Belle of the Bay Inn

YOUR HOSTS AT THE BELLE

Welcome! Innkeepers Angela and Jon hare originally from Baie Verte and have made Bell Island their home. They are originally from Baie Verte and fell in love with the Inn and the island life. They look forward to making your vist to Bell Island and most enjoyable and memoralbe one.

BEGINNINGS AS A CONVENT

The Belle of the Bay Inn was originally the St. Edwards Convent. It was
established in 1917 when the Sisters of Mercy arrived on Bell Island and
assumed teaching responsibilities. A second community of Mercy Sisters
incorporated as Immaculate Conception Convent, was established in 1927
at Wabana to serve the growing population of the Island.

Three Sisters of Mercy from Ireland arrived in Newfoundland in 1842 and formed the first community of Mercy in the new world. The Sisters of Mercy also administered St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital from 1922 and in 1958 they
agreed to administer and operate the newly-constructed St. Patrick’s
Mercy Home for the Aged and Infirm, located in the centre of St. John’s.

THE BELLE OF THE BAY TODAY

In 1990 the Inn Convent was closed and sold. It went through a series of
owners who put great effort and attention to renovating and restoring
the property to serve the public as a bed and breakfast. It operated
under a variety of names including the Wabana Inn, Verge House and the
Rychrist Inn. It was acquired by the current owner, Max Harvey in March
2009. He was born on the Green on Bell Island and moved away in the
early 1960's when the mines started to wind down operations. Apart from
his duties as innkeeper, he serves as a naval officer in St. John's.