Our Story:
Our story begins in the mid 18th century when the land that The Three Sisters now sits on was owned by the merchant Jame's E. Croucher. Originally built as a private residence, the building would be used commercially until the sale of the building to the Byrne family in the early 1900's.
Originally Byrne's Dry Goods, known locally as "Belle Byrne's", the building was expanded into a general store which carried all manner of good from sneakers to twine to mend fishing nets!
In the 1990's, the Byrne family converted the business into Belle's restaurant in honour of the late owner and proprietor Belle Byrne. The restaurant operated seasonally and catered to the influx of hungry locals and tourists coming from the Argentia ferry and into the province each year.
Belle's closed in 2008 when it was sold to the Whelan family who've operated The Three Sisters ever since!
Originally Byrne's Dry Goods, known locally as "Belle Byrne's", the building was expanded into a general store which carried all manner of good from sneakers to twine to mend fishing nets!
In the 1990's, the Byrne family converted the business into Belle's restaurant in honour of the late owner and proprietor Belle Byrne. The restaurant operated seasonally and catered to the influx of hungry locals and tourists coming from the Argentia ferry and into the province each year.
Belle's closed in 2008 when it was sold to the Whelan family who've operated The Three Sisters ever since!
"The Three Sisters"
The name "The Three Sisters" has several meanings:
It could refer to the rivers Noir, Suire and Barrow in Ireland which converge in Tipperary. While the Irish never founded an official colony in Placentia, after the treaty of Utrecht, the French were forced from their colony of Plaisance (a military and strategic foothold in the new world) either back to French or to the settlement of Isle Royale (Cape Breton). This left the English requiring "planters" or families skilled in agriculture to farm crops for the winter season. As the colony of English "Placentia" could rely on supply ships only in the summer and autumn months, the rocky and inhospitable land needed to be worked. The Irish were perfectly suited to this task and were often picked up by the English via supply stops on their way to and from the colony. By 1713, a majority of settlers on the Cape Shore were neither French nor English but Irish - many from the Tiperary region.
It could refer to the Agricultural technique which revolutionized farming by using "companion planting". Combining Corn, squash and climbing beans. Squash shelters the ground preventing weeds, beans fix nitrogen for the soil and corn provides a pole for the beans and squash to grow onto.
Or it could refer to the Whelan sisters: Anne, the owner; Jane, former manager and Susan, favourite patron. If you're lucky you might run into them on a visit to their home-town!
It could refer to the rivers Noir, Suire and Barrow in Ireland which converge in Tipperary. While the Irish never founded an official colony in Placentia, after the treaty of Utrecht, the French were forced from their colony of Plaisance (a military and strategic foothold in the new world) either back to French or to the settlement of Isle Royale (Cape Breton). This left the English requiring "planters" or families skilled in agriculture to farm crops for the winter season. As the colony of English "Placentia" could rely on supply ships only in the summer and autumn months, the rocky and inhospitable land needed to be worked. The Irish were perfectly suited to this task and were often picked up by the English via supply stops on their way to and from the colony. By 1713, a majority of settlers on the Cape Shore were neither French nor English but Irish - many from the Tiperary region.
It could refer to the Agricultural technique which revolutionized farming by using "companion planting". Combining Corn, squash and climbing beans. Squash shelters the ground preventing weeds, beans fix nitrogen for the soil and corn provides a pole for the beans and squash to grow onto.
Or it could refer to the Whelan sisters: Anne, the owner; Jane, former manager and Susan, favourite patron. If you're lucky you might run into them on a visit to their home-town!
The Town of Placentia
If there is one word that describes the more than 500 years of history behind the town we now call Placentia, it might be "strategy".
French, English, Spanish, Irish and American interests have converged on this area since the founding of the new world. And it's no wonder - in addition it's natural beauty, Placentia's high overlooking cliffs, deep bays, rich fishing, naturally sheltered harbour and flat beaches offered a great advantage to its controllers.
What was originally a fishing outpost for France who sought to secure access to salted cod (an invaluable food product for naval voyages) became one of the first official colonies in Newfoundland in 1662. It was an administrative hub for French fishing and expansion being one of the busiest ports in North America.
The English however, took notice and made many attempts to take Plaisance, resulting French fortifications being built in the form of "Castle Hill" and Fort Royal in 1703. Control of Plaisance was ceded to the English in 1713 as the result of a failed coup in England, backed by the French. The English scrapped Fort Louis and constructed the no-longer standing Fort Fredrick.
French, English, Spanish, Irish and American interests have converged on this area since the founding of the new world. And it's no wonder - in addition it's natural beauty, Placentia's high overlooking cliffs, deep bays, rich fishing, naturally sheltered harbour and flat beaches offered a great advantage to its controllers.
What was originally a fishing outpost for France who sought to secure access to salted cod (an invaluable food product for naval voyages) became one of the first official colonies in Newfoundland in 1662. It was an administrative hub for French fishing and expansion being one of the busiest ports in North America.
The English however, took notice and made many attempts to take Plaisance, resulting French fortifications being built in the form of "Castle Hill" and Fort Royal in 1703. Control of Plaisance was ceded to the English in 1713 as the result of a failed coup in England, backed by the French. The English scrapped Fort Louis and constructed the no-longer standing Fort Fredrick.
The Argentia Base
Argentia (known previously as little Placentia) and the neighbouring community of Marquise sit in the neighbouring northerly bay. Boasting 480 residents in the 1920s and it's own fish plant, the town would be re-named Argentia following the discovery of a silver deposit in the area.
During the second World War, England's favour in the struggle against the German threat in Europe began to turn. Britain became reliant on material shipments from North America - however the North Atlantic had become wrought with German U-Boats. England ceded right to base development to America who, after surveying the most Easterly island, decided Argentia to be the idea location for a naval base. In 1941, construction had began.
The resident's of Argentia and Marquise were re-settled to the surrounding communities of Freshwater, Dunville and Jerseyside. Soon, thousands of American troops flooded the base and surrounding area bringing jobs, infrastructure and culture to the rural fishing community.
The base was the largest in the Western Hemisphere, boasting a bowling alley, movie theatre, handball courts and even a nightclub - The Windjammer. Locals availed of these facilities in hopes of mingling with some of the American celebrities who were known to visit what was often called "Utopia in the North".
In 1945, the closing months of the war saw the leaders of America and England meet here, in Placentia, to discuss the terms surrounding the entry of America into the war. Winston Churchill and Franklin Rosevelt held a four-day meeting aboard a carrier in Placentia bay to sign the Atlantic Accord - a document which would form the basis of the United Nations after the falling of the Axis Powers in 1945.
After World War One, the base came into interest as a northern airport and surveillance system in the cold war. Submarine surveilance, radar and even the housing of nuclear weapons were on the agenda until the Warsaw Pact made the base, which was dwindling in size and stature, obsolete. In 1994, the base was abolished and signed over to the province.
During the second World War, England's favour in the struggle against the German threat in Europe began to turn. Britain became reliant on material shipments from North America - however the North Atlantic had become wrought with German U-Boats. England ceded right to base development to America who, after surveying the most Easterly island, decided Argentia to be the idea location for a naval base. In 1941, construction had began.
The resident's of Argentia and Marquise were re-settled to the surrounding communities of Freshwater, Dunville and Jerseyside. Soon, thousands of American troops flooded the base and surrounding area bringing jobs, infrastructure and culture to the rural fishing community.
The base was the largest in the Western Hemisphere, boasting a bowling alley, movie theatre, handball courts and even a nightclub - The Windjammer. Locals availed of these facilities in hopes of mingling with some of the American celebrities who were known to visit what was often called "Utopia in the North".
In 1945, the closing months of the war saw the leaders of America and England meet here, in Placentia, to discuss the terms surrounding the entry of America into the war. Winston Churchill and Franklin Rosevelt held a four-day meeting aboard a carrier in Placentia bay to sign the Atlantic Accord - a document which would form the basis of the United Nations after the falling of the Axis Powers in 1945.
After World War One, the base came into interest as a northern airport and surveillance system in the cold war. Submarine surveilance, radar and even the housing of nuclear weapons were on the agenda until the Warsaw Pact made the base, which was dwindling in size and stature, obsolete. In 1994, the base was abolished and signed over to the province.