 There was a small Roman Catholic church and a school located in the community, as well as a suspension bridge which crossed the inlet.At the time of Confederation in 1949, La Manche had a population of 54; by 1961, following the closure of the school, this had fallen to 25.La Manche was abandoned after a winter storm on 28 January 1966 which demolished the community's network of wharves and stages and collapsed the suspension bridge.