Showing posts with label museums. Show all posts
Showing posts with label museums. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

A (very incomplete) history of the Mary March Museum, Grand Falls-Windsor.







I had a request for information on the history of the Mary March Museum, in light of the recent discussions over its name. Here is what I've found.

The Mary March Museum started in 1973 and was housed in the Penthouse room at the top of the Provincial building in GFW. It was run by a board of directors. In the early 1970s the board managed to get Federal funding to establish an Exhibition Centre which would become the current museum.

Sod was cut to start work on the museum June 14, 1976. More:

The Museum opened in 1977:

And closed in 1981 due to lack of funds (plus information on the locomotive in the photo) page 52

The Museum was taken over by the province in 1985:
page R974

At some point in the 1980s there was a reconstruction of a Beothuk encampment associated with the museum. Do photos of this exist??

Archival photo of the building circa 1988:

A petition was made in 2006 by local students to change the name:
And

The petition was presented to the House of Assembly by Anna Thistle, the member for Grand Falls-Windsor:

Discussion resurfaced in 2020 with the town council seeming to be in favour of a name change:
And

One response to the proposed change suggested the museum needed to go further, and operate as more than a seasonal museum:


UPDATE: The first Curator of the Museum was Glen Stroud. The Beothuck village reconstruction was never part of the Museum, it was established by the EVTA, Exploits Valley Tourism Association and run seasonally by them. It was put in place with the help of Don Pelley, Lloyd Seaward and a few other people.

Monday, June 1, 2020

Creativity During Covid-19 with Mireille Eagan, Curator of Contemporary Art at The Rooms in St. John's

Mireille Eagan, Curator of Contemporary Art at The Rooms in St. John's chats with folklorist Dale Jarvis of Heritage NL about her work telling stories in the gallery space, her life as a curator, and about how the pandemic shutdowns have affected The Rooms specifically, but also the wider impact it has had on how we think about galleries, art, and creativity.


Friday, May 1, 2020

Living Heritage Podcast Ep173 Collecting Covid with Maureen Peters (with video!)


Welcome to the  Covid-19 version of the Living Heritage Podcast! We've shifted the format a bit, and are recording on Zoom, which lets us bring you some video as well. We'll still be podcasting the audio on our Anchor.fm station so if you want to listen to just the audio, head over there and download it. But since you are here, enjoy the video version!

In this episode, Maureen Peters, Curator of History at The Rooms, St. John's, NL, chats with Dale Jarvis of Heritage NL about documenting the Covid-19 Pandemic in Newfoundland and Labrador. They chat about what The Rooms is collecting in terms of material culture, why it is important to collect this material now, looking back at polio and smallpox in the province, Corona beer facemasks, and crocheting a model of the human intestines! 




###

Living Heritage is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum
professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the
community level. The show is a partnership between HeritageNL and CHMR Radio.
Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Monday, April 27, 2020

Heritage NL and The Rooms launch Covid-19 NL Oral History Project, and want your stories.


What have Covid-19 shutdowns meant for you personally? Have you been learning how to bake bread or sew? How are you staying in touch with family and friends? Local heritage organizations want to know!

Heritage NL, in partnership with The Rooms, is collecting personal stories for an oral history project about the experiences of living through a pandemic.  The “Covid-19 NL Oral History Project” invites Newfoundlanders and Labradorians living in the province or away to document their memories and thoughts about what is happening to them or in their communities during the current novel coronavirus situation. 

The project is designed to document how the virus is affecting the lives of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and to archive their collective memories. Interested volunteers can request to be interviewed over the phone or web, can self-record a voice memo or video, they can interview a family member, and submit their file by email, or complete an online questionnaire.

The collected material will become part of a permanent online archive for future generations of students and researchers and may be included in a future physical or online exhibit at The Rooms. 

“Recording oral histories is one way to better understand the Covid-19 pandemic and the effects it is having on the lives of ordinary people,” says Heritage NL folklorist Dale Jarvis. “To create a historical record of how everyday people are responding to this event, we have developed sample questions and easy ways for people to share their stories.”

While all personal stories of the pandemic are of interest, Jarvis is particularly curious about the informal stories of health care workers and those working on the front lines of the pandemic: nurses, emergency responders, home care workers, grocery clerks, and the like. 

The oral histories are part of a longer ongoing project that The Rooms curatorial staff is engaging with the community on to gather materials related to people's experiences of the pandemic. These materials may be integrated into an exhibition, collections, or social media at a later date. The Rooms is looking for materials that reflect the culturally specific ways that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are dealing with this global event.

If you have a memory or story to share or want more information on the project, contact either Dale Jarvis at covid19@heritagenl.ca or visit the project website at www.hfnl.ca.  To submit a physical object for consideration, email Maureen Peters, Curator of History at MPeters@therooms.ca


Friday, October 21, 2016

Workshop - Collecting Oral Histories around Anniversaries and Milestone events. Nov 9, Corner Brook.


“Collecting Oral Histories around Anniversaries and Milestone events: Digital collection methods of the stories and descriptions of artifacts in collections.”

Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2016; 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Location: Corner Brook, NL. Venue to be determined.

Collecting the oral history of an artifact is an important part of collections management. When people assemble at anniversaries and millstone event exhibitions opportunities to collect information on collections are created, and museums should be prepared to use these interactions with the public to collect and enhance collections records. The stories of veterans and people associated with artifacts should be properly recorded.

This workshop will provide information on the proper recording methods for oral history in museum settings. These histories will enable participants to enhance artifact records by recording stories on digital media. Participants will learn proper methods for digitizing audio and video recordings including the use of electronic devices, recording best practices and proper methods of digital storage. These recordings maybe used to enhance the display of artifacts.

Instructor for the Workshop: Dale Jarvis, Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador
Enrolment Limits: Maximum of 20
Registration fees: $85 for MANL members, $110 for non-members
Registration Deadline: November 1, 2016

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Living Heritage Podcast Ep056 Nurturing Tomorrow’s Cultural Custodians



Sarah Wade has worked for the Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (MANL) since June 2011. Prior to working at MANL, Sarah attended Memorial University of Newfoundland where she received a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Archaeology and History in 2009. Sarah also obtained an Honours Diploma in Advanced Museum Studies from Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario in June 2011. Sarah is also an active member with Youth Heritage Newfoundland Labrador, a group that works to create a network for youth and heritage professionals within the province.

In this episode of the Living Heritage Podcast, Sarah talks about how young people can start to develop a career in heritage through education and volunteerism, the importance of employers developing meaningful internship opportunities, networking, the role and mission of Youth Heritage NL the youth mentorship speed-dating model, how institutions can better utilize the skills of youth, social media, and workshop opportunities.

Friday, September 2, 2016

Request For Proposals (RFP) - Municipal Museum Plan & Heritage Evaluation

The Town of Torbay is issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to identify qualified consulting firms to examine and present recommendations on the future of the Torbay municipal museum.

The Town seeks a firm with specific past experience in the research, preparation and delivery of reports for municipal museums, and cultural or heritage focused organizations.

Copies of the RFP and all inquiries relating to it, can be requested from the Town by emailing bparsons@torbay.ca.

Contract award is dependent on government funding approval.

Proposals will be accepted up until 12:00pm (NST) Friday September 30, 2016 and must be mailed in marked “Attn: Municipal Museum Plan & Heritage Evaluation” to the following address:

Town of Torbay
1288 Torbay Road
PO Box 1160
Torbay, NL
A1K 1K4

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Handcrafted Heritage - a conference for museum and craft lovers! #nlheritage



Each year the Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador has a conference that is attended by individuals from museums across Canada and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The conference provides a comfortable environment for delegates to meet, share, and express ideas and topics of concern with one another. This year our Conference, on "Handcrafted Heritage", will be held on October 2-3, 2015 at the Ramada Hotel in St. John's, Newfoundland.

At the Conference on Friday October 2nd there will be an option of two workshops:

Option one is "Our History in Pictures", presented by Mary Ellen Wright, of ANLA (Association of Newfoundland & Labrador Archives). She will discuss the conservation, display, storage and copyright of photographs in collections.

Option two is "Project Management", presented by the Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development. They will discuss the useful tools, sample processes, exercises, case studies, management plans and project planning tips involved with project management.

There will also be an opening reception Friday night at 7:00 -9:00 p.m. at the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador's Devon House Craft Centre (59 Duckworth Street) for a members' update, refreshments, music and more!

On Saturday, October 3, we will be offering a variety of conference sessions. Throughout the day the sessions will focus on craft and its relation to museums, whether through the gift shop, interpreting craft for programming or forming partnerships with craftspeople. The conference will also feature an AGM and luncheon for delegates. This is the chance for the election of officers and presentation of annual reports, certificates, and awards. If you are interested in being a part of our team or would like to find out more on our awards program, please contact the office.

Submit the 2015 "Handcrafted Heritage" Registration Form to register today.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Sarah Wade
Professional Development Coordinator

Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
P. 709.722.9034 | manl@nf.aibn.com
F. 709.722.9035 | www.manl.nf.ca
P.O. Box 5785 | St. John's, NL | A1C 5X3
* https://www.facebook.com/museumassociationofnl






Thursday, September 3, 2015

Living Heritage Podcast Ep008 Admiralty House Museum with Allison Bennett and Carla Watson



Allison Bennett is from Mount Pearl and graduated with a Master of Arts (in History) from Memorial University in October 2014. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Education (Intermediate/Secondary) at Memorial and will graduate this fall. Allison is currently employed as the Centennial Celebrations Coordinator at Admiralty House Communications Museum and is organizing and preparing events for HM Wireless Station’s 100th anniversary September 2015. Originally hailing from Saskatchewan, Carla Watson completed her Masters in Public History at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. She is currently the Museum Manager for Admiralty House Communications Museum in Mount Pearl. In this podcast, Terra Barrett talks with Allison and Carla about the Admiralty House Communications Museum, favourite stories and artifacts found in the museum, examples of programs, stories about supernatural activities in the museum, and challenges youth face working in the heritage sector.



Thursday, August 13, 2015

Living Heritage Podcast Ep005 Museum Gift Shops with Kelly Jones



Kelly Jones has worked in the world of retail for the past 30 years as a sales associate, manager, merchandiser, and owner. Currently, she is on a contract for The Rooms Gift Shop, as Buyer and Product Development officer. She is also still involved in theatre and film on a small scale, having been a professional stage manager for 10 years. On this episode of Living Heritage, Terra Barrett chats with Kelly about the business side of running a successful museum gift shop. They talk about challenges faced by museum gift shops, how to link products to gallery exhibits, balancing the themes of collections with sales products, developing product for the Christopher Pratt exhibit, working with artists, popular price points for items, and tips for marketing your shop using social media.


Monday, June 22, 2015

Invite to Heritage Day in Hodge’s Cove, Trinity Bay, Saturday June 27th

Guest blog post by Wanda Garrett, Southwest Arm Historical Society

Come and step back into time at the first annual Heritage Day of Southwest Arm Historical Society on Saturday, June 27th at the Lions Club in Hodge’s Cove, Trinity Bay. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. and the admission is free!

Museum for the Day
From 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., view the museum items that are on display for the afternoon. There could be everything from school yearbooks to vintage cast sad irons to a model or mould used to construct a punt. View and touch some of the many items that your ancestors used every day. You may be aware of most of the items but there could be some that you haven’t seen before or even know their purpose.

You might see items such as these two Maritime Archaic tools that were found at Heart’s Ease – a slate knife blade and a stone celt (axe). These items are approximately 4000 years old.


or you might see pottery inkwells that were found when the pond was drained at Heart’s Ease Beach in 1990….


or maybe a complete kit for loading bullets…



or items your grandmother or great-grandmother used around the house such as this sad iron or chopper…



The possibilities are endless so don’t miss out!

Share your ‘Old’ Photos
The Southwest Arm Historical Society will also take this opportunity to collect photos for their website. There will be a couple of computers and scanners set up at the Lions Club in the afternoon to scan your photos while you view the items in the ‘museum for the day.’ Be sure to bring along your photos of people and places of Southwest Arm and we will scan and return them to you before you are ready to leave.

Home-made Soup for Supper
What event in Newfoundland and Labrador would be complete without a little food? Join us for some homemade soup and sandwiches between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. – cost just $5.00 each.

‘Old-time’ Square Dance
And a little entertainment to round out the day! We will finish off our Heritage Day with an ‘old-time’ square dance. Don’t know how to square-dance! No problem; a number of square-dance pros will demonstrate how it is done and then offer you an opportunity to give it a try. Sound like fun? The square dance will start at 7:00 p.m. with local live music (accordion and guitar) – must be 19 years and older – cost only $5.00 each.

We hope to see you there!

Monday, June 8, 2015

Know a recent grad looking for a job in the heritage field? #nlheritage


Job Posting: Museum Association AssistantDuration: Full time until March 31st 2016

The Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (MANL) is a not for profit, registered charitable organization that supports our membership and museums throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Job Description
The Museum Association Assistant will work with the Executive Director in reviewing the organizational records of the Museum Association. The Assistant will be responsible for reviewing membership information and updating it on the MANL website. The Museum Association Assistant will also assist with planning, organizing and delivering our Annual General Meeting and training programs. The person reports to the Executive Director and works with committees of the Association to fulfill the goals of the Association.

The areas of responsibility include but are not limited to:

• Digitizing of records of the Association • Establish and maintain information related to members • Reviewing organization documents for retention • Assist in the development of membership database • Reevaluation and organization of reference library • Produce a regular newsletter and maintain the Association’s website • Assist with Annual General Meeting and training programs • Support the Board of Directors and committees of the Association, special projects and meetings as required • Some travel required must have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle • Other related duties as required.

Qualifications
The successful candidate will have demonstrated relevant experience. Must meet the criteria for the Graduate Employment Program, having graduated from a post-secondary program within the past two years. Must have experience with Microsoft Office programs such as Word and Excel; and possess excellent communications and organization skills. Knowledge of the museums, records management, light bookkeeping archives and heritage sector would be an asset. Completion of MANL and ANLA training would be an asset. The successful applicant must demonstrate the ability to work with others in an office environment. The successful candidate must present a certificate of conduct upon request.

Deadline for applications:
June11th, 2015, 3:00 pm
Applications may be forwarded by email only to: kflynn@nf.aibn.com

MANL thanks all applicants for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Looking for stories and artefacts from Newfoundlanders working in Alberta



The Royal Alberta Museum is developing a new exhibit display that will tell the story of Newfoundlanders who work in the Alberta oil patch, particularly those who travel back and forth between home and work. We are looking to make contact with people who might help us in telling this story by sharing their story. We are also looking to collect objects associated with this story that we might feature in the display. If you would like to contribute, please email Mathew Levitt at Mathew.levitt@gov.ab.ca

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

The Science You Eat - A Newfoundland root cellar in Ottawa!




If you've followed the ICH blog for any length of time, you'll know that we love root cellars! A few years ago, we partnered on a root cellar research project with the Agricultural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, and that information has been added to a root cellar collection on Memorial University's Digital Archives Initiative, over 500 photos, interviews and floor plans, much of it collected by folklorist Crystal Braye and cultural geographer Julie Pomeroy.

Now, some of that info has made its way to Ottawa, where a new exhibit is nearing completion, which will include a life-sized replica of a Newfoundland root cellar.

Suzanne Beauvais is a curator with the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, and one of the people who has been researching and building the model root cellar. She writes,
Have you ever wondered why storing cucumbers in vinegar keeps them edible for longer? Or whether canned food lasts forever? Our ancestors preserved food using several different methods but did not know that scientific principles underlie food preservation. The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, located on the grounds of the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, is opening a new exhibition — Food Preservation: The Science You Eat — that answers these questions and much more. The exhibition explores traditional and modern preservation methods, both at home and in industry, and explains the scientific principles behind food preservation using artifacts, videos, interactives, and audio recordings of people sharing their memories. A particularly interesting feature is a replica 1890s root cellar, such as those found in Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador, where visitors will experience the cold, damp, and dark of this food storage structure common to homes of the time. This replica has been made according to the historical information provided through the generous collaboration of the Agricultural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
So, if you are in the Ottawa area this summer, check out the Elliston root cellar. The exhibit opens officially on May 13th.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Digitizing Intangible Cultural Heritage : A How-To Guide


A while back, Lisa Wilson, one of our staff folklorists, worked for the the Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador to prepare a guide to assist museums, archives and independent researchers, for the Canadian Heritage Information Network.

This manual assists museums, archives and independent researchers in digitizing their existing collections of intangible heritage-related material. Aside from providing step-by-step digital transferring instructions, it also offers definitions for heritage-related terminologies, as well as a significant number of technological terminologies. While this digitization guide aims to be user-friendly, familiarity with basic audio/visual equipment and media software is a prerequisite. Digitization instructions are provided for both Windows and Mac operating systems.

The guide is now out, and available online!

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Doors Open St. John's returns for 2013


Guest blog post by Christina Robarts

September 7-8 from 10am-4pm
It’s that time of year once again for the annual Doors Open event. Every year various sites around the city of St. John’s open their doors to visitors free of charge. For those who don’t know Doors Open is a unique opportunity for citizens and visitors to the province to celebrate our heritage through the exploration of some of our hidden historical, architectural and cultural gems. Doors open events are community-wide, open-hours events which provide the public access to architecturally, historically or culturally significant or interesting properties, free of charge, within a given time frame. The places and spaces included may be those which normally charge fees, or are not usually open to or promoted to the public.

This year we have 16 returning favourites and 3 new sites:

16 returning favourites
  • The Newman Wine Vaults
  • Robin Hood Bay Waste Management Facility
  • James J. O’Mara Pharmacy Museum, Apothecary Hall
  • Basilica of St. John the Baptist and Basilica Museum
  • The Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
  • Clovelly Stables Community
  • Art Gallery at the Refugee and Immigrant Advisory Council
  • Central Fire Station
  • Crow’s Nest Officers’ Club
  • Quidi Vidi Plantation and Craft Incubator
  • Quidi Vidi Brewery
  • The Railway Coastal Museum
  • The YMCA of Northeast Avalon
  • St. John’s Farmers’ Market
  • Winterholme Heritage Inn and Spa
  • Suncor Energy Fluvarium
3 Sites participating for the first time
  • The Peter Lewis Gallery
  • Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove Museum
  • FarOut Fitness
Admission is FREE to all sites. For more details about times and days of participating sites please visit www.doorsopendays.com , Like Doors Open Days on Facebook or @DoorsOpenDaysNL on Twitter or on Instagram @DoorsOpenNL.

You can also email Christina Robarts, Doors Open Days 2013 Coordinator at doorsopendays@gmail.com

This event is sponsored by: CBC, The Telegram, Newfoundland Historic Trust, City of St. John’s, Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canadian Heritage, and Heritage Canada Foundation.

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.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Hi Ho Silver! Stories with metalworkers tonight at The Rooms


Tonight, Wednesday, May 1st, at 7pm, join the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (HFNL) at The Rooms Theatre for “Talking Shop: Metalworking.”

To highlight The Room’s new exhibit Silver: a Noble Metal, this Engaging Evening will explore the craft of metalworking. Folklorist Dale Jarvis will host Don Beaubier, Susan Lee Stephen, and Jason Holley, three local artists who work with metal, and who will join us to talk about their experience creating their pieces of art with silver and other metals.

The presentation is organized to coincide with a recent Rooms exhibit, “Silver: A Noble Metal.” In chemistry, silver is considered a noble metal; it is resistant to corrosion and oxidation and is considered precious due to its rarity in the Earth’s crust. From silverware to jewelry, pocket watches and trophies, silver was once mined and worked right here in Newfoundland.

Silver has been a status symbol for centuries, its artisans creating functional works of art but also paying attention to styles and trends. It has also been considered a great reward and is given as an award to important dignitaries, athletes and heroes on the battlefield.  The exhibition examines silver (sterling and plate), its uses and markings and its production within the province.







Photos courtesy Susan Lee Studios.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Intangible Cultural Heritage Symposium in Alberta, Sept 2013



New Partnership with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO

The Alberta Museums Association (AMA) is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCU) to present the AMA’s 2013 Conference, which will explore the concept of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).

The Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage defines five general topic areas of ICH:

(a) oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage;
(b) performing arts;
(c) social practices, rituals and festive events;
(d) knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe;
(e) traditional craftsmanship.[i]

Together, we aim to raise awareness about ICH and to provide the Alberta museum community with the opportunity to start thinking about what role they play to foster and preserve ICH. A coordinated partnership between the AMA and CCU will utilize the capacity of each organization to expand the audience and level of understanding for ICH and its role in creating a sense of cultural belonging.

Intangible Cultural Heritage Symposium
September 19, 2013

Presented by the AMA and CCU, the 2013 Pre-Conference Symposium will be dedicated to the exploration of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) from a theoretical perspective. The ICH Symposium will help to foster the discussion around the importance of culture in our society. The one-day event will feature presentations by recognized experts in the ICH field. This innovative and inspiring opportunity will positively impact the museum community by bringing together museums, academia and practitioners to examine issues around ICH; thereby contributing to the social, cultural, and educational fabric of our communities as well as increasing awareness of ICH practices.

[i] UNESCO, “General Provisions: Article 2.2 – Definitions,” Text of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (Accessed 5 November 2012).

Contact:

Carrie Ann Lunde, BA, MA
Communications Lead
Alberta Museums Association

Suite 404, 10408.124 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5N 1R5
P: 780.424.2626 x. 244
F: 780.425.1679
E: clunde@museums.ab.ca
W: www.museums.ab.ca


Thursday, November 8, 2012

Mizzen Heritage Society Visit, Heart's Content

Yesterday I traveled to Heart's Content to spend some time with members of the town's Mizzen Heritage Society. This group of individuals have a vested interested in the heritage structures within their community. With their help, the Heart's Content Town Council has submitted an application to the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador to have an officially designated heritage district in their community. In the proposed district there are 18 buildings of historic interest, many of which are connected to the cable companies that once operated in Heart's Content. The Mizzen men discussed the proposal with me, and offered some historic background on some of the heritage buildings the are within the district. Over the next few months I will be making many trips to Heart's Content to visit not only the Mizzen Heritage group, but members of the town council and greater community too. Ultimately, I hope to figure out how I can help the Heart's Content heritage district be as successful as possible, as both a provincial point of interest as well as a tool for local community-building initiatives.


Here are John, Bob, and Claude (L to R) of the Mizzen Heritage Society standing in the town hall conference room. They told me all about what they do as a society, what some of their successful campaigns have been, and what some of their future plans are. They also gave me a sneak peek inside of some of the heritage buildings within the district (see below). I look forward to collaborating with them in the coming months.


The above photograph shows the interior of the Methodist School House (c.1919) in Heart's Content. It is now owned by the Mizzen Heritage Society who have converted it into a community museum. The amazing tiled floor is likely from when it was used by the Masonic Order from the 1940s-1960s.


 This model, on display in the community museum, depicts the historic Anglican Church that once stood in Heart's Content. Sadly this building was lost in a fire in the mid-1980s-- a tragic event that has not been forgotten. While the town still misses this beautiful structure, community members have found ways to celebrate it and keep it in the collective memory.

On my next Heart's Content excursion I hope to speak with some of the owners of heritage buildings within the district -- stay tuned!

-Lisa