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August 29, 1927
THE CAPE SHORE ROAD
“A PATH THROUGH A BOG”
Every Roman Catholic bishop since 1784 has been responsible for a “pastoral or Episcopal visitation” to the parishes in rural Newfoundland and Labrador that are under their jurisdiction. The “Episcopal visitation” is essentially an opportunity for the bishop to meet with the parish priest and the local people to discuss the state of the local church and its future. In that tradition, Archbishop Edward P. Roche of St. John’s made an ‘Episcopal Visitation” to the Cape Shore in August 1927.
Upon returning to his home in St. John’s, Archbishop Roche wrote a two page letter to the members of the House of Assembly in particular to Sullivan, Walsh and Sinnott who were responsible for the Placentia District that included the Cape Shore.
In his letter to the elected officials 29 August 1927 Archbishop Roche wrote “The road from Placentia to Patrick’s Cove is now complete, and passes through some of the very finest scenery in the country.”
His description about the state of the road from St. Bride’s to Branch was not as flattering. He wrote “the road is almost impassable; it can scarcely be called a road at all, being very little more than a path through a bog.”
The Archbishop was keen on seeing the roads developed from an economic perspective. He stated “the people are hard working and industrious, and better road communications would make for greater prosperity in the settlement.”
He also felt that the Cape Shore had considerable tourism potential. He wrote if the road was completed ”it will be one of the most attractive and picturesque drives in the country.” (Source 107-24-9)
“WILFULNESS OF THE CAPE SHORE ROAD”
The beauty of the Cape Shore and the condition of the road has not been lost those that have travelled the Cape Shore.
Rex Murphy the CBC host and commentator wrote in the Globe and Mail, October 6, 2001 “The going to it, (Goosebery Cove, on the Cape Shore Road) and the coming from it, over the splendid wilfulness of the Cape Shore road itself, is the only thorough justification for the invention of the automobile that has yet been hit upon.”
For more information on this and other related subjects contact the Archives of the R.C. Archdiocese. www.stjohnsarchdiocese.nf.ca
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Larry Dohey
Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John’s
P.O. Box 1363
St. John’s, NL
A1C 5M3
709-726-3660
E-mail: archives@nf.aibn.com
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