Monday, July 29, 2013

Bay Roberts Event: 100 Years of Cable Avenue

On Friday afternoon, August 2nd, 2013, the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (HFNL) will be helping to celebrate the 100th birthday of Cable Avenue in Bay Roberts. The ceremony will include speeches to recognize Cable Avenue as a Registered Heritage District, the presentation of a Registered Heritage Structure plaque to the Western Union Cable Station, and a cake cutting to celebrate the Avenue’s birthday. 

According to Frank Crews, Chairperson for the HFNL, "Historic districts are geographically defined areas which create a special sense of time and place." They also must have provincial heritage significance and demonstrate minimal modern intrusion. 

The Cable Avenue Heritage District dates back to 1913, when construction of staff housing by Western Union Telegraph Company began along the street. The designation includes the houses on the east and west sides of Cable Avenue, the house on the corner of Cable Avenue and Water Street, Western Union Cable Building on Water Street and the grounds associated with these structures. Other principal physical elements of the district include the set-back sidewalks, curbs, original streetlights and the chestnut trees which line the street. 

This event will also serve as the launch of our “Celebrating 100 Years of Cable Avenue” exhibit in the Road to Yesterday Museum. The display will feature material gathered during an oral history project about life on the Avenue and for employees of the Western Union. 

The event is free and open to the public. It will take place at 3:30 pm, Friday, August 2nd, at the Road to Yesterday Museum in the Western Union Cable Station.  Hope to see you there!

Photograph of Western Union employees, provided by Jack Hambling.

1 comment:

Sheila Zakre said...

Wish I could have been there. My mother was born on cable avenue on August 3, 1919. Sheila Zakre, USA