Reprinted from the Downhome, December 2004
Hodge’s Cove could be just another fishing and lumbering outport, but it’s not. This community, which has never had much more than 500 residents, produces some of the brightest minds and best athletes the province has ever seen.
Around 1860, people settled in Hodge’s Cove for the timber stands and the fishing. Among the first settlers were two men, both named James Drover. Two generations later, one Drover from Hodge’s Cove wold make history in boxing and another in politics.
Bill Drover, who now lives in Alberta, was the Canadian Army Heavyweight Champion in the 1960s. He turned professional and won the Eastern Canada heavyweight title. His prize fight in London against Joe Bugner, the British Empire and European champion, made headlines around the world.
Sam Drover was a teacher, a policeman, a Ranger, a politician and a businessman. He’s 94 now and still maintains his own Home in Hodge’s Cove. Sam recalls, “In 1949, when we went into Confederation, Joey wanted me to run as a candidate for the Liberal Party.” He got an honourable discharge from the Ranger force and won his riding. In 1955, after becoming disenchanted with Smallwood and the Liberals, Sam joined the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (predecessor to the NDP) and was the only member of the CCF to ever sit in the House of assembly.
Sam says Hodge’s Cove changed a lot in the last century. When he was a boy, there were many more boats and wharves around town. Raising animals and growing vegetables was a family affair. “All the kids had to make the hay and get the fertilizer – which at the time was caplin – weed the gardens, cut the hay and dry it.”
He also says, “Most people have a higher education now. Back then, most of the brains died in the fishing boats.”
Eric Strowbridge is one of those who benefited from a higher education. He taught at schools around the island until he retired to his home in Hodge’s Cove. He’s familiar with Sam’s legacy and Bill’s. He says residents are also proud of their contribution to the military: “Photographs of more than 25 young Hodge’s Cove men who served in the two World Wars are displayed on a wall at the Lions Club.”
And Hodge’s Cove still produces extraordinary individuals, such as star athletes. At the 1999 Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook, cross-country skier Lee Churchill won three gold medals, more than any Newfoundland athlete ever at these games. “And now we’ve got a … cousin of Lee’s, named Jason Churchill, who plays goal for the Halifax Mooseheads and was drafted by the San Jose Sharks of the NHL last spring,” Eric says.
Though Hodge’s Cove’s population is in decline (less than 200 now), its community spirit has not suffered – no doubt it is bolstered by the strength of its people.
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Clipping provided by Lester Green
Transcribed by Wanda Garrett, October 2015
These transcriptions may contain human errors. As always, confirm these as you would any other source material.