Grey River is a small remote fishing community located on the south coast of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Grey River was first settled in the early 1800s by English 'youngsters' brought to Newfoundland via great merchant houses based at Ramea, Burgeo, and Gaultois. James Style was the earliest known resident reported in 1835.
History
The settlement was first named Little River. A severe measles outbreak occurred in the early 1900s. Settlers wired a doctor at St. John's to request advice and medical supplies. The dispatch was sent to Little River on the north-east coast instead of this settlement on the south-west coast. As a result, there were quite a few deaths and the name was changed to Grey River to prevent similar happenings.
Economy
Fishing has long remained the main industry in Grey River with the salmon fishery becoming an economic backbone for the community. Since the 1960s and 1970s, residents have increasingly returned to the salmon fishery for income. The scallop fishery also proposes a viable fishing alternative.
Sawmill, mine, and bunkhouse
The sawmill in Little River was built in 1955 by then owner, Tom Young, and is currently owned by Garfield Young. Lumber made at this sawmill was sold to several places outside Little River. It was turned into a gas pump in 1988 once the sawmill had fallen out of use and a place to store gasoline and fuel was needed. Prior to this, fuel was stored outside in large drums. Grey River Tungsten of Buchans, NL started the mine upon discovering plentiful tungsten. They dumped the leftover dirt about a hundred meters from the mine entrance by using a little cart run by a diesel motor. The mine went in the cliff about a mile and a half. The mine shut down because the price of Tungsten dropped on the world market. Today, the stock price lists at a penny or two per share. The property is located adjacent to the fishing village of Grey River. The miners built the bunkhouse in 1962. Some miners stayed there while others stayed in their homes. An American company named Carco owned the mine and the bunkhouse, but now Liberty Resources does. Inside the bunkhouse, there was just a straight hallway with sleeping quarters on each side. Today, teachers stay in the bunkhouse. A 6,300 foot long adit has been driven into the Main Vein from near the village of Grey River at approximately 40 metres above sea level. Docking and wharf facilities existed at the Asarco adit but the present conditions are not known. A large government-owned wharf in Grey River is serviced by coastal boat from Burgeo, a coastal port about 40 km to the west. Burgeo is linked by Route 480 to the Trans-Canada Highway and Stephenville airport approximately 125 km to the North. The claims are accessed by foot and helicopter while the Main Zone adit is within 150 metres by gravel trail from Grey River village. A local diesel generator supplies electricity to Grey River. The population today reaches only about 160 residents. The first reported census of 1857 reveals a population of only thirteen citizens. Located between two mountains, a sheltered basin offers protection from the raging winds which often stop the ferry service from running on schedule. These hills reach an elevation of 199–305 meters or 1000 feet.
