Report of Progress

On October 15, 1870, Howley sailed into Brigus Harbour and noticed a pinkish red limestone on both sides of the harbour.  After landing he walked out to the north head to study the rocks and he created a cross-section.  He continued working on the cross-section on October 16…

October 16, 2013, I walked out to the north head to look for the same cross-section.  His sketch in his 1870 field book showed layers of red sandstone, a thin bed of red limestone, a layer of red shale, another larger bed of limestone, a bed of red and green shale and a layer of blue limestone which formed the “sea wall”, the cliff edge so to speak.

There is now a lighthouse at the head, sitting on this big lump of shale and limestone, the layers are tilted, facing westward.  I didn’t have much difficulty identifying the shale and the limestones, they were sitting alongside one another but I’ll have to confirm that with those in the know.  According to his journal, the thin bed of red limestone he describes is only 3 inches wide and I didn’t see that at all. 

The trail was pretty rugged, up and down over huge outcrops but it was a beautiful day and the peacefulness of the place was well worth the stiff legs.

Still on the subject of Howley, his name was put forward to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada as a person that should have national recognition in Canadian history.  Gerald Penney, a local archaeologist and Derek Wilton, a geologist, put Howley’s name forward in 2012. I heard last week that the nomination is being considered.  After studying Howley’s journals I was struck by the fact that this man who left so much information about the province and contributed to the establishment of the Newfoundland Museum was practically unknown. Hopefully he will be given the status he deserves.

Here are some pictures from my day out.