Alanna's furniture has been delayed due to a break down of the moving van in Winnipeg so this has given me more opportunity to work the glut muscles .
One could probably spend a month in just the City of St. John's touring the beautiful buildings.
As mentioned on the last blog the city was started in 1497 but most of the buildings are from the late 1800's due to the last big fire. There had been 2 others 1817 and 1846 that had burnt the whole city down.
The City tourism department has 5 different self guided walking tours. I have done 3 out of the 5.
A Step Back in Time retraces the perimeter of The Great Fire of 1892. It actually begins at the end of Alanna's street. Unfortunately it was carelessness from smoking that caught a bale of hay on fire and the winds that carried the flames away. Downtown St. John's thus has been rebuilt 3 times.
The harbour front greatly changed by the three fires but still maintains its historical importance and is still used extensively to bring and send cargo and cruise ships.
Devon Row is a group of four-storey houses, saved by the residents. The only residences saved. Other landmarks that were saved are the Government House, and the Basilica of St. John the Baptist.
A park downtown was used as temporary shelter for hundreds left homeless.
The 2nd Walking Tour I did was A Step Back in Time in the West End.
The tour begins at the Railway Station on the Harbour. I spent hours in the museum reading the history of the railway built by the Reid family mostly to get to the interior to start pulp and paper mills and to own mines. . Their business consisted of the railway but an extensive waterway connection to the out port harbours to pick up fish and seals. They contributed a lot to the province both in employment opportunities and commerce. After the 2nd World War however they needed much new equipment and repairs to the tracks. The business was no longer profitable so the government took it over to ensure that the public of Newfoundland would continue having transportation throughout the province. (Not a province at that time. Its own country or territory of England).
This tour takes you through an area of town, once known as Riverhead, which was in the 19th century heavily populated by Irish immigrants. It was a primarily a residential neighbourhood occupied by fishermen and tradesmen and their families. Most of the houses in this area are just modest although there are a few larger, more ornate residences. The most notable building in the neighbourhood is St. Patrick's Church; as in most Catholic churches awe inspiring. The convent and the catholic schools all surround the church and the school is still in use with new additions.
While I was walking I came upon 2 antique stores. I spent some time just looking at the things used at the turn of the century. Really not that long ago. How things have changed but remain the same.
The next attraction was my favourite I had never seen anything like this before and it included free wine tasting. Even better. Good thing it was after 12.
Newman Wine Vaults also located on the water front. This site is a provincial historic site that includes a history of rum running and pirates. Imagine pirates this far North did they not know that the Caribbean is where they should be?
This weekend is St. John's birthday and this evening from 1700 hrs until midnight there is a Folk Art Soiree with traditional songs sung by local musicians and dancers. I need to get those young folk interested so I can check it out.
St. John the Baptist Basilica. (picture taken off internet as mine were dark) Built in 1855.
The Court House (1/2 of it)
The Entrance To Newman's Vault
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