This past Saturday we decided to check out a Provincial Historic Site in our neighbourhood - Commissariat House. We had no idea what to expect, and were pleasantly surprised! The exhibit in the Carriage House was new, artsy, and modern, while Commissariat House itself was restored in 1820's character.
So, what is Commissariat House?
Well it was built by British Military Engineers in 1818-1820 and served to house the Commissariat department of the British armed forces stationed in Newfoundland. It's the last original structure remaining from a large military complex in St. John's in the early 1800's. The people who worked in the building were in charge of administrative tasks including coordinating pay and supplies for the British military, and the building also included living quarters for the officer in charge.
Part of the general office
At this point in history, Newfoundland was governed by the British Navy, but the public weren't happy about it anymore. The British government wanted the Newfoundlanders to pay taxes, but they weren't receiving the same benefits as the citizens on the other side of the pond. The people started anonymous petitions and spoke out around the city, at various taverns and coffee shops, trying to get representative government.
The exhibit focuses on how the public managed to get representative government, and talks about the transition from military to civilian rule in Newfoundland. The exhibit has a unique modern feel and is very interactive. Between the rhyming puppet show style films, and the interactive old map of St. John's, it's impossible not to learn something new.
As a side note, we think this point in history could make a great mini-series or game!
The exhibit focuses on how the public managed to get representative government, and talks about the transition from military to civilian rule in Newfoundland. The exhibit has a unique modern feel and is very interactive. Between the rhyming puppet show style films, and the interactive old map of St. John's, it's impossible not to learn something new.
As a side note, we think this point in history could make a great mini-series or game!
After the exhibit, we explored Commissariat House, and one fairly awkward thing happened while we were there. We were having a conversation with one of the interpreters who was talking about the Irish influence in Newfoundland, and Luke mentioned that he had an Irish last name. We wandered off, and a few minutes later, she found us again and told us that there is an old petition in the exhibit that we should look at so that Luke could get his picture taken next to someone who also has the same last name as him - Murphy! She told us that Luke could be related to him and went on about the connection between Ireland and Newfoundland. We didn't have the heart to tell her that his last name wasn't Murphy, so we just nodded and smiled. This also meant that when we left, Luke was scared to sign the guestbook, in fear that she would read it and be embarrassed.
All in all, we think it's a great place and it's unfortunate that more people don't visit - we arrived around 3 pm and we were the first visitors of the day! Here are a few more pictures of our time at Commissariat House.
All in all, we think it's a great place and it's unfortunate that more people don't visit - we arrived around 3 pm and we were the first visitors of the day! Here are a few more pictures of our time at Commissariat House.
In other news, Elizabeth officially graduated this week and we attended a Dinner and Dance for the graduating class of engineers on Friday night - here are a few pictures from those events!
