Trip to O’Derin, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland
27 Aug, 2009
This weekend past my friends and I visited O’Derin. It’s a small island in the middle of Placentia Bay, Newfoundland. It takes about an hour to get there by boat from the near harbour.
O’Derin was once a small collection of fishing communities of Catholics and Anglicans. At its peak there were approxiamately 250 people living on this island. Now there is no one.
The father of one of my friends grew up on O’Derin just prior to the resettlement. His old home is one of the few remaining buildings on this desserted island. Half of those buildings are now summer cabins. The rest are rotting apart.
Many of the old residents towed their homes off the island when they had to resettle. An arial photograph of the area from the 1950′s shows many buildings all round the island. Almost none of those buildings are still standing.
Other buildings have unknown origins. This concrete foundation below may have belonged to a church long since gone. Now there are fully grown trees growing up through it.
The scenary on this island is absolutely stunning.
The island is the perfect size for anyone visiting. It’s just large enough that there’s plenty to do and see but just small enough that you can walk anywhere.
Pirate Treasure
O’Derin has its very own pirate treasure myth. The story goes that in the 18th century pirates landed on the shores of of this island and buried their treasure at the bottom of a shoreline gully. They say the bottom of this minature pond has wooden planks covering the treasure.
About fifteen years ago an ambitious man who was aware of the pirate treasure myth took it upon himself to seek it out. His strategy was to drain the water from the gully and dig from there. He dug a trench that lead from the gully to the ocean, which is about 30 metres. Today the trench remains 4-5 feet deep.
The story goes that he spent years of his life digging the trench and got no where. As quick as the water drained from the pond it filled back up. He retrieved no treasure.
There is another story of grave robbers digging up a set of old 18th century french graves hoping to find the treasure.
Anglican Graveyard
There was a graveyard at the top of one of the hills, but it wasn’t your typical graveyard.
All of the graves were scattered amongst the trees in the woods. Some were in some pretty thick bush.
There were even some that had been there so long that trees had grown near them with branches pushing the marble of the headstones over.
Many of the tombstones werer over 100 years old. The average lifespan on this island seems to have been between 10 and 30 years old. Many young kids buried here. It’s not unbelievable when you see some of the dangerous cliffs and the waves crashing in on all sides.
O’Derin is a very beautiful and interesting island and I cannot wait to revisit.
About the author
Gregory
I am an ex-pat Newfoundlander who has uprooted and moved to the big city of Toronto. I develop web applications for work and for fun. I play ultimate and ice hockey year-round and camp every chance my girlfriend will let me.
16 Comments
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August 28, 2009
Hey Greg,
Loved the post and the pictures. I’m going to suggest to my boyfriend (who is from Placentia Bay) that we go check out the area! Amazed by the old cemetary.
Take care!
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November 18, 2009
Great pictures, thank-you.
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November 18, 2009
My father,Cecil Lake, grew up in Oderin. I visit there with my siblings twice. Unfortunately, it was after resettlement. My grandfather is buried in the cemetary on top of the hill on the north side. There is a big tree growing up in front of this headstone. We have plans to revisit this island and cut down the that tree and maybe many others.
I like your pictures
Angela
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November 18, 2009
Oderin is a wonderful spot. I have visited there 5-6 times and will go back again. My father originally came from Oderin and left there to work in St. John’s when he finished school.
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November 19, 2009
As Winter bends in to have its first look @ O’Derin. P.B., it’s amazing to me just how strong, brilliant and eager for a life of their own our forefathers were! Imagine giving birth in the middle of a storm – hours away from – well, nothing, really. Placentia was building itself and wouldn’t have had much to offer other than the practised midwife. Chief Justice, Robert Stafford Furlong, Q.C., was born on O’Derin. One of MANY famous, infamous and ordinary people who took the sdpot where they landed as their own and made something of it!. Much FURLONG HISTORY – eg., family of Hon. Joseph Furlong and his lineage existing today all over. (The picture is so poignant – where the headstones are surrounded by tall, thin, fur trees. Looks like one stone has become an “arm” if you will – an arm reaching out to the lower one. Almost seems to say, ” I’m here, girl. I’ll getcha uup da once! Anna.
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November 25, 2009
Great pictures and I hope to return to Oderin soon to visit the island!
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February 24, 2010
so wonderful to see these pictures. One of my ancestors was born on crow island in 1779 but moved to cape breton when he came of age. I have always wanted to visit the place but it seems so far away.
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March 31, 2010
I enjoyed those beautiful pics of Oderin Island.It was the place of my birth, grew up ther in the 30′s and 40′s. Left there when I was 17. I remember Cecil Lake visiting Oderin when I was a child . Knew his parents Bill and Angela Lake well. I was back there tw0 years ago and planning on going back again. It is a beautiful little spot, beautiful scenery.My parents were Thomas and Theresa Burton. I have two brothers …Bill and Pete.I have so many wonderful memories of that dear little Island. Thanks for sharing the pics.
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September 29, 2010
I heard that the story of the gully with the wooden planks was actually on the flat islands just off of red harbour on the buirn penninsula.
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October 27, 2010
I have no known connection to the place and came across the site web surfing. I do however, see how someone could fall in love with the place, it’s so beautiful. It’s sad to think about so many places that were abandoned and over time the names of the people and their stories are abandoned as well. Fortunately some people return and try their best to keep these communities alive. People need to write about these places and make beautiful web sites like this one and share it with the world. Hopefully, younger generations will have that need to find their roots and visit their ancestor’s beginnings.
Thanks for sharing this web site.
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November 29, 2010
Really enjoyed seeing your pictures.I was born on Oderin, and moved to Burin when Jude Lighthouse was shut down. My father was the lighthouse keeper and has transfered to Burin’s lighthouse.
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February 09, 2011
i lived on isle valen not far from oderin. isle valen was resettled to. so nice to see pictures like this. thank you
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August 25, 2011
My husband’s family is from Oderin and we’ve been trying to get some information on his great-grandmother Elizabeth (young) Picco who married a William Lake. If you haven any information on the Lake family from Oderin I’d love to hear from you.
Thanks
Roxanne -
November 08, 2011
I am a descendant of Joseph Dicks and Mary Abbott, both residents of Oderin and Mortier on the Burin Peninsula. Before these great grand parents were my great great gp’s, John Dicks and Elizabeth Withers of Rock Harbour, Marystown area. Have long searched for records which continue my family history in the Placentia Bay. Maybe John Dicks was from Oderin or Rushoon, the search continues. Have a plan for next summer to visit the Island, leaving from Baine Harbour or Marystown (where I still have relatives) Great pictures which encourage my plan. Thanks.
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November 15, 2011
hello, i am trying to do some history of my family, and I was told that my great grandfather was from O’Derin island, his name was John Murphy, and he married Bridget Power from Placentia, please if any one have info. of this or know more about the family, please drop me a line….thanks. terrance_p_w_murphy@hotmail.com
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May 28, 2012
I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH PLACENTI BAY, ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT BEEN TO ANY OF
THE PLACES THAT WERE RESETTLED.MY MOTHER(DECEASED) WAS FROM SOUTHERN HARBOUR.(ELLEN (NELLIE) BEST,
AND MY HUSBAND WAS FROM KINGWELL.THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF ODERIN.
