Port Blandford: 50 and counting

07/31/2023

🍎🍏The Town of Port Blandford welcomes NAK Construction as a Honey Crisp sponsor for the 2023 AppleFest!
The Port Blandford AppleFest! is a fall festival taking place on the weekend of September 22-24th, 2023 that will celebrate all things apple.
We will be offering great food and entertainment, an outdoor market, car show, outdoor concert, scarecrows and a variety of activities throughout the community.
The full schedule of events will be posted on our page soon. Please follow! 🍏🍎

AppleFest Port Blandford

09/26/2022

DID YOU KNOW ... that the current Alton United Church building was opened in 1978, replacing a previous building from 1905-08? The United Church has a long history in Port Blandford, dating back to Methodist roots in the late 1800s. Town of Port Blandford "Official" PortBlandford HeritageSociety

09/19/2022

DID YOU KNOW ... that the first ever AppleFest! was held in 2019? Apples were chosen as the theme because of the abundance of apple trees in the community.

This year's festival - the 4th annual - begins this Friday evening, September 23, with a family-friendly celebration and continues all weekend with a range of activities throughout the community. Find more details at AppleFest Port Blandford and join us! Town of Port Blandford "Official"
Port Blandford Heritage Society

09/12/2022

DID YOU KNOW ... that Muddy Brook didn't officially become part of Port Blandford until 1996? It was incorporated as a Local Service District in 1989, and then amalgamated with Port Blandford just 7 years later. Town of Port Blandford "Official" Port Blandford Heritage Society

08/29/2022

DID YOU KNOW? ... That Port Blandford began collecting property taxes from residents in 1987. This is how the services that the Town provides are paid for.

The mil rate in 1987 was 4, which means that taxes owing are 0.4% of a property's assessed value. Today's mil rate is 4.5, but of course, property values have gone up a lot since 1987.

It was Benjamin Franklin who said "In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Once Port Blandford became an incorporated entity in 1971, it was only a matter of time before property taxes became a reality.

08/22/2022

DID YOU KNOW? ... that it wasn't until the 1970s that Port Blandford had a municipal water supply. The new Local Service District, established in 1971, made it a priority to establish municipal water and sewer services, securing funding and tendering work throughout the decade. In 1975, the trustees passed a motion to offer work on the water project to married men first! Town Council continued to expand the town's water and sewer services, so that today, most of Port Blandford's residents have access to these municipal services.

08/15/2022

DID YOU KNOW . . . that Port Blandford was one of only a few towns in Newfoundland that grew between 2016 and 2021, according to the 2021 census.

Official census results showed that the population of Port Blandford grew 5.1% between 2016 and 2021, from 488 people to 513. This is big news, because many of the changes that took place in Port Blandford during the last 50 years were challenging to the town’s sustainability, and resulted in population losses of almost 40% over that time period. Strategic investments in economic development appear to be bearing fruit!

PortBlandford HeritageSociety Town of Port Blandford "Official"

08/08/2022

Check out this new timeline of community highlights, leaders, and events from Port Blandford's first 50 years of incorporation! It lives on the website of the Port Blandford Heritage Society at https://www.portblandford.org/history/port-blandford-50-and-counting.

As you can see from this photo, 1978 was an important year in Port Blandford's history. Browse the timeline to see what happened when, who was providing leadership, and to get a sense of how Port Blandford has evolved since it was incorporated.

The timeline is a work in progress, and we plan to add a lot more information to it. If you have information or photos to share about any of the timeline entries, or think that something needs to be added to the timeline, please leave a comment or direct message on this page, or send an email to [email protected].

The timeline combines research and anecdotal information shared by community members through the Port Blandford: 50 and Counting project. Thanks to everyone who contributed!

Town of Port Blandford "Official" Port Blandford Heritage Society

11/07/2021

Here's a list of the people who have served as Fire Chief in Port Blandford. We are so grateful to them all for their service!

Roy Kirby
Randolph Greening
Carl Greening
Gerald White
Bill Harris
Winston Peddle
Kirk Kirby
Alvin White
Andrew Oldford

Here's a photo from the 12th Annual Fireman's Ball. Pictured from left to right are: Mayor Reginald Penney, Fireman Murley Holloway, Fire Chief Gerald White, and Fireman Wilfred Hobbs. Do you have any photos from other Balls you could share? Or of other firefighters?

10/22/2021