Paradise History

On July 13, 1971, the Town of Paradise was officially incorporated as a municipality. First settled in the late 1800s as an area primarily for farming and logging, Paradise is now one of Atlantic Canada's fastest-growing municipalities with the youngest average-aged population in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Name Origin of Paradise

While the name’s exact origin is uncertain, there are a number of accounts that have been passed down over the years that help to shed light on the mystery. Here are the two which appear to be the most likely.

Reverend Edward Colley: Rev. Colley, an Anglican minister, served residents in several communities along the eastern part of the Conception Bay coastal area in the years between 1876 and 1904. When the first settlers of the Paradise area moved from Upper Island Cove and established themselves along what is now the St. Thomas Line area, they found themselves without any form of religious representation and were forced to make the trek into Topsail, where Rev. Colley ministered at St. John the Baptist Anglican church, in order to begin the process of officially incorporating with the Anglican ministry.

As the story goes, when Rev. Colley began to enter the names of settlers in the Parish register, he asked them if their settlement had a name. They admitted they hadn’t decided on one, and one resident admitted sarcastically that “compared to Upper Island Cove, this place is a real paradise.” Rev. Colley suggested that “Paradise” would be a fine name, and it seemed to stick, as “Paradise” shows up in the Parish Records for the first time in 1901.

Hon. William W. Woodford: The Honourable William W. Woodford, member of the House of Assembly for the Harbour Main District, which included the settlement that would eventually become Paradise, is considered by some to be the true origin of the name. Allegedly, Woodford stopped at the settlement during an election year in the very early 1900s in order to deliver a speech and potentially convince the settlers to vote for him in the upcoming election. During the speech, he remarked on the wooded setting and said it was a “Paradise.” The settlers enjoyed the description and immediately adopted it.

Source: Forstell, Nancy; McInnis, Peter; Webb, Jeff. A History of the Town of Paradise.

Town Timeline

1800 - 1899

1800 (approximately)

Horse Cove Beach is first settled by brothers-in-law Michael Laurie (Queen’s County, Ireland) and Philip Picco (Portugal Cove) who married two Jennings sisters from Portugal Cove

Other families from Portugal Cove arrive and settle, including the families of John Clarke (Aberdeen, Scotland), William Stapleton (Ireland), and James Whelan (County Kilkenny, Ireland)

1820

Topsail founded by settlers from Portugal Cove

1820s

Shore and surrounding areas of Horse Cove completely filled by settlers

Very little population growth occurs in Horse Cove area during the period from 1830-1890

1830s

Current Paradise area (Topsail Road) is initially opened by Governor of Newfoundland, Sir Thomas Cochrane (gov. 1825-1834) as a potential farming area useful for secondary industry to supplement the inshore fishing industry

First road built from St. John’s by British Garrison Engineers under leadership of Major Skinner

Professor Charles Danielle, notorious eccentric and owner/operator of Octagon Castle, born 1830 in Baltimore, Maryland

1834

NL legislature (in second session) allocates funds to improve what would become Topsail Road; this continues in 1835

1836

Topsail Road officially opens as cart path. Development is slight, mainly limited to what is now the Donovan’s area between Paradise and Mount Pearl

1850-1851

St. Thomas Line constructed, connecting Horse Cove to Topsail Road – 3.5 miles, 4-7 feet wide, following a natural valley. Government wanted to use the “Alongshore path” made by the French in 1696, which was shorter but much more difficult to traverse

(Source: Commission of Enquiry Brief – St Thomas)

1865

Mrs. Anne Fitzpatrick purchases land from Mr. David Power and establishes a hospitality house in the area of Donovans alongside Topsail Road

1877

First school opens in Horse Cove. Roman Catholic school attended by 30 students, taught by Miss J. Walsh from Torbay

1880s

Political leaders begin planning a railroad system connecting St. John’s to the rest of the island

1881

August: Railroad construction begins, passing through Paradise soon after

Anne Fitzpatrick’s hospitality house becomes the first railway station outside of St. John’s

1882

Tourism in the Paradise area begins and becomes very popular. An excursion train from St. John’s brings 300 people, 2 bands to the area

1884

A regatta takes place on Topsail Pond (Source: Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, Vol 5, pg. 398)

1885

Professor Charles Danielle begins residence in St. John’s

1890s

Land and work becomes scarce in the Upper Island Cove/Bishop’s Cove area on the opposite side of Conception Bay. Men and families begin to move to St. John’s looking for opportunities

1895

Prof. Danielle either leaves or is run out of St. John’s (accounts differ). He subsequently moves to the shores of Octagon Pond and begins building Octagon Castle

1896

June 18: “Official Opening” of Octagon Castle by Prime Minister Sir William Whiteway

1898

Spring: Nicholas Murphy, Ambrose Janes, William Coombs, Moses Gosse, Bertram Janes, John Lynch, and their families, all from Upper Island Cove, settle the interior along the Horse Cove Line. Population growth in the Horse Cove area begins again.

1900 - 1950

1900

St. Anne’s becomes “Donovans,” named after “a farmer who resided there”

1901

The name “Paradise” first appears in official records: Mary A. Clarke dies on February 22. Her place of residence is listed as Paradise

(Source: Newfoundland Vital Statistics, Harbour Main District,

http://ngb.chebucto.org/Vstats/death-reg-bk-3-1897-1902-hm.shtml )

Richard Gosse is born on September 22 and baptized on October 13. His place of birth is listed as Paradise, making him the first baby ever born in “Paradise”

(Source: Parish Records, Topsail Church of St. John the Evangelist,

http://ngb.chebucto.org/Parish/topsail-ang-bap-1860-1903-hm.shtml )

1902

May: Professor Danielle dies and Octagon Castle taken over by Frederick Brazill, Danielle’s executor and partner

1903

August 25: Sarah Lynch, daughter of original settler John Lynch, marries John Clark, making their marriage the first recorded marriage in Paradise history

(Source: Parish Records, Topsail Church of St. John the Evangelist,

http://ngb.chebucto.org/Parish/topsail-ang-mar-1-1863-1963-hm.shtml )

1904

Mr. Robert Fowlow from Trinity purchases Octagon Castle

1906

March 2: Octagon Castle burns down and is subsequently rebuilt. It remains popular.

First school opens in Paradise (suggested date; may be slightly later)

1911

Paradise first appears in the Newfoundland census, showing a population of 96, with 297 acres owned and occupied, 247 having been improved, with 50 acres under cultivation

“Christian Organization,” a non-denominational Christian religion, is introduced to Paradise residents by James Patrick

1914

March 31: The sealing ship “Southern Cross” is lost off the southeast Avalon coast in an intense blizzard. Albert Clarke, William Clarke, Ambrose Sharp, William Sharp, Walter Lynch, all Paradise residents, perish

1915

Fire destroys Octagon Castle for a second time. Fowlow’s involvement ends

1921

53 of 150 Paradise residents are members of “Christian Organization” religion. Previously, nearly all were Anglican.

1922

January 30: Horse Cove is officially renamed St. Thomas, after Father Thomas O’Connor, a Catholic priest who served the coastal areas between Portugal Cove and Kelligrews

(Source: Commission of Enquiry Brief – St Thomas)

1930

January: David Lynch grants Newfoundland Light and Power rights to install poles/wires to provide electricity to Paradise, but installation doesn’t take place until years later

1939-45

WWII changes industry from predominant farming/agriculture to incorporate more manufacturing and construction

1951 - 2000

1951

September: Smallwood’s foreign industry expansion arrived in Paradise. MIAG, a German company agrees to establish a heavy machinery plant in the community

1952

July 29: Canadian Machinery and Industries Corporation plant established. Aims to sell, manufacture and buy electrical, mining and industrial equipment.

1953

A large section of the Canadian Machinery and Industries plant is converted to classrooms for an apprentice training program. 17 students enrolled

1966

Steel mill opens

1969

Government aid to the mill allows the opening of a new melting shop, making the mill one of the largest in the world. Employs 140 people, but quickly goes downhill.

1971

Town of Paradise officially incorporated

1973

Council takes control of development from the St. John’s Metropolitan Area Board (Source: Paradise Concept Plan, 1990)

1977

Modern day Paradise begins to come together. “The original community before incorporation consisted of the area on both sides of Paradise Rd, which is the road running between the Topsail Highway and the Horse Cove Line. In the past, development took place only along the frontage of the road. The same is true of the Topsail Highway, running through Paradise. In other words, the development pattern of Paradise consists of a triangle of three distinct ribbons of development - ie. Topsail Road, Paradise Road, and the Horse Cove Line” (Source: Paradise Concept Plan, 1977)

October 21: St. Thomas officially incorporated (source: St. Thomas Municipal Plan, 1985)

1978

Richard “Dick” Squires elected as the first Mayor of St. Thomas (Source: Shoreline, February 23, 2017)

1981

July 22: Official opening of new St. Thomas town hall (Source: The Daily News, July 27, 1981)

1982

Provincial government dissolves Council after mismanagement of funds and appoints a three-member commission to take over town operations (Source: The Sunday Telegram, May 26, 1991)

1985

March: citizens win the right to have an open election (Source: The Sunday Telegram, May 26, 1991)

March 26: Election takes place. Resulting council: Bill Lewis, mayor; Danne Whalen, deputy mayor: Edward Fifield; Fred Brown; Roy Sheppard; Lloyd Hussey; Andrew Farrell

April 1, 1985: First Town of Paradise council meeting (Source: Peter Wells)

1986

November 17: Dianne Whalen becomes Mayor after Bill Lewis resigns

(Source: Peter Wells)

1989

Richard Squires re-elected as mayor after a number of years. The 1989 municipal election would be the final one before the town was amalgamated with Paradise, making Squires the town’s first and last mayor.

(Source: Shoreline, February 23, 2017)

1990

November 13: Another election held. The results:

Dianne Whalen, mayor

Guy Badcock, deputy mayor

Fred Brown

Deborah Hayes

Gordon Janes

Gerry Power

Sterling Willis

(Source: Peter Wells)

1992

January: Election held due to upcoming amalgamation. The results:

Dianne Whalen, mayor

Gerry Power, deputy mayor

Guy Badcock

Fred Brown

Deborah Hayes

Gordon Janes

Sterling Willis

(Source: Peter Wells)

February: Paradise is officially amalgamated with St. Thomas, Topsail Pond, Three Island Pond, Elizabeth Park, and Evergreen Village (Source: Evening Telegram, February 29, 1992)

1993

November 9: Another election is held to coincide with municipal elections across the province. The results:

Dianne Whalen, Mayor

Sterling Willis, Deputy Mayor

Fred Brown

Eric Eveleigh

Gerry Power

Deborah Quilty

Fred Thornhill

(Source: Peter Wells)

April 7: Newly amalgamated Paradise-St. Thomas-Topsail Pond-Three Island Pond officially named “Paradise” after survey/vote. 76% for “Paradise,” 1% for “St. Thomas,” 7% for “Paradise-St. Thomas,” 16% other (Source: Evening Telegram, April 8, 1992)

1998

July 18-19: Paradise Rocks ’98 is held at the Fairways Golf property. Performers include Heart, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foreigner, and Pat Benatar (Source: Evening Telegram, April 14, 1998)

2001 - 2018

2003

October 21: Dianne Whalen steps down as Mayor after winning provincial seat

(Source: The Telegram, November 6, 2003)

November: Fred Brown elected as Mayor

(Source: The Telegram, November 6, 2003)

2005

April: Mayor Fred Brown announces he will not seek re-election

(Source: Shoreline, April 2, 2005)

October: Ralph Wiseman elected as Mayor. Council at this time:

Ralph Wiseman, Mayor

Deborah Quilty, Deputy Mayor

Allan English

Ed Howlett

Fred Thornhill

Dan Bobbett

Sterling Willis

(Source: Shoreline, October 9, 2005)

2009

September 29: Municipal election ends in controversy after 19-year-old Kurtis Coombs is elected Mayor by a margin of three votes. Ralph Wiseman, the opposing candidate, calls for an official recount (Source: Shoreline, October 3, 2009)

October 1: Recount determines the mayoral race ended in a tie. Coombs and Wiseman’s names are put into a recycling container and Wiseman’s name is picked, resulting in him officially becoming Mayor (Source: Shoreline, October 3, 2009)

October 13: Judicial recount confirms tie (Source: The Telegram, October 14, 2009)