Indian Harbour is a former

settlement Settlement may refer to: *Human settlement, a community where people live *Settlement (structural), the distortion or disruption of parts of a building * Closing (real estate), the final step in executing a real estate transaction *Settlement (fin ...

Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

. In 1894,

Wilfred Grenfell Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell (28 February 1865 – 9 October 1940) was a British medical missionary to Newfoundland, who wrote books on his work and other topics. Early life and education He was born at Parkgate, Cheshire, England, on 28 Febr ...

, medical missionary, founded a

cottage hospital A cottage hospital is a semi-obsolete type of small hospital, most commonly found in the United Kingdom. The original concept was a small rural building having several beds.The Cottage Hospitals 1859–1990, Dr. Meyrick Emrys-Roberts, Tern Publicati ...

there, staffed by two doctors and two nurses.

Background

In 1912 Harry Paddon and Mina Gilchrist arrived as doctor and nurse. They provided medical services to the Newfoundland fishing fleets as well as the local population. In the fall they sailed 150 miles west to Mud Lake and established a medical outpost in an abandoned

lumber camp A logging camp (or lumber camp) is a transitory work site used in the logging industry. Before the second half of the 20th century, these camps were the primary place where lumberjacks would live and work to fell trees in a particular area. Many ...

, returning to Indian Harbour in the spring. In 1915 they established a hospital at North West River and began a seasonal migration that lasted 20 years. Harry and Mina married in 1913 and had four sons. In the late 1920s and early 30s, Australian nurse Kate Merrick worked at the

Grenfell Mission The Grenfell Mission was a philanthropic organization that provided medical and social services to people in rural communities of northern Newfoundland and Labrador. It was founded by Sir Wilfred Grenfell in 1892 as a branch of The Royal National M ...

. She later wrote a memoir about her time at Indian Harbour titled ''Northern Nurse'' (1942); in fact, the memoir was written by her husband the author

Elliott Merrick Elliott Merrick (May 11, 1905 – April 22, 1997) was an American writer best known for his memoirs about Labrador. He was also an editor, teacher, farmer and sailor. In addition he wrote for magazines, including ''The New Yorker'' and ''Reader's ...

, and was based on her memories. The book was well received spending 17 weeks on ''The New York Times'' bestseller list.

Notable inhabitants

, medical missionary *

Kirkina Mucko Kirkina Mucko also known as Elizabeth Mukko, (1890-1970) was a Canadian Inuit nurse and midwife. Having lost her legs as a child, and possibly her parents, she was raised in a series of mission homes, hospitals and boarding schools. Returning from ...

, nurse and midwife * Harry Paddon, doctor * Mina Paddon, nurse

References

Populated places in Labrador {{Labrador-geo-stub