Alfred Parsons Stage and Store
On the south island of Change Islands, in a fishing community of fifteen families, are the Alfred Parsons Stage and Store. Located in Codrick’s Cove (sometimes called Corry’s Cove) these premises were built in the late 1800s by Alfred Parsons. The buildings have stood on the same location for more than a century, despite the rigors of Newfoundland’s sometimes harsh weather. When current owners Calvin and Margaret Parsons applied for the heritage preservation grant in 2006 the site required roof work, paint, some clapboard replacement and shoring up of the stage walls. When asked why they applied to the Fisheries Heritage Program they said, “To preserve this wonderful old group of family buildings”. These are the first of their kind in the community of Codrick’s Cove to receive restoration funding for fisheries buildings
The store was built in the 1870s as a wooden, two-storey home and later converted to the fisheries building it is today. As a home the building housed Alfred, his wife Eliza and their children. Eventually, their son Alfred John and his wife Elsie moved into the house and raised their family until another house became available nearby. At that time they renovated the old house and lowered the number of stories from two to one-and-a-half. They began using it as a fisheries building and it has continued to be used for that purpose, except for the time in the 1940s when it was used as a schoolhouse.
Both buildings are painted with red ochre and have white trim on the wide cornerboards. The gable roofed stage was constructed by Alfred and/or Alfred John in the late 1800s for fisheries purposes, and has remained in use since that time. At the onset of the project the stage had already begun to lean and one of the priorities of the restoration was to straighten it up and make it level. It is constructed in the typical Newfoundland style with exposed beams and timbers and is excellent for storage of various fishing gear.
As a result of their careful work the Parsons’ seemed to have inspired other community members. Says Margaret Parsons, “Others are now very enthusiastic about restoring their properties, which would be wonderful, as this community is well known for its lovely old premises”. The Parsons have re-hung their old bark pot and felt it was important to restore the fishing premises in its entirety to achieve its historical look.
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Jim White's Stage
The timber used in the construction of Jim White's Stage was cut on "The Reach" in the New World Island area. According to Jim's grandson Bert, the lumber was brought to Change Islands by schooner in the fall of the year. "This stage was built by my grandfather using very large wooden beams that extend out over the water. How he managed to install these beams without any help is beyond me. Jim was an excellent carpenter," says Bert. The stage was used in the cod, herring, salmon, lobster and sealing fisheries, and for purposes relating to the Labrador schooner fishery. It was passed down to Jim's son Frank and later to his grandson Bert.
Located in a cove known as Seal Harbour, on the northeast end of the North Island of Change Islands, it is the largest stage remaining on the islands. An important feature of the property is the network of flakes associated with the stage. Traditionally used for drying fish, original flakes such as these are very rare. On the stage interior, a peg board once used to tally catches remains on the wall, as do writings on the boards recording the family's past fishing seasons. The White family still make a living from the sea and Bert's sons continue to use the stage built by their great-grandfather in the herring, mackerel, squid and crab fisheries.
Jim White's Stage has been well maintained down through the generations. With the assistance of the Fisheries Heritage Preservation Program and the support of Change Islands based Stages and Stores Heritage Foundation, the stage was clad in new clapboard, some trims were replaced and a new coat of paint spruced up the exterior.
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John Peckford's Store and Walkway
Located adjacent to the main road running through Change Islands, John Peckford's Store has overlooked a tranquil cove on the northern end of the North Island since the early 1900s. A ninety foot walkway leads from the store to Tom Peckford's Stage. Both the store and the walkway were in need of repair when John Peckford applied for assistance to restore the property under the Fisheries Heritage Preservation Program. John had conducted regular maintenance on the store through the years but the foundation shores were unstable and a corner post and some sheathing had rotted. The walkway in particular was in very bad shape, as much of the cribbing had deteriorated drastically over the years, and it was becoming unsafe to walk on.
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Restoration of walkway beween John Peckford's Store and Tom Peckford's Stage.
Change Islands, NL |
During the restoration process, new shores were placed under the store and rotted boards in the sills and walls were replaced. Clapboard that had spilt and cracked was removed and new clapboard installed. Three sides received a fresh coat of red paint while another side was finished with a traditional red ochre mixture. The restoration of the walkway was a major component of the project. Logs were cut to replace unstable cribbing and support beams. Two new cribs were completed and new beams and planks affixed on top of these. A boat had to be used during part of the restoration process as the walkway stretches almost entirely over water. The completed walkway now allows safe passage to Tom Peckford's Stage, which has also been restored through the Fisheries Heritage Preservation Program.
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