Iona was a small community in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador made up of small islands that used to be inhabited. The islands were once called The Ram's or Ram's Islands.[1]
History
The population was reported to be 197 in the 1836 Census (the most populous island in Placentia Bay at the time), 100 in 1921 and 67 in 1940.[1] Iona was originally settled by Irish Roman Catholics,[1] which included but not limited to, the surnames of Griffin, Bruce, Fitzpatrick, Murphy, Sweeney, McFarrell (later McFarlane), Duke, Pope, Newman, Northover, Bird, Whiffen, and King.[2] The depression of the 1930s severely impacted the Island's people, causing many people to leave and find work. Also, in 1935 a lightning storm struck and destroyed the Island's school, in the next year the small church located on the island was destroyed by fire, and in 1937 a North Atlantic storm splintered the Island's fleet, and washed away many homes and sheds.[3] Most of the families who migrated from the island moved to the close communities of Ship Harbour, Fox Harbour and Long Harbour.[4]
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