Welcome to Skipper’s and the Harbour Quarters Inn.  Skipper’s was so named to honour  Joseph T. Swyers while also recognizing the many skippers who have sailed and are still sailing from Bonavista Harbour.  Joseph T. Swyers, founder of J.T. Swyers Co Ltd., was frequently referred to as the Skipper by his workers and friends.
            Our building, built circa 1920, was originally owned by Philip Templeman, a prominent merchant of Bonavista and fish exporter during the 1800's and early 1900's.  Templeman operated a general store from this structure along with several other buildings which housed the fish export end.  Templeman survived the bank crash of 1894 however, after his death and under the management of his son, faltered in the depression of the 1930's.  After a few unsuccessful years the business was phased out and in 1938 the premises was acquired by another prominent merchant and fish exporter of Bonavista, Joseph T. Swyers.
            J.T. Swyers operated a site at Bayley’s Cove in Bonavista however that site lacked wharfage facilities.  Both sites would continue to flourish however in 1973 this building was vacated for a new modern supermarket a few hundred yards away.  This building was closed and used for storage until 1996 when it was decided to restore the structure in time for the 1997 Cabot 500 Celebrations.
            The exterior of the building was completely restored to its original condition and in 1997 a gift shop and small café were opened on the first floor.  This operation continued until 2003 when it was decided to take advantage of two vacant floors above the café and turn the place into an Inn.  In 2004 the building was completely gutted on the inside, you could actually stand on the restaurant floor and view the roof rafters two floors up.
            In 2005 The Harbour Quarters Inn and Skipper’s Restaurant opened after more than a year of meticulous work.  The tables and chairs are the work of local craftsman Mike Paterson.  Mike also built all of the furniture in our Inn rooms including the four poster Harbour Grace Beds.  Some of the tables are constructed from actual fish casks in which J.T. Swyers would ship salt cod to world markets.
            Dried salt cod was the mainstay of his business and during its heyday saw fish exported to such far away places as Spain, Portugal, Brazil and the West Indies.  Some of the other Newfoundland products exported were dried squid which went to China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.  Local berries known as partridge berries or Lingdon berries, were shipped to the Scandinavian markets in the North West USA.  Cod liver oil was manufactured and sent to markets in Canada and the USA.  Fresh salmon was shipped, iced in 100 lb wooden boxes, to markets in Montreal, Boston and New York.  Have a look around and you will find pictures and some artifacts from this era.
            Today the fish export business is no more but J.T. Swyers Co. Ltd., now in it’s 114th year, still operates a retail business in Bayley’s Cove.  The Harbour Quarters Inn is a new venture, hopefully it will leave its legacy as well.  Hope you enjoy your stay.