Why Vote for Us? | Pourquoi voter pour nous ?
Experience Newfoundland and Labrador outport life as it was, as it is now, and as the future unfolds. The Port de Grave Peninsula Heritage Society, established in 1993, has been proactive in preserving the history and heritage of the residents of the small communities on the peninsula, including Bareneed, Port de Grave, Sandy Cove, Ship Cove, Blow Me Down, and Hibb’s Cove.
We’ve built a road to Green Point Lighthouse and successfully advocated to have the lighthouse designated a Canadian Heritage Site. We’ve explored and restored more than 40 gravesites, some dating back to the mid 1700’s. We’ve acquired the former St. Mark’s Anglican Church and Schoolhouse, with both being designated NL Heritage sites. We’ve developed hiking trails and points of interest of local lore. We’ve served thousands of traditional meals and snacks from our Canon Richard’s Tearoom. Each Christmas we build our massive Crabpot Christmas Tree and celebrate the season with an outdoor celebration. We’ve recently published a book - “Our Stories Our Heritage”, celebrating the lives of our people. We have social media presence through 2 websites, a Facebook page and numerous YouTube productions.
Right now we are engaged in our largest and most vigorous project to date. The restoration of St. Mark’s Heritage Church will see a beautiful monument of the past - highlighting the church as a beacon of hope for the community members who worshipped there, become the site for an enduring reflection of maritime history alongside the increasingly complex tools of the future. With a Memorandum of Understanding with the Canadian Coast Guard Alumni Association, we will showcase to present and future generations the tools that have enabled safe travels for our forefathers as they traversed though the Atlantic waters that surround us.
Through the efforts of the CCGAA, we have acquired a huge quantity of artifacts from decommissioned light houses around the coasts of the province. They range from a massive Fresnel light that once guarded the entrance to the Strait of Belle Isle, to numerous devices, tools and equipment that provided light, sound (fog horns) and communication. Our goal is to turn our building into a Marine Technology Centre which will entice lighthouse afficiendos from around the world. We will preserve the past, but in conjunction with Memorial University’s Marine Institute, we will present current and future navigation skills though the use of a simulator, designed to allow patrons to navigate the local bays and harbours that surround us.
The partnerships that we have built and the enthusiasm generated through the acquisition of artifacts will ensure that we can achieve our dreams for this unique endeavour. We are almost there and will continue the mammoth task of raising the funds to achieve our goals.
Our Project's Impact | Les effets de notre projet
Impact! A powerful word! The restoration of St. Mark's Heritage Church and its transformation into the Marine Technology Centre has potential to make our little place on the planet just a little more exciting. We have unrivalled natural beauty, one of Atlantic Canada's most progressive fishing industries, and historic and cultural roots that have produced a population of hardy, resilient people.
As St. Mark's Heritage becomes the Marine Technology Centre, we will offer programming for the local population as well as for thousands of lighthouse aficionados who will visit Newfoundland to specifically view the artifacts that relate to historical lighthouses and marine technology. Educational programs for students will allow hands-on experiences such as using morse code, listening for distress signals from ships, exploring a massive fresnel light from the late 19th century, and using a simulator to explore the bays and coves surrounding us. They will experience marine technology both past and present. In so doing we hope to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in maritime specific areas. To initiate, operate and maintain these programs we will be hiring professional interpreters, technicians, programming guides to ensure presentation of the experiences are accurate, interesting, and timely, and that they reflect the culture and traditions of the area.
This Great Save of St. Mark's Heritage Church will have a dynamic impact on the local communities of the peninsula of Port de Grave. Because of its prominent location on the only route to the communities, it will be a focal point and gateway to tourism. The Port de Grave fishing fleet, the Hibb's Cove Fishermans' Museum and Porter House, the world renown Green Point Lighthouse with it's picnic areas and trails are all open to explore and the Heritage Church is an obvious location for interpretation and direction. Adjacent to the church is the Canon Richards Tearoom, a place to grab a bite of traditional fare and maybe buy a picnic lunch served up in a traditional handmade wooden lunch box and head to the hills towards the lighthouse for a day watching whales. The tourism potential is significant, providing economic, social and cultural opportunities.
One of the events the Port de Grave Peninsula is most proud of is the Annual Christmas Boat Lighting. During the darkest month of the year, our harbour becomes the scene of a spectacle display of thousands and thousands of colourful Christmas lights. For 26 seasons, in early December, the community gathers for the official Boatlighting Festival, when the lights of all the commercial and recreational boats are lit for the first time for the seasons. The nighttime display continues until January 6, Old Christmas Day, and thousands of visitors come down over the hills to view the spectacular event. St. Mark's Church is the site for the "Crabpot Christmas Tree", built each year in front of the church with hundreds of crabs pots and lit from top to bottom. It's another very popular photo-op for the crowds heading to the Harbour. From the youngest children, to the busloads of senior citizens, everyone loves the atmosphere, fun, and festivity of Christmas on the Peninsula.
About This Place | À propos du lieu
St. Mark's Heritage Church is a 1926 Gothic Revival Church located prominently on the Main Road passing through Bareneed, NL. and is visible from a number of surrounding communities. Its location on the main road to the Port de Grave Peninsula serves as a starting point to the world renowned attractions of the area. Following down this narrow promontory, visitors arrived in Port de Grave Harbour, one of the most prosperous fishing areas of the province. This is also the spot to see the local tradition, the annual Boat Lighting event, where for more than 25 years local fishing boats and pleasure craft are wrapped in thousands of lights to brighten the dark skies of December. Follow the road further down the peninsula through the small outports of Ship Cove, Blow me Down, Hibb’s Cove, and end at the rugged ocean’s edge at the Green Point Lighthouse, one of Canada’s most photographed structures.
St. Mark’s Church, built by local master builders, William Henry Batten and Nathan Newell, was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of NL in 2019 due to its historic, cultural and aesthetic value. The style of the church is similar to Anglican Churches built in the 19th and 20th centuries with a steep-pitched roof, lancet arched windows and an asymmetrical tower. The interior features gothic arches which serve both structural elements and trim motifs. The site also contains the foundation of a former carriage house, which stored the congregation’s hearse, as well as the graves of Rev. Canon J.T and E. Dora Richard. Reverend Richards, a clergyman from Bareneed, spent many years promoting Christianity, education, and economic development on Newfoundland’s northern coast.
The church and the one room schoolhouse adjacent to it have served important spiritual and social functions for residents of Bareneed for 100 years. The two buildings are representative of the historically close relationship between religion and education in NL. Both are now owned by the Port de Grave Peninsula Heritage Society Inc. and along with a newly constructed "Stagehead" office building, serve as the location for many of the functions of the Society.
The schoolhouse has become home to Canon Richards Tearoom, a quaint and authentic food experience, serving traditional meals such as Jigg’s Dinner, fish ‘n brewis, and old time desserts like blueberry pudding with warm sauce and Pearl’s famous scones and cream. Open daily through the summer, tourists and locals alike enjoy a bowl of homemade soup on a weekday, or on Sunday, our traditional Turkey/Jigg’s dinner with all the extras. The Sunday dinner, with 2 sittings, sells out every weekend.
The church is currently being renovated (construction being financed by various grants over the past 3 years) to serve as a Marine Technology Centre with a focus on the history of lighthouses, navigation and communication technologies through the years. Our plan is to present to the public a timeline of lighthouse equipment and technology, culminating with current sophisticated technology including a marine simulator that will allow patrons to explore the realities of modern navigation.
