Sir William Ford Coaker Heritage Foundation Inc.

Unique in its own right, Port Union is the “Only Union Built Town” in North America. Built in 1923, The Factory was home to the controversial newspaper “The Fishermen’s Advocate.” Today The Factory is used as an interpretation centre with banquet space on the third floor for conventions and special events.

The Factory has a display of artefacts and panels of text which chronicle Sir William Ford Coaker’s formation of the Fishermen’s Protective Union (FPU) in 1908. They also have a display of artefacts and equipment related to the Fishermen’s Advocate newspaper started by Coaker, which ran from 1910 to 1980.

Also on display is an industrial shipyard and ship-building display with documents and archival items related to the building industry in Port Union.

The FPU Factory/Advocate Building was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2002.

Categories: All, Archives, Community / Regional History, Eastern, Heritage Building, Regional Listings, Registered Heritage Structure, Shipbuilding, Social / Industrial History