The town of Port Saunders got its name when three British war ships returned from Battle Harbour, Labrador. A ship under the command of “Admiral Saunders” came here and Port Saunders bears his name to the present day.

Port Saunders had its real beginning when a ship named the “Modest” under the command of Captain Arnold from Halifax, Nova Scotia arrived with lumber to build a lobster canning factory for “Shurhand & Forest”. When completed, the factory was sold to James Singer from Nova Scotia. He built the first house and was followed by more settlers from nearby settlements who were interested in the lobster fishery. The factory operated until 1960 when it was shut down because it was considered no longer profitable. In addition to the lobster fishery, people began to fish cod and herring.

Everyone grew their own garden vegetables. In the meantime, the French Settlers had built their rooms on Kepple Island. They had their own fishing boats and would salt and later dry their fish before sending it back to France. In addition to the cod fishery, they used nets to drag the rivers for salmon which they split and sent back to France.

In 1958, Cyde House built the first fish plant in the area which split and salted codfish. This led the way for further economic development of the town. The following year saw the addition of a general store, post office, and even a commercial wharf was built.  In years past, when boats were the dominant mode of travel, Port Saunders was a major port of call. Evidence of this remains in some of the old buildings on the wharves.

Near the mouth of the harbour is Keppel Island where the lighthouse guides the harbour entrance. The lighthouse was a kerosene burning lighthouse when it was first built in 1901. The island itself was a Spanish burial ground, and later French settlers built houses on the island. Today, tourists can visit the island and view the lighthouse.

Our harbour has been a haven for many ships throughout history and that proud marine tradition still continues with the modern fishing industry of today.  Unique to Port Saunders is the historical waterfront of individual fishing stages and wharves of the small boat fishers, dotted from one end of the harbour to the other with the Marine Centre servicing the large fishing fleet at the bottom of the harbour front.

In years gone by, when boats were the dominant mode of travel, Port Saunders was a major port of call. Evidence remains in some of the old buildings on the wharves. Near the mouth of the harbour is Keppel Island, where the lighthouse guides the harbour entrance.