Trans-Atlantic Cable

We take global communications for granted today but reliable phone connections between North America and Europe only became available in the 1950s and Clarenville was part of that.

Great Britain, the United States and Canada chose Clarenville as the location for the first Trans- Atlantic Telephone Cable (TAT-1) in June 1955. The Town was chosen due to its seclusion from the open ocean which afforded shelter from fierce storms and water deep enough to prevent boats from harming the cable. Clarenville’s residents are proud of this distinguishing event.

On June 22, 1955 the Town declared a municipal holiday to celebrate the landing of the cable and the opening of the newly constructed cable station on what is now Cormack Drive. The Clarenville Cable Station, built during the Cold War, was considered a military target due to its vital link between North America and Europe. Consequently, the station was constructed with walls two feet thick to withstand enemy bombs.

On September 25, 1956 at 11 AM EST, the inaugural call was made; a conversation between the British Postmaster General, the chairman of AT&T and the Canadian Minister of Transport. Clarenville was also the site of the second trans Atlantic cable in 1959. This link was similar to the earlier one and was named TAT-2. The eastern terminus was however in Penmarch, France, giving North America a direct telephone cable to the European continent.

Newer cables and facilities were installed in the years that followed that could handle more calls. As a result, TAT-1 was retired in 1978, followed by TAT-2 in 1982, leading to the permanent closure of the Clarenville station.

The building on Cormack Drive is now apartments. A plaque nearby marks the historic occasion and you can read more about the history of the Transatlantic cable on panels installed there.

The Clarenville Heritage Society has a number of historic photos on its site as well as this video explaining more about the cable station and how it worked.
https://www.clarenvilleheritage.ca/cablestation.mp4

Sources:

• Town of Clarenville’s Official Page 
• Clarenville Heritage Society
• Paul Tilley’s Page