| Industry | Shipping Retail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1839 in Carbonear, Newfoundland |
| Founder | John Rorke |
| Defunct | 1980 |
Areas served | Newfoundland Labrador |
Key people | John Rorke Sr. John Rorke Jr. James Rorke Sr. John Rorke James Rorke Jr. |
| Products | Codfish(fresh and cured) coal general goods |
John Rorke and Sons Ltd. was a mercantile firm founded in Carbonear, Newfoundland in 1839 by Irish-born merchant, John Rorke.[1]
History
editIn 1839, after leaving the employment of Bennett and Ridley, John Rorke purchased the former Slade and Elson mercantile premises, located in Carbonear. From here, Rorke's firm expanded rapidly. The firm opened up two new branches in St. Francis Harbour and Venison Island, Labrador. This was to trade with the many migratory fisherman who traveled from Newfoundland to Labrador each year.
In 1859, a massive fire destroyed most of Carbonear, including the Rorke premises and Rorke family home. Rorke began rebuilding the following year; some of the buildings still stand today.
John Rorke Sr. passed away in 1896 and the firm was taken over by his two sons, John Jr. and James, both of whom joined the firm in 1880. By 1920, James' sons, John and James Jr. had joined the firm. The firm was incorporated in 1929 as John Rorke and Sons Ltd.