History of Violet's B and B
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Meet little Violet
the granddaughter
the granddaughter
Violet's B and B
has only had this name for the
past year. It was given this
name by me, Robin Major,
Violet's son, in memory of
Mother. Before that it was
Major's Backpacker Inn.
Before that it was Major's
Hospitality Home and Craft
Store. Earlier still it was called
Major's Craft Store and in the
beginning it was called Major's
Store.
has only had this name for the
past year. It was given this
name by me, Robin Major,
Violet's son, in memory of
Mother. Before that it was
Major's Backpacker Inn.
Before that it was Major's
Hospitality Home and Craft
Store. Earlier still it was called
Major's Craft Store and in the
beginning it was called Major's
Store.
North of Rocky Harbour. Violet once joked that she
was born on a raft. She was actually born in a house
side of it. Her father, Corbet Reid, who was a
fisherman, moved their family from Norris Point
when Violet was a young child. The oldest daughter
of 10, she lived the rest of her childhood out in
Baker's Brook until she moved to Rocky Harbour,
worked as a house maid, until she eventually
married Jack and they started a family.
Their first house was not actually in the location
that Violet's B and B is currently. It was actually
200 feet back from the road in front of where
someone else now has a house. When they lived in
this first house, Violet decided she wanted to open a
store and so she built a 20 by 30 feet building in the
place where Violet's B and B is today. Thus was
born, Major's Store.
Two key events changed this. Firstly, the house back
from the store burned down in a fire and they lost
everything they owned. As a result, they dug out the
basement of the store and moved in there to live.
Secondly, the Gros Morne National Park came into
existence which resulted in Violet changing the
name of the store to Major's Crafts. This situation
of having her store above the place where she was
tending to her children proved very helpful to Violet
in advancing her business. She could both look after
her children, make crafts to sell, and at the same
time watch the store.
Another problem forced another change. The living
space they were in below the store had flooded out a
number of years in a row in the summer thaw and
destroyed much of their possessions. To solve this
problem, they decided to build on an extension to the
store and to place the level of the basement floor
higher. In effect, they built a house facing in the
other direction facing away from the store and
towards Gros Morne Mountain. Violet included in
this mountain facing house, a small patio so that her
future visitors could enjoy breakfast with the
mountain in view. With funding from a government
program for tourism promotion and many years of
funneling money from the craft store profits, Violet
was able to complete the building and Major's
Hospitality Home and Craft store was born.
The business ran as such for over twenty years
under this name with all their children having
sought out employment in mainland Canada. As
they started getting on in years, things started
slowing down. With the closing of the craft store
element, and the emergence of many other
hospitality homes and bed and breakfasts operators
in Rocky Harbour, Violet switched the name to
Major's Backpacker Inn.
It was during this period that Jack took sick and
died. Violet continued the business herself but she
also soon followed Jack and died three years later
but not before she found a new man whose love and
kindness she enjoyed the last year of her life.
was born on a raft. She was actually born in a house
side of it. Her father, Corbet Reid, who was a
fisherman, moved their family from Norris Point
when Violet was a young child. The oldest daughter
of 10, she lived the rest of her childhood out in
Baker's Brook until she moved to Rocky Harbour,
worked as a house maid, until she eventually
married Jack and they started a family.
Their first house was not actually in the location
that Violet's B and B is currently. It was actually
200 feet back from the road in front of where
someone else now has a house. When they lived in
this first house, Violet decided she wanted to open a
store and so she built a 20 by 30 feet building in the
place where Violet's B and B is today. Thus was
born, Major's Store.
Two key events changed this. Firstly, the house back
from the store burned down in a fire and they lost
everything they owned. As a result, they dug out the
basement of the store and moved in there to live.
Secondly, the Gros Morne National Park came into
existence which resulted in Violet changing the
name of the store to Major's Crafts. This situation
of having her store above the place where she was
tending to her children proved very helpful to Violet
in advancing her business. She could both look after
her children, make crafts to sell, and at the same
time watch the store.
Another problem forced another change. The living
space they were in below the store had flooded out a
number of years in a row in the summer thaw and
destroyed much of their possessions. To solve this
problem, they decided to build on an extension to the
store and to place the level of the basement floor
higher. In effect, they built a house facing in the
other direction facing away from the store and
towards Gros Morne Mountain. Violet included in
this mountain facing house, a small patio so that her
future visitors could enjoy breakfast with the
mountain in view. With funding from a government
program for tourism promotion and many years of
funneling money from the craft store profits, Violet
was able to complete the building and Major's
Hospitality Home and Craft store was born.
The business ran as such for over twenty years
under this name with all their children having
sought out employment in mainland Canada. As
they started getting on in years, things started
slowing down. With the closing of the craft store
element, and the emergence of many other
hospitality homes and bed and breakfasts operators
in Rocky Harbour, Violet switched the name to
Major's Backpacker Inn.
It was during this period that Jack took sick and
died. Violet continued the business herself but she
also soon followed Jack and died three years later
but not before she found a new man whose love and
kindness she enjoyed the last year of her life.
Who were the Majors? There names were Violet (maiden name, Reid) and John Major (all
called him Jack). Jack Major, a fisherman, was the son of George Major of Sally's Cove,
also a fisherman and logger. George Major came to Rocky Harbour in the early 1900s from
Sally's Cove and settled in the area locals call, "down the cove" and is signed today as Main
Street East. He also laid claim to land "in the lun" or in the area away from the winter winds
built a house on this 3 acres of land and was living on it with his wife Violet and two children,
Wayne and Susan. George Major officially transferred this piece of land to Jack in 1976.
called him Jack). Jack Major, a fisherman, was the son of George Major of Sally's Cove,
also a fisherman and logger. George Major came to Rocky Harbour in the early 1900s from
Sally's Cove and settled in the area locals call, "down the cove" and is signed today as Main
Street East. He also laid claim to land "in the lun" or in the area away from the winter winds
built a house on this 3 acres of land and was living on it with his wife Violet and two children,
Wayne and Susan. George Major officially transferred this piece of land to Jack in 1976.
my wife, child and three dogs. Inheriting my mother and father's former
home/business and land, I was determined to keep alive this place back home in the
family. Drawing upon all I'd learned from my life lived out in witness to mother's
business efforts, I have combined them with what I've learned from the world beyond.
There is the reality of the natural beauty of Gros Morne and the integrity of treating
strangers like family. I've simply interfaced that with the modern capacities of
Internet booking and sales. Through integrating Violet's B and B into the online
accommodation and crafts market, and providing quality customer service, we are
confident we shall provide a experience worth repeating.
home/business and land, I was determined to keep alive this place back home in the
family. Drawing upon all I'd learned from my life lived out in witness to mother's
business efforts, I have combined them with what I've learned from the world beyond.
There is the reality of the natural beauty of Gros Morne and the integrity of treating
strangers like family. I've simply interfaced that with the modern capacities of
Internet booking and sales. Through integrating Violet's B and B into the online
accommodation and crafts market, and providing quality customer service, we are
confident we shall provide a experience worth repeating.
