our history
Sandringham was one of eight land settlements created by the Commission of Government to promote agriculture in Newfoundland and was developed under a three year plan. The site selected to begin this new community was a small but well-wooded, low lying coastal plain (the bottom of a former lake) bordering on the land-locked Northeast Arm of Alexander Bay. This area was formerly known as simply "The Arm", a good place for woodcutting and berry picking. Among the eight land settlements, Sandringham was one of the few to be completed on time and within budget and proved to be one of the more successful of the land settlements, a tribute to the settlers, since of all the land settlements, they had the most difficult land to develop.
The first nine settlers to arrive in 1939 were:
Fred Hancock (Salvage)
John Hapgood (Salvage)
Pearce Hapgood (Salvage)
Tom Hapgood (Salvage)
Abe King (Rushy Pond)
Billy Oldford (Salvage)
Ernest Samson (Flat Island)
Tom Samson (Flat Island)
Harold White (Greenspond)
Other settlers to arrive within the next few years were:
Isaac Hunt, Harold Samson, Alfred Squire, William Chaytor, Ephriam Brown, Pearce Brown, William Penney, Frank Turner, John Elliott, Abraham Lane, Joseph Hobbs, Kenneth Bradley, Norman Williams, Oliver Bull and Sydney Burry.
At the outset, families were selected from applicants who had at least one able-bodied man who could participate in the arduous labour of land clearing and building a community. When it was first settled, the community had three oxen to use - Beaver, Brandy and Paddy. Paddy later found a home with Billy Oldford. The government also supplied two horses and when one of the oxen died it was replaced with a third horse. The community was named Sandringham, after one of the Royal estates in England.
In 1944, among the eight land settlements, Sandringham had the largest production of potato and turnip and the second largest yield of cabbage; it ranked third among all Newfoundland land settlements in per capita production of potatoes and third in turnip yields. It ranked eighth in cabbage production. In just four short years, Sandringham had become well established as one of the islands leading farm communities, a role it did not relinquish until recently. This was a remarkable achievement!!!
First Grocery Store
Sandringham's Co-op, located 75 to 79 Main Rd, was managed by Reginald Samson. When the Co-op ceased operation, the building was purchased by Ray Bradley and was used as a private enterprise grocery store.
Agricultural Society
The Sandringham Agricultural Society played an important part in Sandringham's history. The Society was registered with the Dept of Natural Resources on May 29, 1950.
Church of the Resurrection
Church of the Resurrection
In 1958, the men of Sandringham began building the Church of the Resurrection. The men volunteered their time to build the church and on May 19, 1963 it was opened.
Consecrated by: Bishop Meadon
First Service: held by Reg Samson, a member of the community.
Regular Services: Rev. Reese
In 1963 Ruth Bull, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Bull, was laid to rest and was the first funeral service.
Gospel Hall
Anglican Church Women (ACW)
Church of the Resurrection
In 1976, two evangelists, Bert Joyce and Bryan Funston commenced gospel work in the Eastport Peninsula
area. In 1976 a gospel tent was erected near Sandringham. A large numbers of people came to these meetings from all over so a portable hall was brought in and set up on Mr. Bill Oldford's land as a temporary building for the preaching and teaching of the scriptures. In 1977, a building was purchased in Sandy Cove, renovated and used as a Gospel Hall.
In 1987, the Gospel Hall members at Sandy Cove decided to build a new hall. Land was donated in Sandringham by Johnny Mac Samson and in 1988 construction began on the new hall where it all began in 1976.
Anglican Church Women (ACW)
Anglican Church Women (ACW)
Anglican Church Women (ACW)
The meeting to form the CEWA was held on April 7, 1960. 12 members were initiated at the first meeting. The first sale was held on December 2, 1960 where the cost for a meal was $.50 for an adult. The Church of the Resurrection ACW is now a fully functioning Association of the church where the women pray to continue in fellowship, worship, faithfulness and loyalty.