Month: March 2020

RE: COVID-19 Pandemic & Our Museum

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March 29, 2020

RE: COVID-19 Pandemic and Our Museum

To our friends and patrons:

These are unprecedented times. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Board shares the same feelings as everyone else—uncertainty, anxiety, and fear are just some of these emotions. As things stand, we are watching the situation unfold and, like you, taking things day-by-day, week-by-week. We apologize for the recent radio silence on our social media: we felt time was needed to process things, to grow accustomed to new surroundings and realities.

Fortunately, the Conception Bay Museum is a seasonal operation, typically running from May until September, and COVID-19 has not directly impacted our tourism operations (yet). However, much work went into planning a spring fundraiser, which would have significantly contributed to our operational funding. When the situation escalated globally two weeks ago, we decided to pause the promotional rollout for this event; in hindsight, this decision was wise. In ways, we can all learn from such patience: that is, the decisions we make today—right now—will have lasting impacts in the days, weeks, and months ahead. At this time, it’s imperative we think about our friends, families, and the most vulnerable in our communities.

2020 is a special year for us: it represents the 150th anniversary of the construction of the old Customs House (1870), our building, and the 50th anniversary of the Conception Bay Museum Association (1970), our Board. To celebrate this landmark, the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador’s Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation (TCII) granted us significant funding to launch a professional anniversary exhibit. We’re happy to announce we’ve contracted a talented individual, Melanie Lethbridge, to design this exhibit space for us. Despite the circumstances—we certainly didn’t want to announce the project this way—this initiative will continue and be available when the provincial, national, and international situation is resolved. We wish to thank Melanie and TCII for believing in this project and moving forward with us, despite these uncertainties. When the pandemic is over, we believe such investments, such strong commitments to community groups generally, and in the realm of arts, heritage, and culture particularly, will help us heal, grow, and prosper again. Our planned calendar fundraiser will continue, too.

Finally, we would like to end on a positive note. As a community, we have dealt with similar traumas, from cholera, smallpox, and polio epidemics to three ‘Great Fires’ in our town. During the latter events, a look in the historical record reveals the scale of the mobilization needed to rebuild the town—hundreds of small and large donations from locals, expats, and those with no direct link to Harbour Grace. And our community isn’t alone in these historic misfortunes. A similar sense of collective solidarity will be needed in times ahead; and as any student of history will tell you, a look into the past often reveals valuable compass points.

We strongly urge everyone to abide by provincial and federal protocols relating to the COVID-19 public health emergency and recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO). Please avoid gathering in our park or at the Colston’s Cove Stairway until further notice and maintain social (physical) distancing when outside.

Stay positive, stay safe, and stay home,

– Patrick J. Collins, Chair

 

Photo of the Day: Water St, Harbour Grace, Looking West

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Pictured: Water St, Harbour Grace, looking west, ca. 1900. Picture taken near the bottom of LeMarchant St. Notice the drinking fountain in the bottom right corner; these fountains were prevalent throughout town and still exist in some quarters, including the Conception Bay Museum park, Veteran’s Memorial Park, and outside Victoria Manor.

Photo courtesy Conception Bay Museum archives.

Profile: Former Bank of Nova Scotia Building, 1887-1997

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The failure of the Commercial Bank of Newfoundland and the Union Bank of Newfoundland on December 10, 1894, put the island on the verge of financial collapse. On December 12, Thomas Fyshe, Cashier of the Bank of Nova Scotia, informed his Board of Directors of the suspension of Newfoundland’s banks. Two days later, two officers of the Bank, David Waters, the Bank’s Inspector, and John A. McLeod, a relieving agent, boarded a ship for St. John’s. Arriving in St. John’s on December 16, the two opened the Bank of Nova Scotia for business five days later.

J.A. McLeod

John A. McLeod, Bank of Nova Scotia agent at Harbour Grace

Business progressed so quickly that a second branch opened in Harbour Grace on February 21, 1895. McLeod served as its first agent and went on to become President and Chairman of the Bank. This first Bank of Nova Scotia was constructed on the south side of Water Street. However, fire destroyed this building in 1910, and the bank moved to a new location on the north side of Water Street, just across the street from its former residence. Originally constructed in 1887, this brick building served as the Bank of Nova Scotia in Harbour Grace for 68 years (1910-1978).

The bank was housed on the ground floor, which featured a high, 16-foot ceiling, with the second storey serving as an apartment for the bank manager.

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Thirty-four years later, another devastating fire—the third ‘Great Fire’ of Harbour Grace—destroyed much of the downtown area on August 17, 1944. Luckily, this bank was spared its former’s fate, one of the few buildings still standing in this area of town.

In 1978, the Bank moved to a new home, just east of its former building (now the Town Hall). After this move, the building served as an office for Babb Construction Ltd for years. As a major firm in Conception Bay, Babb Construction built the former liquor store, Manpower and Immigration Building, and new Bank in Harbour Grace; in Carbonear, they built the swimming pool. Other projects included the Carbonear bypass road and various municipal water and sewer initiatives.

After sitting vacant for years, and despite efforts to save the structure, the building was eventually torn down in 1997. Though it was offered to the Town at no charge, the municipality did not have the estimated $60,000 needed to restore the structure. Despite being one of the oldest commercial buildings left on Water Street post-1944, it never received heritage protection under any municipal or provincial designation program.