Apsey Brook

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

Apsey Brook
Town
Aspen Brook
Namesake Aspen Trees at Apsey Brook
Apsey Brook Location of Aspen Brook in Newfoundland
Coordinates: 48°09′42.02″N 53°51′08.96″W ⧼validator-fatal-error⧽
Country	Canada
Province	{{w:NL}}
Area
• Total	75.59 km2 (29.19 sq mi)
Elevation	25 m (82 ft)
Population  (2016)
• Total	535
• Density	7.1/km2 (18/sq mi)
	Includes all of Random West.
Time zone	UTC-3:30 (Newfoundland Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-2:30 (Newfoundland Daylight)
Postal code span	AOC
Area code(s)	709
Highways	Route 231
Historical population Year Pop. ±% 1945 37 —     2001 562 +1418.9% 2006 557 −0.9% 2011 530 −4.8% 2016 535 +0.9%

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.

History

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

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.

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 Friggins Cove (Fagans Cove) Brook, and living in McGrath's Cove.

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 Censusfor all of Random Island West

• Population: 535
• Change% (2011–2016): 0.9
• Dwellings: 239
• Area (km².): 75.59
• Density (persons per km².): 7.1

External links

• Aspey Brook - Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, vol. 1, p. 84-85.
• Random Island - Decks Awash, vol. 12, no. 02 (March-April 1983)