History of Pasadena
Photo courtesy of Pasadena Heritage Society – NL Inc.
South Brook
Established in 1921, the oldest community is South Brook. This community housed a quarry which the International Pulp and Paper Limited, based in Corner Brook, used to build a power plant in nearby Deer Lake.
The 1921 Census of Newfoundland lists 6 people living in the community.
Photo courtesy of David Atkinson
Pasadena
Leonard Earle founded the community of Pasadena in 1933. A farmer originally from Fogo, based in St. John’s, he wanted to establish a community on the west coast. He purchased 2600 acres of prime farming land from a woman in St. John’s. Settling in the region, he named the community Pasadena in honour of his wife’s family who owned a ranch in California.
In the 1935 Census of Newfoundland, 43 people were living in Pasadena.
Photo courtesy of Joan French
Midland
In 1936, the Commission of Government at the time, prior to joining Canada, was faced with a downturn in the fishing industry. To create new prosperity, the Commission established farming communities and relocated fisherman to live and work in them. A gentleman by the name of Jack Dawson met Leonard Earle on a train who told him about the farmland in the Humber Valley. Mr. Dawson became the overseer of the Community of Midland, so named for being midway between Corner Brook and Deer Lake.