History
From CNWiki
The city of St. John's is the oldest English-founded settlement in North America, supposed to have been named for the first European to have sailed into its harbor: John Cabot. Here's a time line showing the historic events that have taken place in the city, from both a mortal and immortal perspective.
~1497 - John Cabot discovers Newfoundland.
~1500-1540 - What was random fishing trips begun by the Portuguese, French and Spanish becomes an annual tradition, as the waters are very rich in fish stock. During this time a Brujah leaves the UK for the 'new world' after the first Anarch Rebellion. He settles in Newfoundland, likely due to its long nights and shorter, safer trip from England.
1583 August - Sir Humphrey Gilbert claims St. John's as England's first overseas colony, disregarding the fact that there was no permanent population at this time. Stories tell of a plebian who claims praxis over St. John's. Newfoundland's acquired status as an English colony helps the city become more stable and permanent after he claims his domain.
1605-1665 - The first permanent settlers arrive and stake their claims on the land. St. John's population grows and the city is heralded as the largest settlement on the island. The population swells in leaps and bounds yearly with migratory fisherman arrivals. Kindred of Clan Brujah, Clan Malkavian, Clan Gangrel, Clan Nosferatu and other random brave, exploratory types come in initially small numbers with the settlers to St. Johns. Some move on, but other settle in the city for good. Even before this larger migration, it is likely there are already members of these clans in existence on the island.
1665 - Dutch admiral Michiel de Ruyter seizes St. John's and attempts to hold it. The elders of Clan Tremere and Clan Ventrue deny the plebian's claims to praxis and attempt to take his domain for themselves, using their influences in the mortal military. This attempt fails and many of the Patricians' forces are killed before they retreat. Admiral De Ruyter is turned out by the locals and claims he will return. A predominance of the city's defenses are erected at this point in time.
1673 - The Dutch return and attempt to seize the harbour again, but are beaten back by the well prepared local populace holding strong points and defensive locations. The Patricians may have made another attempt to take the plebian's domain, but he remains in power after the second large attack by the Dutch.
1680 - A number of English fishing companies set up "Fishing Rooms", where hundreds of Irish fisherman are brought in to stay and operate inshore fishing vessels. The first known appearance of Clan Ravnos in St. Johns occurs around this time.
1689 - The English begin plans to fortify the city, the intent to build upon the already strong defenses the local population had erected. Constant delays prevent them from proceeding. Defending his domain becomes more difficult for the Plebian.
1696 - French admiral Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville captures, sacks, and razes the city. The majority of the Kindred population in St. John's is killed during this event. Those who survive take shelter in nearby towns to hide from the invaders. The English retake the land, turning out the French and finally erecting the fortifications they had pre-planned.
1700-1800 - Newfoundland as a whole grows greatly in population. The Grand Banks, salmon and seal fisheries are all established. St. John's grows slowly in population. Although primarily a fishing center, it serves as the island's garrison and center of government. During this period several key Ventrue and Tremere war officials in St. Johns begin to disappear. Gideon may have claimed praxis during this time. It's unclear what the reaction from the Camarilla was until more patrician backed assaults wash over the island.
1705-1708 - The city is assaulted by the French at least twice more, and civilian structures are devastated by fire. Despite attacks by the Patricians, the Nosferatu praxis-claimer and his small group of Plebian supporters are able to hold the city. Actual battles are few and far between, as many of the Patricians' war leaders simply disappear. The Patrician forces are eventually pushed out of the city. There is a sudden shift during this time where suddenly Gideon is recognized as the outright holder of praxis in St. John's. He appoints a seemingly random young Ancille of clan Ventrue to sit in as his Seneschal.
1762 - The final battle of the Seven Years' War in North America is fought in St. John's at the Battle of Signal Hill. The French surrender St. John's to the British under the command of Colonel William Amherst. Fort Amherst is constructed in his honor. The number of Patricians within St. John's begins to grow slowly. A number of them settle there. However, the Prince remains unchallenged and unshakable in his seat of power.
~1775-1812 - St. John's serves as a naval base for the English in the American Revolutionary war, and the War of 1812. During this time the Royal Newfoundland Regiment is first founded in 1795 by Major Skinner of the Royal Engineers. The Regiment is nominally stationed at Fort Townshend in the upper reaches of the downtown area. The R-NFLD-R serve as marines aboard many of the Royal Naval Vessels during the aforementioned wars.
1829 - The last of the Beothuk people dies in a St. John's Hospital.
1892 - Hunters swarm St. John's due to an unknown breach of the Masquerade. In their attempts to destroy the supernatural presence the Hunters destroy most of the city by starting the Great Fire. The Great Fire scourges more than 3/4ths of the city, gutting homes and businesses alike. Eventually the Hunters are all killed. It becomes common speculation in the mortal world that the fire was started in a stable in the downtown area, and spread across the city rapidly due to dry weather and high winds. The rebuilding of St John's begins, stories of Old George Street coming about from this rebuilding process circulate to this day. Many of the buildings which survived the fire still stand to this day, including the Basilica of St. John the Baptist.
1901 - The first trans-Atlantic wireless message is received by Guglielmo Marconi on Signal Hill.
1914 - The Royal Newfoundland Regiment calls for men to serve the King in the First World War; over five hundred young men from St. John's sign on, and go to the war never to return.
1919 - St. John's is the launch point for the first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight.
~1930-1945/6 - The height of the Great Depression sees Newfoundland in terrible economic strife, A royal commission recommends that responsible government be replaced by a commission form of government. St. John's serves as a safe harbor and naval base for the Canadian, UK, and US navies. As overseas travel becomes more feasible for kindred, and North America becomes more desirable for eager Ancille looking to grab power and Elders looking to oversee interests in the new world, many pass through Newfoundland as an easy first stop on their trip.
1946 - Newfoundland reclaims self government from the English in the post war turmoil. A council is elected to discuss the province's options, whether to continue as a commissioned government or to return to sovereignty. One Joseph Smallwood, a delegate to the convention, argues for a third (unconsidered) option: Confederation with Canada. It takes three years and multiple votes to achieve this, and only then by a 2% majority.
1949 - Newfoundland officialy joins Canada as a province.
1950 - As Newfoundland begins to come into its own as an industrialized locale, jobs are at an all time low, out-migration grows to a high percentage and never drops.
1960-1966 - The transcanada highway is finished in Newfoundland, Newfoundland's second major hydro power plant is finished at Bay d'Espoir. Power is distributed across most residential areas finally. Many Kindred wonder why development in a city which has been so vital for transportation of both kindred and mortals has been so slow.
1966-Present - Economical fluctuation, more out-migration, many of those who left Newfoundland in years gone by return home, their children out-migrate, the cycle continues.
1992 - The fishing industries suffers a great loss as a number of factors (foreign and local overfishing, un-culled seal population, and the use of drag nets) devastate cod stocks, more than 70,000 jobs are lost as the fishery enters a moratorium for approximately five years. Protesters burn boats and the island goes into an uproar. Plebian outcry against outside patrician influence over local government to protect industrial interests helps stir the mortal population into their frenzy.
1997 - Construction completes on the Hibernia Oil Platform, drilling begins at the undersea oil sands on the grand banks.
2002 - Fishery closed again, for a much shorter time. More protests.
