View source for Apsey Brook

[[Category:Communities of Random Island]]

<!-- Infobox begins -->
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Apsey Brook
| official_name          = Aspen Brook
| other_name             =
| native_name            = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| settlement_type        = Town
| motto                  = 
| nickname               = 
| image_skyline          = Aspen_Trees.jpeg
| image_caption          = Namesake Aspen Trees at Apsey Brook
| image_flag             =
| image_seal             = 
| image_shield           =
| pushpin_map            = Newfoundland <!-- Newfoundland -->
| pushpin_label_position = left<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location of Aspen Brook in [[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland]]
| pushpin_mapsize        =
| subdivision_type       = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
| subdivision_name       = {{CAN}}
| subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1      = {{NL}}
| subdivision_type3      = <!-- [[Census divisions of Newfoundland and Labrador|Census division]] -->
| subdivision_name3      =
| established_title      = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date       = 1870s
| established_title2     = 
| established_date2      = 
| government_type        = 
| government_footnotes   =
| leader_title           = 
| leader_name            = 
| unit_pref              = <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
| area_footnotes         = <ref>All of Random West</ref>
| area_total_km2         = 75.59
| population_as_of       = 2016
| population_note        = Includes all of Random West.
| population_footnotes   = <ref>All of Random West</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=DPL&Code1=100242&Geo2=PR&Code2=10&SearchText=Random%20Island%20West&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=PR&GeoCode=100242&TABID=1&type=0 | title = Census Profile | publisher = Statistics Canada  | access-date = 7 September 2021}}</ref>
| population_total       = 535
| population_density_km2 = 7.1
| timezone               = [[Newfoundland Time]]
| utc_offset             = -3:30
| timezone_DST           = [[Newfoundland Time|Newfoundland Daylight]]
| utc_offset_DST         = -2:30
| coordinates            = {{coord|48|09|42.02|N|53|51|08.96|W|region:CA-NL|display=inline}}
| elevation_footnotes    = <!--for references: use<ref> </ref>  tags-->
| elevation_m            = 25
| postal_code_type       = Postal code span
| postal_code            = [[List of A Postal Codes of Canada|AOC]]
| area_code              = [[Area code 709|709]]
| blank_name             = Highways
| blank_info             = {{jct|province=NL|NL|231}}
| website                =
| footnotes              =
| module                 = {{Historical populations
|1945|37<ref name="census1945"/>
|[[Canada 2001 Census|2001]]|562
|[[Canada 2006 Census|2006]]|557
|[[Canada 2011 Census|2011]]|530
|[[Canada 2011 Census|2016]]|535
| footnote =<ref name="census2011"/><ref name="census2016"/>
| child = yes
| width=23em
}}

}}
<!-- Infobox ends -->

'''Apsey Brook''' is a community on the north side of [[Random Island]], fronting on [[Smith Sound]]. 

Its name is derived from the abundance of aspen trees, known colloquially as `Aps` trees, and the large brook in the centre of the community. This brook was at least partially responsible for settlement in the area, as it was used to drive a waterwheel powered sawmill.


==Geography==
==History==
{{Missing information|section|Phillips Family|date=September 2021}}
The town was founded by William and Lydia Smith in the 1870's.  Originally from Hants Harbour, a number of the [[Smith]] family had settled in Elliott's Cove, with William and Lydia moving to Apsey Brook sometime later. Later, in the 1880's, David [[Phillips]] of British Harbour settled in the community in what is now known as [[McGrath's Cove]]<ref>{{cite book
 |last=Martin
 |first=Wilfred B.W.
 |author-link=
 |year=1990
 |title=Random Island Pioneers
 |url=https://www.amazon.ca/Random-Island-Pioneers/dp/0920021727
 |location=
 |publisher=Creative Publishers
 |pages=97-99
 |isbn=0-920021-72-7
 |chapter=Pioneers of Present Communities
}}</ref>

According to oral tradition, William, after an argument with his brothers, boarded his schooner with his wife and family, sailed around the island, and beached it on the sandbar at Apsey Brook, living in it for the ensuing winter until completing a house the next year.{{Citation needed|reason=This was recorded somewhere as being told by Roy Smith, would like source|date=September 2021}}

William had 7 sons, one of which does not appear in the records of Apsey Brook. See the [[Smith]] entry for more. Again, referencing the same information that was provided by Roy Smith, the family had a watermill in the brook (remnants were still there in the 1970s when I grew up), that operated for 6 days a week, with one brother operating it each day, and no operation on Sunday.

The source of the brook, [[Dam Pond]], was named as such as it was dammed in order to control water flow to the mill.  Many family members related stories that as a boy they'd have to go in to the pond to let out the damn to operate the sawmill.

David [[Phillips]] also worked at saw milling, with a mill set up at [[Fagans Cove|Friggins Cove (Fagans Cove) Brook]], and living in McGrath's Cove.{{Citation needed|reason=Personal recollections of non-family member|date=September 2021}}
==Church & School==
==Businesses==
*[[K. Roy Smith Enterprises]]
*[[Apsey Brook Buying Club]]
==Demographics==
Apsey Brook is in Random Island West, Division No. 7, Newfoundland and Labrador. 


According to the 2016 Census<ref name="census2016"/>for all of Random Island West
*Population: 535
*Change% (2011–2016): 0.9
*Dwellings: 239
*Area (km².): 75.59
*Density (persons per km².): 7.1

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="census2016">{{cite web |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=DPL&Code1=100242&Geo2=PR&Code2=10&SearchText=Random%20Island%20West&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=PR&GeoCode=100242&TABID=1&type=0 |title=2016 Canada Census for Random Island West|publisher=Statistics Canada}}</ref>,
<ref name="census2011">{{cite web |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=DPL&Code1=100242&Geo2=PR&Code2=10&SearchText=Random%20Island%20West&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=PR&GeoCode=100242&TABID=1&type=0 |title=2016 Canada Census for Random Island West|publisher=Statistics Canada}}</ref>
<ref name="census1945">{{cite web |url=http://ngb.chebucto.org/C1945/45-aspen-brk-tb-n.shtml |title=1945 Canada Census for Aspen Brook}}</ref>
}}
==External links==
*[https://collections.mun.ca/digital/collection/cns_enl/id/2656/rec/1 Aspey Brook - Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, vol. 1, p. 84-85.]
*[https://collections.mun.ca/digital/collection/cns_decks/id/6564/rec/14 Random Island - Decks Awash, vol. 12, no. 02 (March-April 1983)]