Living Heritage Podcast Ep227 Mentor-Apprentice Program: Riddle Fences with Guy Barnable and Eric Escudero

Eric Escudero and Guy Barnable in front of a riddle fence in New Perlican. Photo by Heritage NL.

In this episode we talk with mentor Guy Barnable, and apprentice Eric Escudero who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Guy is a teacher by trade and learned the craft of wriggle fence (or as he calls them - riddle fence) construction from a neighbour and started building them on his own in the 1990s. He is proud to say that his two sons know the craft and have helped him teach it to others. Eric is studying Ethnomusicology at Memorial University. As a newcomer in Newfoundland, he hadn’t had an opportunity to practise Newfoundland riddle fence making prior to the program. Eric has some experience in building wooden fences back in Brazil and learned the basics of building wooden fences and gates from his father.

Eric harvested materials. Photo courtesy of Guy and Eric.

### 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.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep226 Mentor-Apprentice Program: Weaving with Megan Samms and Jane Walker

Megan Samms and Jane Walker making a warp. Photo courtesy of Megan and Jane.

In this episode we talk with mentor Megan Samms, and apprentice Jane Walker who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. 

Megan Samms has worked with textiles since she was a child but her main focus over the last ten years has been hand weaving. Over her career she has attended artist residencies and dedicated full time studio hours which has allowed her to finetune her craft. Each piece of her work is unique, and Megan uses plant dyes that she grows or forages locally to colour the yarns she uses in her textiles. With a particular interest in working with the linear structure of burlap and linen apprentice Jane Walker has been practising the art of rug hooking for several years. Upon noticing the correlation between rug hooking and weaving, Jane has been keen to advance her knowledge of weaving.

Megan Samms and Jane Walker beaming a warp. Photo courtesy of Megan and Jane.

### 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.

Designated buildings, awards, fences, chants and charms: it's the February Heritage Update!

In this edition of the Heritage Update: the iconic Grand Falls House designated as a Registered Heritage Structure; Heritage NL receives Community Builder Award from the NL Association of Professional Planners; Robert Burgess, of the Burgess Heritage Property writes on chants and charms; the history and recipes of marine oil paints in the North Atlantic; making friends and building fences; and a look at the history of the Lambert and Johanna Greene House and Outbuildings in Tilting, Fogo Island.  

• Download the pdf

Living Heritage Podcast Ep225 Lebanese Memories and Music with Terri Andrews

Large Lebanese community photo. Ella Andrews on the far left. Photo courtesy of Terri Andrews.

In this episode we talk with Terri Andrews. Terri’s grandmother was Ella (née Michael) Andrews and her grandfather was Albert Andrews. Both were born in Hadath El Jebbeh, Lebanon. Today we talk about the Andrews family, and Lebanese bands and music. Terri also shares some recollections of the Lebanese community on New Gower Street, St. John’s, NL.

### 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.

A “magnificently appointed Tudor mansion" - Grand Falls House designated as a Registered Heritage Structure

An iconic historic property in Grand Falls-Windsor has been awarded provincial heritage designation by Heritage NL.  

Perched on a birch-clad hill overlooking the Exploits River, Grand Falls House was built in 1909 by Alfred and Harold Harmsworth as one of the properties built in conjunction with the new paper mill. Following the establishment of the paper mill, Grand Falls became a boomtown, with workers drawn from every bay on the island. 

Grand Falls House, with its outbuildings and mature parkland, was designated as a Registered Heritage Structure by Heritage NL on January 17th, 2023. Designed by British architect Robert Douglas Wells, and built under the supervision of Tom Brown of New Harbour, Trinity Bay, the building has been described as a “magnificently appointed Tudor mansion.” 

One of the oldest original buildings in the town, the house hosted many visiting dignitaries over the years, including the Duke of Connaught (son of Queen Victoria) and Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, founders of the Scouting movement. For a number of years, it was the residence of the mill manager.

Grand Falls House during the residency of Sir Vincent Jones. HM Dawe Photograph Collection.

In 2022, the province formally handed over possession of Grand Falls House and its surrounding property to the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor for heritage-sensitive development.

“Grand Falls House is an important part of our history,” says Dr. Lisa Daly, Chair of Heritage NL. “It is an impressive, unique building, which helps commemorate the century-long impact of the Grand Falls paper mill on Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Heritage NL was established by the provincial government in 1984 to preserve the architectural history and living heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador.  Heritage NL designates buildings and other structures as Registered Heritage Structures and administers a fund on behalf of the province for the conservation of such structures.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep224 Mentor-Apprentice Program: Spruce Root Baskets with Eileen Murphy and Sandi Yates

Sandi Yates and Eileen Murphy. Sandi is holding her spruce root basket.
Photo courtesy of Eileen Murphy. 

In this episode we talk with mentor Eileen, and apprentice Sandi who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Eileen has been making spruce root baskets for 41 years and has both taught and demonstrated at workshops, festivals, in school settings, and with individuals. Mr. Anthony White from Shallop Cove, Bay St. George, was Eileen’s instructor and mentor. Sandi has experience weaving branches into tension baskets and also composes large scale sculptures using driftwood, seasoned birch and discarded found objects. Sandi is currently studying Fine Art through Memorial University: Grenfell Campus and works in the craft industry seasonally. She produces mixed media artworks about NL.

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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.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep223 Mentor-Apprentice Program: Weaving with Stephanie Stoker

Woven linen ecoprint. Courtesy of Stephanie Stoker.

In this episode we talk with mentor Stephanie who is a participant of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Stephanie Stoker is an experienced educator of textile arts, having taught weaving, drawing, design and colour theory for over ten years. Stephanie's experience in both Canada and Peru has allowed her to fine tune her skills and gain a deep understanding of the detailed work that is weaving.

### 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.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep222 Mentor-Apprentice Program: Bark Tanning with Susan Furneaux and Nicole Travers

Bark tanned seal skin. Photo submitted by Susan Furneaux.

In this episode we talk with mentor Susan, and apprentice Nicole who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Susan is a craft educator who has been working with and extracting local tannin sources for over 30 years in her natural dye practise. Susan began practising her skill in leather tanning in 2011, and has been traditionally bark tanning and producing viable leather for over five years. Nicole is an avid bead artist and has recently expanded her artistic interest into the craft of tanning. She has been tanning fish skins for over a year, creating fish leather items beaded with traditional Mi'kmaw double curve motifs, petroglyphs and hieroglyphs. Nicole prides herself on teaching others traditional skills and wants to aid in the revival of bark tanning skins.

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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.

Yarns and Yarns - a virtual knitting and storytelling circle around the North

 

Join us for the first Yarns and Yarns event - we’ll be live from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada with the regular weekly knitting group at the St. John’s Public Library! Make yourself a cup of tea, tune in, and knit along as we hook up with friends and colleagues and have a virtual chat with Siun Carden about her woolly experiences from Shetland!  All knitters, story lovers, and textile enthusiasts are welcome. 

This is being organised by Heritage NL on behalf of the UArctic Northern and Arctic Island Studies Network linking island communities across the north. There will be others based in other northern islands in the coming months!

When: Jan 24, 2023 02:00 PM Newfoundland and Labrador (UTC/GMT -3.30)

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tCzmqrt0TSKwRN37ah2QXA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep221 The Story of Marguerite Lindsay

Miss Marguerite Lindsay, 1918.
Photo courtesy of Lucy Anglin and the Genealogy Ensemble blog.

In this episode we talk with Lucy Anglin and Katie Crane who connected over research into Marguerite Lindsay. Marguerite was Lucy’s great aunt and her story caught Katie’s eye when she was researching for another project. We discuss their connection, their research, and tips on how to conduct research in online archives and genealogical websites.

Lucy is involved with a group that writes genealogy stories and contribute to the blog Genealogy Ensemble. She has written six stories about Marguerite's life and would like to make them into a small book with the pictures she has of Marguerite. Read a blog piece written by Lucy about Marguerite here!

The image below comes from the January 1924 issue of the Among the Deep Sea Fishers journal. Katie sent along several files relating to Marguerite and there are several results about Marguerite on Memorial University's Digital Archives Initiative. If you are intersted in learning more about Marguerite's story check out these results on the DAI. 

Among the Deep Sea Fishers, vol. 21, issue 4, pg. 146. January 1924.

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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.

Old Blackhead Methodist Cemetery Database Available

Heritage NL compiled a database of all occupants of the Blackhead Methodist Cemetery and is available below. 

A database of the individuals buried in the cemetery was created using a 1998 headstone survey completed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Genealogical Society and historical death records from the Newfoundland government. The database includes biographical information (first and last name, place of birth, date of death, age at death, etc.) and information about the headstones, if applicable (marker type and material, inscription, size, etc.). The database includes over 1000 entries.

Headstones at Blackhead Cemetery

Cemetery database here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sh5u34yMCXDIhcIdCqIEf17OVqpwHh8paugXXjMxMHQ/edit?usp=sharing

Any errors or omissions can be submitted to info@heritagenl.ca

From Designation to Destruction - A Timeline of the fight to save the Bryn Mawr (Baird Cottage) Property, St. John’s

August 1993 - Steinhauer family applies to Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador for designation of Bryn Mawr as a Registered Heritage Structure

September 1993 - Bryn Mawr designated as a Registered Heritage Structure by Heritage NL

April 2016 - St. John's looking at heritage status for Bryn Mawr (CBC); Demolition permit application submitted for Bryn Mawr in St. John's (CBC); Rally to save Bryn Mawr heritage home in St. John's (CBC); Bryn Mawr Threatened by Demolition (Trident); NL Historic Trust Bryn Mawr Rally (Flickr)

May 2016 - Bryn Mawr owner will sue if city grants heritage status, son says (CBC); St. John's city council passes motion to give Bryn Mawr heritage status (CBC)

June 2016 - Designated a Heritage Building by the City of St. John’s

July 2016 - Controversial heritage property Bryn Mawr sold for $2 million (CBC)

January 2017 - Lawsuits totalling $8.7M against St. John's from former Baird Cottage owner, developer (CBC)

June 2017 - Bryn Mawr placed on the National Trust for Canada’s 2017 Top 10 Endangered Places List; Bryn Mawr Named to Canada's 10 Most Endangered List (Trident)

November 2019 - Heritage Property Baird Cottage at Heart of $8.7-Million Court Challenge (VOCM)

August 2020 - Proposed personal care home buildings would cushion Bryn Mawr heritage home in St. John's (Saltwire)

September 2020 - Personal care home near historic Bryn Mawr proceeds (Saltwire)

October 2021 - Supreme Court dismisses developer's lawsuit against City of St. John's over heritage designation (CBC); Historic St. John's property's potential not damaged by heritage bylaw, Newfoundland court rules (Saltwire); Capital City Reacts to Historic Structures Court Decision (VOCM)

February 2022 - Preserving NL’s Built Heritage is Key to Its Future (Independent)

November 2022 - Prolonged Legal Battle Leaves Heritage Property in Disrepair (VOCM)

9 December 2022 - Bryn Mawr Cottage in St. John's destroyed by fire (Saltwire); Mired in disputes about its fate, historic St. John's cottage destroyed by fire (CBC); Heritage building destroyed by overnight fire (NTV)

Adam's Cove Methodist School: A Social History

Introduction

The Adam’s Cove Methodist School Hall is a two-storey wooden community building in a vernacular Palladian style built in 1910 in Adam’s Cove, NL. It was designated as a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2018 due to its historic, aesthetic and cultural value. The designation includes the school hall and its interior. It is located in the town of Adam’s Cove which amalgamated with the surrounding communities to create what is now Small Point-Broad Cove-Blackhead-Adam’s Cove.

Adam’s Cove School. Image courtesy of Heritage NL.

Construction and Building Description

The Adam’s Cove Methodist School Hall is a well-preserved example of a building type once found in several communities. It was designed by John Ayre in a vernacular Palladian style and built under foreman William Brennan. Palladianism is exemplified here by the hall’s symmetry, gabled roofs which resemble pediments, and Palladian window arrangements. Similar structures were built in Adam’s Cove, Blackhead, and Winterton. While many outport buildings served multiple purposes, this particular design is unique to the region. It is built atop an early concrete foundation with a relatively low-slope roof and is therefore representative of a transition period in local building practice.

Historical Context

This school in Adam’s Cove was built by and operated for its community. Fundraising and construction was organized by a local committee in collaboration with the Methodist church. Lumber was harvested on community-wide outings and funds came largely from canvassing residents. The completed hall was never owned by the Methodist Board of Education or the provincial Department of Education but was rented from the local committee. The school hall was operated this way for more than 100 years and in that time was a venue for school classes, Sunday school and prayer meetings, harvest festivals, auctions, garden parties, holiday concerts, and many other community events. It was used as a two-room school with classes held downstairs (and for a while upstairs) and events hosted upstairs, each room heated by their own potbelly stove.

Photo of children hanging in Adam’s Cove School, image courtesy of Heritage NL.

Recent History

Over the years since the school closed in 1967 it has managed to stay in relatively good condition and has been used as a community hub, maintained by a volunteer committee that is dedicated to preserving the history of the school and its importance to the community. Some of the events that are still hosted at the school hall are the Thanksgiving Harvest Festival, Christmas gatherings, and community meetings.

October 2022 Harvest Festival Display at the Adam’s Cove School. Image courtesy of Robert Hudson.

There have been few changes made to the building. The exterior changes have been the replacement of the wooden clapboard in the 1980s, asphalt shingles installed on the roof, the wooden window frames restored, the cornerstone being fixed, and the steps being repaired. The interior changes include the removal of a partition on the first floor, the covering of the pressed tin ceiling on the second floor, and new coats of paint. The original pressed tin can still be seen on the walls and a portion of the second floor ceiling.

(Left) Second floor with pressed tin walls, (right) second floor pressed tin ceiling. Images courtesy of Heritage NL.

Local Stories/Memories

The Adam’s Cove school hall committee in collaboration with Heritage NL hosted a Mug Up event on November 10th, 2022 to gather folks from the community to share memories and stories about the Adam’s Cove school. 27 people attended to share their appreciation for the school, which made the event a great success.

November 2022 Mug Up. Image courtesy of Heritage NL.

Some fond memories were told of both the school and the community as a whole:

-Drinking cocoa-malt, playing ball in the yard in front of the school

-Competitions to build the biggest fire and Halloween pranks

-Enjoying the concerts and dances hosted at the hall

-Burning milk on the stove in the school

-Lighting the fire with hard coal to heat the school, riding in the back of a truck going to boil-up picnics, and putting sods down chimneys as a prank on Halloween

-Riding a bike around the field behind the school

-Remembering Christmas dances, garden parties, and the harvest festivals

-Running around and playing soccer in the field behind the school

-Bean suppers hosted for fundraising by the Ladies Auxiliary

Conclusion

The long term plans for the Adam’s Cove Methodist School Hall according to the committee are to preserve the heritage of Adam’s Cove, use the space to host traditional community events such as harvest festivals and concerts, organize recreational and educational activities for the community, and more.

Sources:

Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador property file “Adam’s Cove – Adam’s Cove Methodist School Hall – FPT NL-3577.”

Personal Communication, November 2022 Mug Up.

New Fieldnote on the Fowler House in Brigus

Check out Heritage NL's new fieldnote on the Fowler House in Brigus written by Megan Webb below! Learn more about the history of the house through architectural changes, information about the people who lived there, and more in "Fowler House: A Historic Home in Brigus." 

Image of Fowler House taken. Photo courtesy of Heritage NL, 2017.

Fieldnote is available here. 

New Fieldnote on the Methodist (United) Church in Jackson's Cove

Check out Heritage NL's new fieldnote on the Methodist Church in Jackson's Cove written by Dennis Knight below! Learn more about the early history of Jackson's Cove and the local Methodist church's construction in "A Handmade Church in the Arms of Green Bay: Jackson's Cove United (Methodist) Church, Green Bay, Newfoundland."

Methodist (United) Church in Jackson's Cove, Green Bay

Fieldnote is available here. 

The Formation of a Masonic Lodge in Twillingate: 1889 Meeting Minutes

This small book of meeting minutes circa 1889 is about the formation of a Masonic Lodge in Twillingate. It was given to Heritage NL to be documented. Included are the names of founding members, mention of scripture and prayer, appointment of roles to individuals, and monetary donations to fundraise for the building of the lodge. 

Take a look at the document on Memorial University’s Digital Archives Initiative by clicking the following link: https://collections.mun.ca/digital/collection/ich_cn/id/1163/rec/1

Headstone Art at the Old Blackhead Methodist Cemetery

 

Throughout the Old Blackhead Methodist Cemetery there are several different decorative motifs visible on the headstones. This article will highlight some of the most common ones.

 

Fig 1: Headstone with motif of two clasping hands and a Calla Lily

Two of the most typical motifs throughout the Old Blackhead Cemetery are hands and flowers. In figure 1 two hands are clasped, a very common headstone design. In some cases you can see the difference in the two hands cuffs (figure 2) indicating they were husband and wife. 

Anther motif typical in the Blackhead cemetery is flowers, in figure 1 a Calla Lily which often symbolizes marriage.

Fig 2: Headstone motif of two clasping hands with different cuffs

Hands can also be pointing, either up towards God/Heaven (figure 3), or as the hand of God pointing downward symbolizing mortality (figure 4).

 

Fig 3: Grave motif of a hand pointing up

Fig 4: Grave motif of a hand pointing down 

Fig 5: Books, specifically the Bible, are also a recurring symbol. 

All photographs are credited to Heritage NL and were taken at the Old Blackhead Methodist Cemetery.

 

New Fieldnotes Article about St. George's Courthouse

Original building plan for the exterior of the St. George's Courthouse
(Scan courtesy of the Rooms)

Learn more about the early history of the Bay St. George region and the St. George's Courthouse in Heritage NL's most recent fieldnote.

View Fieldnote here

Additional publications on NL's historic places available here. 

Mortuary Mondays- Causes of Death at Blackhead Cemetery

While transcribing the death records from Blackhead cemetery, I noticed several causes of death you wouldn't see in modern times.

Blackhead Cemetery

"Consumption," now known as Tuberculosis, was a common cause of death in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Another common cause of death was "La Grippe," more commonly known as Influenza.

Bay De Verde Death Register 1891

Bay De Verde Death Register 1891

"Scarlatina," commonly known as Scarlet Fever, also appears as a cause of death in Blackhead cemetery throughout the 1890s. More unusual causes of death include "Dyspepsia," which is typically known as Indigestion, and "Gravel and Stone," which probably refers to Kidney Stones. 

Bay De Verde Death Register 1895

Bay de Verde Death Register 1895

You can read more about the Bay De Verde vital statistics here: http://ngb.chebucto.org/Vstats/1vstats-bdv-idx.shtml

Heritage NL receives Community Builder Award from the NL Association of Professional Planners

Lara Maynard, Heritage NL Heritage Skills Training Coordinator; Andrea O'Brien, Heritage NL Municipal Outreach Officer; Julia Schwarz, NLAPP President.

In celebration of World Town Planning Day 2022, Heritage NL has been awarded the 2022 NLAPP Community Builder Award for making heritage relevant to the present day. The award is presented by the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Professional Planners, the provincial membership body for professional planners.

Heritage NL has been running a long-standing heritage grant program, and an annual heritage poster contest in schools. It has expanded its community outreach for public workshops and events. The NLAPP Nominating Committee’s recommendation reads:

“Heritage NL is making heritage relevant to the present day in terms of housing, economic activity, community involvement, cultural awareness, historical memory, and place-making.  Along with a long-standing heritage grant program and annual heritage poster contest in schools, Heritage NL has been expanding its community outreach for public workshops and events – everything from documenting and cleaning headstones in graveyards to holding community story-telling days and building wooden wriggle fences.  Heritage NL has published a booklet of historic paint colours, mapped community assets in workshops with residents of many NL communities, and helped plan for adapting and reusing old buildings to new uses.  This work is the very definition of community building, with a planning lens to shape it.”

Heritage NL was established in 1984 to stimulate an understanding of and an appreciation for the historic places and living heritage of the province, through projects that support local economic development and tourism. The foundation also has an educational role and coordinates events, publications and other projects designed to promote the value of Newfoundland and Labrador heritage. 

Heritage Update: Berry Barrels, Killicks, Courthouses, and #TwineLoftTuesday!

Photo: Henry Charles Burgess (1922-1995) standing in Burgess Lane with a cow that provided milk and butter. Courtesy Burgess Family. 

In this edition of our heritage newsletter, we have an update on the Fowler House restoration in Brigus; a story about our recent killick-making workshop in Torbay; research on the historic St. George's Courthouse; and an article from Robert Burgess on food production and storage traditions at the Burgess Heritage Property, Whiteway, NL.

Download PDF version here.