Gillams Fishing Sheds Project
Gillams, with its rolling, fertile land was originally settled as a farm. In the late 1800s, the commercial herring fishery brought new settlers to the community once known as "The Farms." This Bay of Islands community grew as a fishing-farming settlement with families who depended on the herring, mackerel, salmon, cod and lobster fisheries for their livelihoods, supplemented by logging and the produce of their small farms.
The fishing stores and sheds that dot the beach at Gillams were the processing sites for the ocean species caught in the waters off the settlement. With changes in the traditional fishery, many of these places had fallen into disrepair. The Town of Gillams decided that something had to be done to save their community's fishing structures. The town applied for assistance under the Fisheries Heritage Preservation Program on behalf of several property owners and so began the revitalizing of Gillams' waterfront.
The stores and sheds were in various states of disrepair, some needing more restoration than others. Some foundations needed stabilization, roofs needed shingles or felt, new boards were fitted on roofs and entryways, clapboard was replaced on many structures and all received a fresh coat of paint in traditional colours.
By the end of the project, the Town of Gillams was delighted with the results. Town clerk, Lois Blanchard affirms that, "this is a wonderful project, it is actually bringing people back to the beach. The positive remarks from local residents and surrounding towns are really good."
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