According to the magazine, “Decks Awash, Vol. 20, No. 2, March/April 1991”, Harcourt, formerly called Sandy Point until 1904, was settled after 1860 by families from Trinity and Hant’s Harbour areas. Common family names for the first settlers included Barrett, Bailey, Cooper, Parsons, Strong, Tilley and White. Until the 1960’s, there were two other local thriving settlements, Somerset and Foster’s Point, which have been included in the community of Harcourt.

Sandy Point was noted to have brick making before it was permanently settled. It was noted in “Decks Awash” that Larry Adams (d.1980) claimed that the first bricks were produced in 1832 at the west end of Sandy Point. A brick factory operating in the area later moved to Burnt Point and changed ownership several times before being sold to the Pittman family. This family continued to operate the brickyard until the early 1920’s.

The lumber industry employed many residents in the community, with several sawmills in the area and some men went to the Labrador fishery to help supplement their family’s income.

The community of Harcourt has a dairy farm and a nearby mink farm which employs some residents. The slate quarry in Burgoyne’s Cove also provides employment opportunities for the area. Other residents commute to nearby communities for employment. Students travel to Shoal harbour and Clarenville for their education.

Harcourt also has a Volunteer Fire Department.

Some of the businesses located in the community are:

Holloway’s Grocery
Groceries, Material and Sewing Supplies, Giftware, Postage Stamps, Hardware and Camping Supplies
(709) 663-4341

Harcourt Fur Farm
(709) 427-6046, 427-8106

Wave Creations
Sewing products, Quilts, Placemats, NFLD Tartan, Custom Embroidery
(709-663-3521