Finding Truth in the Archives! An Updated Construction Date on Bleak House, Fogo

 

In doing research at the provincial archives, we have uncovered new information about the Bleak House in Fogo - that its date of construction was between 1826 and 1827, not 1816 as previously believed! 

You might wonder why we thought the house was built in 1816. Although we all wish archival research were as easy as an online search, having to go through historical records is no small feat. Finding the information you need depends on whether those records were saved, and, importantly, whether they're in the place you're looking.

Previous researchers knew that the premises where Bleak House is located was purchased by John and Robert Slade in 1816, and that it was built sometime after this purchase. After decades, this understanding of built after turned into built around and finally into built in 1816. And this is why it's important to do regular research and always be searching for new resources that could clarify our understanding of the past. 

We found this document called the General Description of Premises at Fogo, belonging to and in the occupation of R (Robert), D (David) and J (John) Slade, from 1834 located at the Rooms. 

Below you can see the Dwelling House that was recorded to be built in 1826 - 1827, and below "By DS Esq." (David Slade). 

It describes a Dwelling House that "consists of 3 floors - 1st passage (hallway) and 2 parlours - 2nd chambers - 5 - 3rd Attic, Kitchen Attached."

Its dimensions are also recorded as length x breadth x height to top of roof x height of stud

House: 41 1/2 feet x 31 feet x 23 feet x 16 feet

Kitchen: 20 feet x16 feet x 13 1/2 feet x 8 feet 

Since the construction of Bleak House, there have been a number of renovations and additions, so finding an original description of the house is very exciting! 

Speaker Introduction- Dr. Dean Oliver

 

Dr. Dean Oliver will be speaking at the 2025 Heritage Conference, Friday Oct 17th at 6pm, with his topic "Does Diversity have an Opposite". 

Dean F. Oliver, PhD, has been Director of Museum Services at Know History since September 2023. His former 25 years of executive public service included nine as Senior Director of Research and Chief Curator at the Canadian Museum of History, where he supervised national programs of archaeology, history, musicology, folklore, and Indigenous experience, as well as the museum's library and archives. A military historian by training, he led creative development at the Canadian War Museum for 14 years, including its exhibitions, research, interpretive planning, public programs, and resource centre. He is the co-author of the national award-winning Oxford Companion to Canadian Military History. For eight years, Dr. Oliver was a member of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, and he remains a frequent media and public commentator on issues of history, heritage, conflict, and commemoration. Dr. Oliver was knighted by Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands in 2010 for 'service to society'.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear other organizations' projects, plans and accomplishments. 

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

Meet Joy Barfoot, Greenspond Historical Society

 

Joy Barfoot will be speaking in the Peer Share Panel on Saturday, October 18th at the upcoming heritage conference.

With an Education degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Folklore, from Memorial University, Joy was determined to make her passion her career. Joy has worked more than three decades in the natural history and heritage sector. She has worked both as a classroom teacher and as an outdoor educator. She has developed a number of teacher resource guides on various topics throughout her career and has contributed articles to various magazines and journals, including The Green Teacher Magazine and The Greenspond Letter. For the past 15 years, Joy has worked with the Art Gallery, Museums and Visitor Engagement Department at The Rooms, and today manages the Education and Public Programming unit, a position that brings a lot of fulfillment. Programming, community history and engagement lies at the heart of Joy’s career, and in her spare time she dedicates countless hours preserving and sharing the history of her hometown of Greenspond, Bonavista Bay. She is a member of the Greenspond Historical Society, where her role spans many fields including developing and delivering presentations highlighting the history of Greenspond, spearheading fundraising efforts, coordinating a volunteer program, and assisting with the development of exhibits for the Historic courthouse. No visit to Greenspond is complete without volunteering some time at the courthouse where she loves greeting visitors and sharing stories of home. Joy currently lives in St. John’s with her husband, Peter and their fur-baby, Bailey.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear other organizations' projects, plans and accomplishments. 

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

Meet Chantelle Evans, Nunatsiavut

Chantelle Evans will be speaking at the Amplifying Craft panel and the Coffee and Crafts Break at the upcoming heritage conference.

Chantelle Evans is the Arts Services Manager with the Nunatsiavut Government, where she plays a key role in supporting Inuit artists, preserving traditional art forms, and growing creative opportunities across Nunatsiavut. Based in her home community of Makkovik, Labrador, Chantelle brings a strong connection to Inuit culture, hands-on artistic experience, and a deep commitment to community-led arts development. With a background in Visual Arts and textile, Craft & Apparel Design, Chantelle has worked as both an artist and educator, specializing in contemporary garment design based on traditional wear. Her work has been featured in exhibitions such as SakKijâjuk: Art and Craft from Nunatsiavut, and she was selected to participate in Canada Goose’s Project Atigi, highlighting Indigenous designers. In her role as Arts Services Manager, Chantelle supports artists across the five Nunatsiavut communities working to preserve and grow Inuit artistic practices by fostering intergenerational knowledge sharing, coordinating arts funding, and building partnerships that increase visibility and support for Labrador Inuit artists. Her work is grounded in the belief that the arts are essential to cultural strength, community identity, and self-determination.

Working primarily with traditional materials and patterns, Chantelle blends cultural heritage with contemporary design, creating one-of-a- kind garments that reflect her personal style while honoring Inuit traditions. Her work is vibrant, process-driven, and deeply rooted in both community and craft. She holds a certificate in Textiles: Craft and Apparel Design from the Anna Templeton Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and has recently completed a weaving apprenticeship, further expanding her skills and creative approach. Her continued exploration of textile techniques allows her to design and produce contemporary garments that bridge traditional and modern aesthetics. Chantelle’s work has been featured in several high-profile projects, including commissioned pieces for Inuk Opera Singer Deantha Edmunds-Ramsay, Canada Goose’s Project Atigi, MMIWG initiatives, the Canada 150 Choir, the Ullugiagatsuk Choir, and the Inuktut Speak-Off. She also participated in the nationally touring exhibition SakKijâjuk: Art and Craft from Nunatsiavut and Dynamic Connections: Threads of Living Memory Exhibition. Chantelle continues to develop her practice, staying committed to creative expression that celebrates Inuit culture through evolving forms of textile art and fashion. Her most current works can be found on social media under Tautulle by Chantelle Evans

Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear about the Newfoundland and Labrador craft scene and its part in heritage.

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

Job Posting: Education and Training Coordinator

 Job Posting: Education and Training Coordinator

42 week position, 35hrs/wk, $20/hr

Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (Heritage NL) is seeking an Education and Training Coordinator to help develop and deliver a series of modules and mentorships targeted to: a) individuals involved in the architectural field who are interested in developing their knowledge of traditional building practices and restoration and; b) members of the public interested in developing knowledge and practice of traditional craft skills that are at risk of disappearing in the province.  The latter will include a business development component.  

Heritage NL is a provincial crown agency with a mandate to support the preservation of Newfoundland and Labrador’s built heritage/historic places and the safeguarding of its Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).  It undertakes this mandate through designation and commemoration programs; funding programs for heritage preservation; the provision of technical expertise on conservation; research; community and public outreach, and support for a wide variety of ICH initiatives.  The agency will be developing and delivering a year-long program of training in traditional building skills along with traditional craft skills and knowledge at risk .

Qualifications for this position include a post-secondary degree in an appropriate field with a minimum of 3 years of experience in training/program delivery or a combination of education and experience of at least 5 years.  Knowledge of and experience in an arts administration field is an asset. Excellent computer skills required, including ability to do online research, manage social media accounts, power point presentations, and word processing.  A driver's license and occasional access to a car are assets.

Eligibility: 

• Must reside in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

• Must be unemployed or underemployed (working less than 20 hours per week or in a field unrelated to their training). 

• Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Newfoundland and Labrador. Temporary residents may be eligible if they are international graduates with a Post-graduate Work Permit or have an Open Work Permit. 

• Recent post-secondary graduates who have not found employment in their field. 

• Must not be receiving federal or provincial pensions, Workplace NL benefits, or other benefits. 

To apply, send cover letter and CV to:

Dale Jarvis, Executive Director, Heritage NL

dale@heritagenl.ca

DEADLINE: Sunday, October 19, 2025.

Meet Felicia Somolu, Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Archives

Felicia Somolu will be speaking in the Getting the Stories Out panel on Saturday, October 18th. 

Felicia Somolu is the Professional Development and Outreach Officer at ANLA. She holds a BA in Social Sciences from Glasgow Caledonia University and an MA in Folklore from Memorial University. With a particular interest in crafting traditions, material culture, folk and textile art were a primary focus of her adventures and research. These interests were further explored through her work with Heritage NL, where she helped design a comprehensive inventory of craft practitioners in the Humber Valley region and collaborations with knowledge keepers in Newfoundland and Labrador’s outport communities. Felicia brings experience in program coordination and graphic design and has past experience working at MUNFLA, First Light, and The Rooms.

Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear about cost effective online resources available to institutions.

Registration deadline is 4:30 PM NDT on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

To register: https://forms.gle/ecQFJqkHeVkaFzwu5

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

Meet Kate Wolforth, The Rooms

Kate Wolforth will be moderating the Women in Heritage keynote panel on Friday, Oct 17th at the upcoming heritage conference.

Kate Wolforth (she/her) holds a BFA from Concordia University and Masters in Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. Since 2019, she has been the Director of the Art Gallery, Museums and Visitor Experience Dept at The Rooms, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest cultural facility. She has worked in the cultural sector for over 25 years. With a background in exhibition development, interpretive planning and museum and arts education, Kate’s professional passion is ensuring that museums and art galleries are welcoming, inclusive spaces. She has facilitated numerous new partnerships for The Rooms, working collaboratively with her wonderful team of museum professionals to build new initiatives and audiences.

Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear the insights of many prominent figures in the heritage community.

Registration deadline is 4:30 PM NDT on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

To register: https://forms.gle/ecQFJqkHeVkaFzwu5

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

Meet Melissa Tarrant, Craft Council NL

Melissa Tarrant will be speaking at the Bringing People In panel on Saturday, October 18th at the upcoming heritage conference.

Melissa Tarrant is the Executive Director of the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador where she is dedicated to advancing the province’s craft sector and supporting its vibrant community of craftspeople. With over 20 years of experience in arts, culture, and community engagement, she brings both strategic insight and creative passion to her role. A textile artist herself, Melissa has built a career that bridges artistic practice with arts leadership. She has extensive expertise in business development, strategic planning, partnership building, and program design. Committed to celebrating and strengthening the rich history of craft in Newfoundland and Labrador, Melissa also champions innovation and growth for the future. Her leadership is guided by the belief that craft strengthens communities, is integral to cultural identity, and is a vital economic driver in rural parts of the province.

Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear about how organizations can open themselves up to a more diverse audience.

Registration deadline is 4:30 PM NDT on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

To register: https://forms.gle/ecQFJqkHeVkaFzwu5

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

Meet Kim Shipp, Johnson Geo Centre

Kim Shipp will be speaking at the Bringing People In panel on Saturday, October 18th at the upcoming heritage conference.

Over 30 years, Kim has dedicated herself to work in the cultural sector in both Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador. She has held leadership roles in historic sites and museums and now serves as Director of Memorial’s Botanical Garden and Johnson Geo Centre, while also overseeing operations of Memorial’s Conference and Events Services and the Newfoundland Quarterly. Kim is filled with gratitude to work with these passionate teams who spark curiosity about science, who create a sense of wonder about the natural world, and who craft amazing guest experiences that connect us all. Kim received her BA from the University of Toronto, and her MA from Western University. She lives in St. John’s with her husband, two kids, two dogs, and two cats.

Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear about how organizations can open themselves up to a more diverse audience.

Registration deadline is 4:30 PM NDT on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

To register: https://forms.gle/ecQFJqkHeVkaFzwu5

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/