Harris Tweed and Chainsaws: The Legacy of Saliba Dominic

S. Dominic & Sons on Humbermouth Road are well-known for their made-to-measure clothing. There are 400 samples of material from which you can choose, among them a variety of gabardines, for sportswear. This is the time to think about having a Harris Tweed suit or jacket made for the cooler weather, orders are promptly attended to, and satisfaction is assured.

The above 1942 advertisement in Corner Brook’s Western Star newspaper was for S. Dominic & Sons Ltd. Their store in Corner Brook sold a variety of goods, and was matched by a sister store in Botwood. The firm opened the “Wayside Inn” dining room in Botwood in addition to their retail store.

Colour portrait. Man wearing a dark suit standing with a woman wearing a long sleeve white dress and veil (appears to be a wedding dress). The background is blue and the couple stands on light brown carpet.

Wedding photo of Saliba Dominic and Sadie Allen, Botwood. Circa 1910.

The business was started by former peddler Saliba Dominic. When he arrived in Newfoundland, he translated his middle name “Domit” to the English Dominic and dropped the family name Saadeh, creating a new name for himself. As he raised money, he opened a store and hired ships to carry his goods from Spaniard’s Bay to Labrador. He also ran a dry goods shop in Bay Roberts. Circa 1910, Saliba married Sadie Allen, who was born in May of 1893 in Lebanon.

Black and white interior. Man working on a boat inside a wooden shed or outbuilding with five windows. The boat is on the left side of the image and is propped up on wood lumber and barrels. The boat is both light and dark in colour and includes a roof. The words Maureen written twice on either side of the bow of the boat. There are lights along the centre of the ceiling. Miscellaneous wood and tools are on the right side of the image.

Joseph Dominic building a boat in the family basement in Botwood.

Many of the Dominic children worked in the family business, and went on to a variety of careers. Rufus grew up in Botwood and Corner Brook, and as a young adult worked in the family general store. Rufus went on to become a paediatric doctor. Joseph Dominic became a town councillor in Bishop’s Falls, and a manager for Harvey and Company’s chainsaw division.

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