𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

Tweeting #Newfoundland trivia in bite-sized pieces. Check out for bigger bites. AKA @productofnfld

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

Atlantic puffins mate for life. Mostly. They have about a 7% ‘divorce’ rate.
—
Happy Valentine’s Day!!

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

77 years ago today -- On January 2nd, 1947, NL adopted right-hand drive. Prior to 1947 traffic drove to the left, as they still do in the UK. #newfoundland #otd

Read more: https://t.co/lFOaPX3o5K

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

On Dec 31, 1918 Cabot Tower was significantly damaged by an explosion. It was during the preparation of the noon-day gun. The signalman died. You can read more about it here:

https://t.co/MSfhcyTXwq

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

Let there be ELECTRIC light!
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137 years ago a system of electric street lamps went into operation in St. John’s.
—
Shortly after a local newspaper complained at spending $200 apiece for 25 lamps that offered “uncertain, flickering light --burning one hour, black the next.”

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

On Sept 15, 1762, Lt. Col. William Amherst
and his troops waged the Battle of Signal Hill, taking St. John’s from the French who had seized it earlier that year. It was the last major battle of the Seven Years War fought in North America. Fort Amherst is named for him.

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

The light at Cape Spear went into operation on September 1, 1836

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

More on that on the blog: https://t.co/FVddzKwqFg

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

131 years ago today St. John’s, NL burned in the Great Fire of 1892.

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

The National War Memorial in St. John’s, NL was unveiled on July 1st, 1924 — 99 years ago, today.

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

Cabot Tower, in St. John’s, NL, was officially opened in a ceremony held at 5pm, June 20, 1900.

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

On June 4, 1615, North America’s first known Court of Admiralty (or Maritime Court) sat in Trinity, NL. It was presided over by Sir Richard Whitbourne.

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

The cornerstone of the Colonial Building was laid on May 24, 1847.

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

Video from the Conception Bay Museum:

https://t.co/8eraRzCELg

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

On May 20, 1932, Amelia Earhart took off from Harbour Grace, NL and became the first woman to fly nonstop and alone across the Atlantic.

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

There were more than 100 000 sheep in pre-confederation Newfoundland by 2022 there were about 3500 on NL farms.

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

On May 17, 1857 an arch featuring a statue of St. John the Baptist was erected at the entrance of the Basilica in St. John’s. 50 years later it was moved (to allow for the widening of Military Road) and expanded to include the three archways visible today.

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

On May 15, 1919 US blimp C-5 stopped in St. John’s, NL in an attempt to make a transatlantic voyage. It broke free of it mooring, injured onlookers, drifted out to sea and was lost forever.

Read the story: https://t.co/fbjs5T6QT6

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

There are over 80km of trails through Terra Nova
National Park. That’s nearly double the length of the Trans Canada Highway through the park.

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

The pitcher plant was made the floral emblem of NL in 1954 but, even before that, it had appeared on the NL penny.

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

@lgushue Here’s a shot of the Old NL Museum without text.

Also take a look at the Aston Webb design for the University of Birmingham:

https://t.co/SSve9emD0U

[𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 @NfldFactory]

The facade of Buckingham Palace and the old Newfoundland Museum were designed by Sir Aston Webb