Labrador Forts

Canadian Forts

LABRADOR

Last Update: 28/SEPTEMBER/2021

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2021 American Forts Network

NOTE: Labrador has been administered by Newfoundland since 1763 (coastal region) and 1927 (interior region, formerly part of Ungava District, New Québec). Joined Canada in 1949 as part of Newfoundland. The Hudson's Bay Company withdrew from Labrador in 1942, some of the posts were thereafter continued by the Newfoundland government as "Northern Labrador Stores".

Nachvak Post
(1868 - 1905), Nachvak Fiord
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

Fort Lampson
(Torngat Mountains National Park)
(1864/1867 - 1874), Saglek Bay/Fiord
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located at the head of Branagin's Cove (Aggigiak). Stone foundations and other scattered ruins remain on site.

Fort Hebron
(Hebron Mission National Historic Site)
(1926 - 1942), Hebron
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. The nearby Moravian Mission was built in 1829 but not regularly occupied until 1837. It was in use until 1959 when it was ordered closed by the government. Some buildings from the mission complex still remain, most others were destroyed by the elements over time.

Okak Post
(Okak National Historic Site)
(1927 - 1928), Okak Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. The nearby Moravian Mission was built in 1776, in use until 1919.

Nutak Post
(1941 - 1942), Nutak
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

Nain Post
(1926 - 1941), Nain
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. The Moravian Mission was built here in 1771, in use until 1923 when it burned down.

Richard White's Trade Post
(1908 - 1950), White's Harbour
A private trading post located just south of Nain. The premises included a wharf, two other small stores, and locations for unloading supplies. The trading post was also the homestead of the White family. It is currently operated as a museum and was recognized as a Newfoundland Registered Heritage Structure in May 1993. See also Canadian Register of Historic Places || World War One Military Service of Richard White

Fort Trial
(1858 - 1861), Voisey Bay
A Hudson's Bay Co. post near the mouth of the Kogaluk River.

Davis Inlet Post
(1869 - 1928), Davis Inlet
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

Tigaraxhook Post
(1838 - unknown), near Hopedale
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

Hopedale Post
(Hopedale Mission National Historic Site)
(1926 - 1942), Hopedale
A Hudson's Bay Co. post at Deep Inlet. The nearby Moravian Mission was built in 1782, in use until 1926. A circa 1817 Provisions Warehouse, among other buildings, is still extant.

Kaipokok Post
(1838/1843 - 1880), Postville
A Hudson's Bay Co. post in Kaipokok Bay. The known site has been largely disturbed by road development and the construction of a boathouse in the 1970's. The town's name is derived from the former post.

Aillik Post
(1838/1840 - 1876), Aillik
A Hudson's Bay Co. post (HBC records begin in 1855). Located just north of Makkovik. Also spelled Eyelick.

Makkovik Post
(1926 - 1941), Makkovik
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. The Moravian Mission was built here in 1896.

Fort Nascopie
(1838 - 1839, 1842 - 1869), Attikamagen Lake, near Schefferville, Québec
A Hudson's Bay Co. post, a subpost of Fort Chimo, Québec.

Fort Michikamau
(1840 - 1880), Michikamau Lake
A Hudson's Bay Co. post, a subpost of Fort Nascopie. Also known as Michikamau House (HBC records cover 1845 - 1849). Located near the northwest shore of Michikamau Lake. The lake, about 50 miles above Grand (Churchill) Falls, was incorporated into Smallwood Reservoir in 1971.

Fort Winokapau
(1845 - 1876), Winokapau Lake
A Hudson's Bay Co. post, a subpost of Fort Nascopie (HBC records cover 1863 - 1874). Also known as Wingabow Post. Winokapau Lake is an enlargement of the Hamilton (Churchill) River about 50 miles below Grand (Churchill) Falls.

Gull Island Post
(1841 - unknown), Gull Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post on the Hamilton (Churchill) River, about 50 miles west of Goose Bay.

Sandy Banks Post
(1836 - 1870's), near Goose Bay
A Hudson's Bay Co. post on the north bank of the Hamilton (Churchill) River, just west of Goose Bay. The site was archaeologically recovered in 2015-2017, prior to the scheduled impoundment of the Muskrat Falls Reservoir beginning in 2017. Several artifacts were found at what was determined to be a four-structure complex.

Grand River Post
(1836 - unknown), Goose Bay
An independent British trade post.

Kenomish Post
(1799 - unknown), Lake Melville
An independent British trade post on the south shore of Lake Melville at or near the mouth of the Kenamu River.

Kinimish Post
(1836 - unknown), Lake Melville
An independent British trade post on the south shore of Lake Melville just below the earlier Kenomish Post.

North West River Post (1)
(1784 - unknown), Sheshatshit
An independent British trade post.

North West River Post (2)
(1836 - 1942), North West River
A Hudson's Bay Co. post (HBC records to 1920). Also known as Lake Melville Post and Fort Smith. The Labrador Heritage Society operates the Labrador Heritage Museum in the former 1923 HBC store (admission fee). See also History of North West River from Town of North West River

A French trading post, known as Fort Esquimaux Baie was established here by Louis Fornel in 1743. Another French post later here was Fort Montagnais Point (1757).

North West River Outpost (3)
(1836 - unknown), Grand Lake
An outpost of the HBC's Fort Smith located along the north shore of Grand Lake.

Grand Lake Post
(1850 - unknown), Grand Lake
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located at the head of Grand Lake at the mouth of the Naskaupi River.

Shabiskasho Post
(1837 - unknown), Lake Melville
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on the north shore of Lake Melville.

Mulligan Post
(1836 - unknown), Lake Melville
An independent British trade post located on the north shore of Lake Melville.

Cul-de-Sac Post
(1845 - 1846), Hamilton Inlet
A Hudson's Bay Co. post on the north shore of Hamilton Inlet, southwest of Rigolet.

Rigolet Post
(1743 - 1763 ?, 1788 - unknown, 1836 - 1956), Rigolet
Originally a French fur trade post built by Louis Fornel. In 1788 it became an independent British trading post. It was bought out by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1836. The HBC Net Loft was built in 1876 and used commercially until 1989. It was restored and opened as a museum in 2002. See also Canadian Register of Historic Places

Rigolet Battery
(1941 - 1944), Rigolet
The Canadian Army emplaced a two-gun 75mm AMTB battery here to protect the harbor entrance to Goose Bay. The Canadians built an airbase at Goose Bay in 1941 for the defence of Newfoundland and Labrador, which was also jointly used by the United States beginning in 1942.

Fort Cartwright
(1775 - 1786), Cartwright
A British fur trade post built by Capt. George Cartwright.

Cartwright Post
(1860/1873 - 1942), Cartwright
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

East River Post
(1774 - unknown), near Paradise River
A trade post built by Capt. George Cartwright.

Paradise Post
(1775 - unknown), Paradise River
A trade post built by Capt. George Cartwright.

Eagle River Post
(1857 - unknown), Sandwich Bay
An independent British trade post at the mouth of the Eagle River.

Grady Harbour Post
(1874 - 1879), Grady Harbour
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

Frenchman's Island Post
(1928 - 1932), Frenchman's Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

Fort Carlton
(1794 - unknown), Temple Bay
One of four British blockhouses here. The others were Forts Wallace, Sheffield, and Charlotte.

Fort Charles
(1735 - 1763 ?), Cape Charles
A French trading post, probably built by Louis Fornel.

Fort York
(1766 - 1796), Chateau Bay
A British trading post built on the site of the French Fort Baie-Chateau (1740 - 1763). A wooden blockhouse ( Fort Pitt) was built here at Pitt's Harbour in 1766. It was attacked by American privateers in 1778. It was destroyed by its defenders after the French attacked in 1796. Ruins of the earthen/stone ramparts are still extant.

Fort Red Bay
(1713 - 1763, 1788 - unknown), Red Bay
Originally French Fort Baie-Rouge, rebuilt in 1719 and again in 1721 after it was destroyed by local Inuit. It was still garrisoned in 1757. The post was used by the North West Company beginning in 1788.

Fort Grand Saint-Modeste
(1735 - unknown), St. Modeste
A French fort.

Fort La Forteau
(1710 - 1763), Forteau
A French fort.

Canadian WWII Air Defence Radar Stations
(1942 - 1945), various locations
The Royal Canadian Air Force - North Atlantic Region (RCAF Group 1) operated several air defence radar stations in the defence of Newfoundland, in tandem with the United States military. The Chain Home Low early warning radar was employed at each location. Initially the stations were called "Radio Detachments" and in 1943 the title "Radio Unit" was adopted. The term "RADAR" was not adopted by Canadians until late 1943. The RCAF radar sites in Labrador were located at Spotted Island (never went operational) (located in Rocky Bay, southeast of Grady Harbour), and Brig Harbour Island (east of Holton).

Labrador was first sighted by Europeans (Norse Vikings) in 985. The coastal region south of Nain was known as Markland (Wood Land) to the Vikings circa 1001 - 1347, although no settlements are known to have been attempted there. The first recorded contact between Europeans and the Native Americans/First Nations took place near Lake Melville circa 1002. It did not go over too well, for either side.

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