyard was constructed in
                            St.Bride's.  This land was donated by Mr. Philip Dohey
                            Sr. and it was conscripted by  Archbishop Penney.
                            Finally, the graveyard was opened in 1981.

                            Overall, it is obvious that St. Bride's was a very different
                            community compared to what it was many years ago.

Censuses of St. Bride's
                            Census of 1836
                            Population:  39
                            10 houses
                            Nobody fished
                                   Possessed 82 acres of land with 77 cultivated
                            Harvest 2160 bushels of potatoes, 12 bushels of oats, 66
                            tons of hay.
                            Owned 12 horses, 98 cows, 21 hogs, and 8 sheep.

                            Census of 1874
                            Population: 140; 29 families; 13 residents from Ireland and 1
                            from Scotland.
                            79 fishermen with 22 boats, landed 2250 quintals of cod
                            13 farmers with 203 cattle, 30 horses, 139 sheep, and 113
                            seines on 200 acres of land.
                            Produced 60 bushels of oats and 5460 lbs of butter

                            Census of 1935
                            Population: 320 in 63 families
                            Fishermen operated 40 dories and 5 motorboats
                            171 acres of land supported 45 horses and ponies, 242 cattle
                            and 269 sheep
                            A total of 34,650 gallons of milk & 5,685 lbs of butter
                            was produced and 37 furs were sold for $21.00 each

                            Census of 1945
                            Population: 101
                            13 houses with 2 under construction
                            13 farmers and 31 engaged in catching & curing fish
                            Owned 14 boats, 37 nets & seines & owned 6 seal nets that
                            caught 17 seals
                            304 acres of land cultivated, 19 tons of hay cut, 20 bushels,
                            605 barrels of potatoes, and 26 barrels of turnips.
                            Owned 128 beef cattle, 57 milch cows, 15 horses, 81 sheep,
                            and 62 swine and goats.

                            Census of 1981
                            Population: 599
                            162 houses