CLARENVILLE’S HISTORY
(1822 - Present)
This page is a collection of historical pieces that I have gathered over time. It is just a start as I add articles regularly. Any errors or omissions are my own. I invite your suggestions. Click the title for content detail.
Photo Archive
Collection of Historical Photos of Clarenville (Photos by others)
The Origins of Our Town
Clarenville: The Origins of a Municipality
Shoal Harbour: The Origins of a Municipality
A Short History of Shoal Harbour
A Short History of Clarenville
Joined at the Hub: The Amalgamation of Clarenville and Shoal Harbour
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CLARENVILLE’S HISTORICAL TIMELINE
Chronology of Key Events in Clarenville's History
1822 - William Cormack's Cross-Island Trek
1846 - Scholar John Tilley's Summer Home
1848 - First Permanent Settlement
1891 - Clarenville was named by Newfoundland Prime Minister Sir William Vallance Whiteway
1891 - The Newfoundland Railway Arrives
1911 - The Bonavista Branch Line - Clarenville Hub
1900-1950 - Steam Sawmills Built
1914-1918 - Call to World War 1
1933 Balbo Armada arrives in Clarenville
1933 - Electrification of Clarenville
1937 - Clarenville Colas Plant
1939-45 - Call to World War 2
1942 - Clarenville’s Shipyard Built
1943-1947 - The Splinter Fleet & The Clarenville
1948 - Newfoundland Hardwoods
1951 - Municipal Governance Begins (Clarenville)
1951 - Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 27 Opens
1952 - Hefferton Causeway Constructed
1956 - TAT1 Clarenville Telecommunications Hub Installed
1957 - Mercer’s Marine Opens
1961 - Massive Forest Fire Leads to Modern Water Bombers
1961 - Clarenville Hockey Players Involved in Plane Crash in St. Pierre
1961 - Clarenville’s Volunteer Fire Department Formed
1962 - Public Library Opened
1963 - Shoal Harbour Causeway Built
1964/65 - Trans Canada Highway Constructed
1964/65 - Clarenville’s District Vocational Opened
1965 - Clarenville Holiday Inn - A Modern Hotel
1967 - Bare Mountain (Centennial) Star Erected
1968 - Clarenville Coop Formed
1970 - Building the Clarenville Shopping Centre (the Lower Mall)
1970-73 Come by Chance Refinery Project
1971/72 - The Clarenville Area Recreation Association Formed
1973 - Municipal Governance (Shoal Harbour)
1973 - Clarenville Nordic Ski Club Opens
1974 - Manitoba Drive Built
1986 - Come by Chance Refinery Closure
1976 - Clarenville High School
1978 - UFO sighting over Random Island
1979 - Tilley’s Road Softball Field - Elizabeth Swan Park
1981 - Manitoba Drive named
1981 - Random Square Mall
1982 - Clarenville Correctional Facility
1983 - Boonie's Medals of Bravery
1983 - Balbo Elementary
1984 - Clarenville’s New Library
1986 - G.B. Cross Hospital Opens
1987 - Come by Chance Refinery Reopens
1988 - Railway Closure
1988-1989 - White Hills Ski Resort Opens
1989/90 - The Hibernia Project Begins
1991 - The Rotary Trail Built
1994 - Together as One - Amalgamation
1994 - NL Winter Games
1995 - New Shoal Harbour River Bridge (Which would link Upper and Lower Clarenville via Shoal Hrb. Drive in 2004)
1997 - Government Services Centre
1999 - Clarenville.net - The Clarenville Town Webpage is Born
2000 - The Star is Reborn
2000 - Save White Hills
2001 - The Clarenville Rotary Marina
2001 - The 50th Anniversary of Clarenville
2003 - Clarenville Heritage Society formed
2003 - First Seniors Focused Development
2004 - Shoal Harbour Drive
2004 - Targa
2006 - New Walmart
2006 - New Shoal Harbour River Water Treatment Plant
2006 - IEEE Recognize TAT 1
2006 - Arts Under the Stars
2006 - Locomotive 900 Relocated to Clarenville
2009 The New Clarenville Events Centre
2009 - Clarenville wins Tidy Towns
2009 - Dr. Albert O’Mahony Centre Opens
2009, 2010 & 2018 The Clarenville Caribous Capture the Herder Trophy
2010 - Hurricane Igor
2010/11 - Hebron Project begins
2012 - Kraft Celebration Tour
2013 - Crest Bus/Age Friendly
2014 - Clarenville Hosts 2014 NL Winter Games
2015 - Clarenville Hosts the Allan Cup
2016 - Boonie's Shave for ALS
2019 - Re-Opening of Elizabeth Swan Park
2020 - New Clarenville Fire Hall
2022 - New Clarenville Town Hall
2022 - 70 years and counting: Clarenville
2023 - White Hills: Mackenzie Top Peaks Challenge Winner
2023 - The Shoal Harbour Causeway Bridge Replace
2023 - The new Shoal Harbour War Memorial opened
2026 - The Town’s 75th
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Links to our History
Elements of Clarenville’s Statistical Profile and History
Clarenville Historical Slideshow
Clarenville's Waterfront History Display
A Snapshot of Downtown Clarenville Businesses
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