History of Goose River  

About 200 years ago two Scottish families, McDonalds and McKinnons, settled on the Big Cape at Goose River. Descendants of them were the Cummings family, of which Mary Warren is a successor. They chose to settle at the shore. It was less wooded, warmer, snowfalls were lighter and the Gulf beckoned these settlers.
They cleared the land, built their shelters, fenced their acres, planted crops to feed themselves and the farm animals. The freshwater, rising from a spring not far away, was common for the geese and so it was named Goose River.
A lobster cannery operated here. The cans were hand soldered and lined with greased paper. A cookhouse serviced the workers and the fishermen.
The Post Office was a social center. During the day, the mail was delivered by horseback and the evenings were reserved for local gatherings. Community activities were held at church halls, one-room schools, and neighbors' homes. Ceilidhs (talent parties), tea parties, storytelling, and song making were a vital part of their lives.

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