Ridley Office Timeline

1838 - Building constructed. See 2026 historical note. 

1978 - Ridley Office featured in the art exhibition Ten Historic Towns (later a book) by artist Jean Ball. Ms Ball noted that her purpose "is not to record everything of value, but to open the eyes of the general public to the treasurers in their midst, in the hope that they will preserve as many as possible of the buildings still not beyond repair."

1990 - Ridley Office designated as a Registered Heritage Structure because of its aesthetic and historic value.  

1991 - $10,000 grant approved for restoration by Heritage NL, disbursed in 1994. 

1991-06-05  - Plaque unveiled at Ridley Office. At this time the building had been purchased by the Town of Harbour Grace in order to save it.

1992 - Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (Heritage NL) releases the Harbour Grace Heritage District Report. Amongst its recommendations to the Town of Harbour Grace, it suggested that Ridley Offices should become the focus for the area, "ideally as a public operation."

1993 - Rather than keep the building as a public asset, the Town of Harbour Grace puts Ridley Office up for sale, stating "Interested parties should note the most important aspect of this offer is to preserve the property as a heritage structure."

2005 - As part of ongoing issues between the then property owner, the Town, and neighbours, Heritage NL encouraged all parties to work together "to find a solution that will ensure that the building is cared for, maintained, and used in a manner which befits such an historic property."

2012- $2,000 grant approved by Heritage NL and disbursed in the same year. 

2014 - Ridley Offices owner says Harbour Grace holding up permit to open.

2014 - Additional $15,000 approved by Heritage NL for restoration work; this grant went unclaimed and was eventually rescinded. 

2015-2017 - Property owner and Town of Harbour Grace in conflict, the Town offers to buy back the property, and explores expropriation. 

2015 - NL Historic Trust publishes article "Ridley Offices Under Threat"

2018 - Fire in the property. Town backs off from expropriation. 

2018 - Harbour Grace People, Places & Culture Workshop

Following an open, public town meeting hosted by Heritage NL, the workshop report suggested the Town strengthen designation and municipal heritage bylaws, and to introduce a small municipal subsidy for improving built heritage. It also made the following recommendation: 

• "The development of a communication strategy should be a high and short-term priority to ensure that all stakeholders in the community are informed of the development process. Without this, there is a real risk that trust and efforts will break down. It could take the form of a regular printed or online newsletter and/or use of social media."

2019 - Ridley Office Assessment Report. 

In September of 2019, an architect's assessment was made of the building. Numerous conservation recommendations were made, including immediate removal of English Ivy, and repairs to prevent water ingress. None of the architect's recommendations were followed. 

2019 onwards - Property vacant. Repeated flooding. 

2025-07 - Heritage NL hears rumours of demolition discussions, and writes a letter to the Mayor and Council, stating the following:

"We recognize that ownership has changed several times, and the current owner has not been in contact with the office. Heritage NL is very open to discussions around reuse and rehabilitation of the structure, which is eligible for both our annual restoration grants, and for our regular maintenance grants. We recognize a need for investment in the heritage infrastructure in your community, and feel that this building, with its important ties to the history of the fishing industry, could be a great asset and success story for the company, town, and province."

No response received. 

2026-03-24  Heritage NL contacted by owner Harbour Grace Ocean Industries, who stated that the inside of the building showed significant deterioration and appeared to present a threat to the safety of those around it, in particular with some of the walls caving in. 

2026-04–02 Ridley Office Site visit report. Failure to act on any of the 2019 recommendations has resulted in acceleration of building deterioration. Major internal failures of mortar, most second floor joists rotted. Badly burnt timbers from 2018 fire still in place.  Noticeable bowing of improperly repaired exterior masonry, top right half of front facade stone leaning dangerously away from the building. Ice buildup in rubble core of masonry walls. Daylight visible through multiple gaps in the stone walls, roof. 

2026-04-15 Letter to Town of Harbour Grace regarding condition of the building.  Discussion of high conservation costs, difficulty of moving building, possible salvage; note that approval or denial of a demolition permit is the responsibility of the municipality. 

2026-05-15 - Harbour Grace Residents Shocked by Demolition of Heritage Buildings 

 

Information on the S.O. Steele Building, 100 Water Street, St. John's

We've had a few inquiries about the history of the S.O. Steele Building; interested researchers can find more information here:

• Heritage experts ponder future of crumbling building near Newfoundland National War Memorial (CBC article)
• Infrastructure minister says something needs to be done with 'eyesore' building next to war memorial (CBC article)
• S.O. Steele Building Registered Heritage Structure (Heritage NL website)
• Heritage NL Fieldnotes Series, 036, May 2024 - S.O. Steele Building, 100 Water Street, St. John’s
• 2024 - Abbott Floats Museum/Library Combo For National War Memorial.
• 2022 - James Harris STEELE Obituary
• 2011 interview with Margaret Hitchens
• 2011 interview with Paula McDonald
• 2000 - What a Newfoundland Soldier Wrote About the War (Bert Riggs, MUN Website)
• 1996 Article - From Steele to Roses 
• 1991 Agenda Paper - Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada
• 1987 Designation Letter from Heritage Foundation of NL (Heritage NL)
• Biography of Owen William Steele
• STEELE, Owen William Service Documents (The Rooms)
• STEELE, James Robert Service Documents (The Rooms)

Down by the Salley Gardens: Willow Planting Workshop and Picnic

Are you curious about growing willow for privacy, living fences, or basketry? This workshop will offer hands on training for sourcing, preparing, and planting willow cuttings. We’ll talk site selection, planting techniques, and proper care of cuttings and then we’ll work together to expand the farm’s Salley Garden!

A few suggestions for this workshop: wear comfortable gardening clothing, and dress appropriately for the weather! Gardening or work gloves suggested, and bring a kneeling pad if you need.

Willow planting will be taught by Lori McCarthy and Dale Jarvis.  

Lunch and tea at Thimble Cottage is included in the price!

Lori McCarthy is a chef, forager, hunter, educator, basket weaver, and enthusiastic outdoors person. She regularly teaches basketry courses through her business Food Culture Place - a folk school for craft, culture, and belonging. While Dale is an author, folklorist, and Executive Director of Heritage NL, where he works to safeguard the historic places and living history of the province. He is passionate about forging links between communities, and is an aspiring basket maker. 

Tickets available through Eventbrite

Death on the Ice: Call for Volunteers

Fishing for Success is again hosting our continuous, live reading of Death on the Ice coming up on April 25, 2026 and is looking for volunteers. 

Want to hang out in traditional sealers garb? Help serve seal treats? Maybe play a musical selection if you’re musically inclined? Please, help Fishing for Sucess make this another successful event! For more information contact Liam at Liam@fishingforsuccess.org.

Gander International Lounge Highlighted by Architectural Conservancy Ontario

 The new designation for the Gander International Lounge was recently highlighted by Architectural Conservancy Ontario in their newsletter "Acorn in a Nutshell."

"Though technically it's outside the province, we couldn't resist this good-news story of Gander, Newfoundland's spectacular time-capsule airport lounge—a swanky space straight out of Mad Men—receiving provincial heritage designation recently.

A symphony of mid-century design and art, the 1959 international lounge features terrazzo floors, panelled walls, sleek MCM furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows, and painter Kenneth Lockhead's 22-metre-wide "Flight and Its Allegories" mural. But aside from the many celebrities and heads of state that have crossed these floors in the airport's heyday, it was the 6000+ bewildered and frightened travellers who landed in the town of 10,000 without warning on 9/11 that guaranteed the site's legacy as a place of unusual compassion as well as Modernist beauty. The lounge re-opened for tours in 2022 and is now used as a community space.

Well done, Newfoundland and Labrador, and well done, Gander."- Architectural Conservancy Ontario

Virtual Heritage Job Fair

Join us for a virtual heritage job fair! Are you looking for a summer job, or are you a heritage institution looking for employees? Then join us for a virtual job fair! This event is an opportunity for employers to share their upcoming job openings with a group of prospective employees. This job fair is a great way to see what heritage jobs are available across the province in one place. 

Register here as a prospective employee:

 https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_T4d5D9y2QEC_s3AZ0pXFCg

If you are interested in presenting as an employer, register here: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedPWVcQoLYoNtu8Wf2rHAftrtvwtIutCpcSFR7lXjchrp_AQ/viewform?usp=header

Upcoming Lecture: Some Old White Guy Lived There

Some Old White Guy Lived There: Rethinking Existing Narratives and Searching for Herstory

Upcoming Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society lecture with speaker Andrea O’Brien with Heritage NL.

Heritage NL (Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador) is a not-for-profit Crown agency of the provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation. Established by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1984, Heritage NL has a mandate to help preserve the rich heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador. In the beginning, this mandate was largely met by designating spaces which were built by the elite - including grand ecclesiastical buildings, merchant houses, fraternal lodges, and government institutions. Over time it was recognized that many spaces integral to the province’s history were not being recognized. This led to the designation of more modest buildings and some that recognized underrepresented parts of the province’s past.

Yet the stories told about these places and the names assigned to them were still those of the male white owners, architects, and builders. The plaques placed on the exteriors extolled their accomplishments while ignoring the stories of the females who lived and worked with them. Over the past few years Heritage NL has introduced a new plaque design. This presents an opportunity to re-explore buildings and the lives lived within them. We are discovering that untold stories are often more captivating than the known, male centric narratives. Improved archival access and a refocusing on oral histories is uncovering the stories of the unnamed women who lived in heritage homes, women who ran businesses alongside their male family members, women who worked at merchant premises, women who contributed to the building and maintenance of community spaces, women who were forces for change, women who weren't afraid to break societal norms.

To date Heritage NL has designated 350 Registered Heritage Structures. One by one we are determined to tell the stories of the others who lived in, worked in, and used these buildings - with hopes that this rethinking of accepted narratives will lead to the telling of even more diverse stories.

Thursday - March 26th @ 7:30 pm (NT) / 7:00 (AT)
In-Person: Memorial University, A1043, Arts and Administration Building
Free Parking in Lot 15B 
This parking lot is to the right of the Arts and Administration Building (when facing the building), and in front of the D. F. Cook Recital Hall/ School of Music entrance.  You can access the lot from Elizabeth Avenue.

Join from the meeting link: https://mun.webex.com/mun/j.php?MTID=mfd14eee59f924c1ba09bbcb98747722c

Meet Sarah Mooney!

 

Sarah Mooney will be joining us as a mentor on Research Methods at the Youth Heritage forum on March 21st. 

Sarah Mooney is a researcher, writer, and activist from St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2023, Sarah published a ground-breaking report on the human rights abuses experienced by queer Canadian soldiers in the First World War and is currently writing a creative nonfiction book on the subject. Sarah has worked with a number of national organizations as a writer and researcher including Rainbow Veterans of Canada, EGALE Canada, The LGBT Purge Fund, the ArQuives, and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Sarah is also the founder and current co-chair of the NL Queer Research Initiative, a grassroots organization that was established to promote 2SLGBTQI+ history and research in Newfoundland and Labrador. Additionally, Sarah has been nationally recognized for her advocacy campaign No Space for Hate which addresses the growing rise in anti-2SLGBTQI+ hate across the country. 

We look forward to seeing you all at the Youth Heritage Forum at the Emera Innovation Exchange and Conference Centre to learn more about research methods and topics important to heritage. 

The National Trust is hosting a Youth Heritage Network Session - April 2nd 2026!

The National Trust is creating a Youth Heritage Network meant to be a space designed to connect, support, and empower young people who are passionate about Canada’s history and heritage.

They are hosting a session on April 2, 2026, at 2pm ET.

What to expect from the session: 

• Introduce the Youth Heritage Network’s vision, purpose, and goals
• Discuss roles and opportunities for interested participants
• Outline upcoming meetings and next steps

RSVP and Zoom access can be found here:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Q26npeYVQlaY71qahvYqIg 

Any questions can be directed to: community@nationaltrustcanada.ca