During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Port de Grave Peninsula Heritage Society are hoping that you are enjoying the simpler things of life while staying home if possible and staying in your bubble. There are many trails on the Peninsula that we hope you take advantage of! Enjoy a walk around the harbour, or down by the pond. Take a hike to the Lighthouse, enjoy the scenery, sit and watch the waves, they may even sing to you.
We look forward to when this is all over and we can get back to some normalcy in our lives!
We salute all Essential workers, healthcare workers, truckers, grocery workers, janitors, first responders, everyone who is doing their part and keeping us safe.
We want to send out a special thanks to all our Spiritual leaders, you are doing an awesome job, and helping us through these dark days, with your prayers, on-line services. We really appreciate it!
We especially would like to send out a huge thank you to our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his staff, our Premier Dwight Ball, Dr. Haggie, and Dr. Fitzgerald, you are all doing a wonderful job in keeping us safe, our country and our province.
May God Bless you all! Stay Safe and Stay in Your Bubble!
The Port de Grave Peninsula Heritage Society is very proud to announce that we have received funding from the Come Home Year Cleanup Project sponsored by the MMSB Board and the Gov’t of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The purpose of this is to clean up the garbage on our roadsides, and public areas. We are also asking residents and businesses to cleanup their private properties.
Every Saturday, starting on May 28th, and ending on June 18th, we will have a scheduled event from 10 am to 12 noon, for those who would like to join us. We will have refreshments, water, juices and snacks available for you, this can be picked up by the Canon Richards Tearoom, or call me and I will drop it off to you.
We will be supplying garbage bags, rubber gloves, safety vest, and hopefully we will have some reacher grabber tools. Next week sometime we will be placing two dumpsters, one by St. Mark’s Heritage Church and one by Ship Cove Pond. You are welcome to use these to put your garbage in. Please note: Under the rules of MMSB propane tanks and rubber tires are not permitted, so please refrain from throwing these items in the dumpsters. The garbage you pick up on the road if you are able please drop it off to a dumpster or leave it on the side of the road and we will make the necessary arrangements to pick it up.
We have a limited number of t-shirts and security vest available, so please contact me and let me know your t-shirt size.
Of course, we will have to report exactly what we did, I will have a form ready for you fill out, I will have this available next week and I will share it with you on Facebook.
Posters are in the mail, I’m also attaching a copy of the poster. We are asking all those who are able both young and old to participate. When you go for a walk grab a garbage bag, a pair of gloves and pick up the garbage on your route.
Why not make this a family event? Gather your family and friends and join in making our community a place we can all be proud off!
Please contact me by email joyce@pdgphs.com or call/text 680-1231 and tell me the area that you will be taking care off. We don’t want everyone going to the one place!
We have a group who has indicated that they will cleanup Short Beach.
Thanking you all in advance and we do need your help, we can’t do alone!
Canon Richards Tea Room- Saturday April 30th, 2022
The Prowse association with Port de Grave NL began when Robert Prowse and his family left Torquay Devon in England in 1798 and came to St. John’s as a boy aged 10. He became the youngest clerk with the firm of John Hill and Company who at the time had a fishing branch operation at Port de Grave. The Company at the time was not doing well at port de Grave so Robert Prowse was sent there to wind up (close) the business. Robert Prowse did just that but afterward he took over the operation himself first with another firm but them entirely on his own.
He built a family home in the center of the harbour at Port de Grave in 1824 on the property of one Mary Butler (Butler being a very common name at that time in Port de Grave (Gerald Andrews Book “Heritage of a NL Outport” ). Robert married and the family eventually consisted of three sons and three daughters, one of the sons Daniel W Prowse went on to be known as the very famous Judge Prowse, lawyer, politician, historian, essayist, and office holder. This very famous individual was indeed born at Port de Grave and lived on the property knows as the Marsh, most recognisable by locals as prowse marsh or mash.
Over the years, much has been written about the Prowse family and their association to Port de Grave. Members of the family has retained that close association to the place where their ancestors settled and subsequently adopted Port de Grave as their town and all of them are very proud of their roots.
On Saturday, April 30th, 2020, the Port de Grave Peninsula Heritage Society hosted a luncheon for members of the Prowse family, Thomas, Daniel, Rebecca, Viola and Rachel. Some 30 people were in attendance, including Directors of the Port de Grave Peninsula Heritage Society. A wonderful lunch was served which included seafood chowder.
Iris petten, President of the Society welcomed the Prowse family and various individuals spoke at the event which included Mona Petten a founding Member of the Heritage Society and she spoke of her long association with members of the Prowse family, as did Edwin Hussey and his many hockey games played on Prowse Marsh. Both Thomas and Daniel great, great grandsons of Daniel W Prowse also spoke and expressed their pride at being in the place where their acestors first settled to do business in the new world.
Later the family was given a tour of the Peninsula including the area of Prowse Marsh, Green Point, Hibbs Cove and the Harbour Authority Building.
Yet again, the Heritage Society has demonstrated the importance of inclusion for all, especially for those who claim such an attachment to this area of our great province. Communication with the Prowse family members has continued over the years and in fact the links have grown as more younger family members take up the torch.
As always the Heritage Society lives upon its slogan “ that to know your past determines aspects of your future”. Together we have created a lasting legacy which shall continue for generations to come.
Judge Prowse was greeted at the court with the following:
Good morning to your worship
Good morning Judge Prowse
Gerald and Rose Andrews presented Gerald’s book Heritage of A NL Outport : The Story of Port-de Grave, to the familyDaniel ProwseIris presented Thomas with his PDG Peninsula Heritage Society Membership CardDirectors and the Prowse Family
We are very excited to share with you our plans for our Come Home Year 2022 celebrations August 3rd to August 7th, 2022. Despite what’s happening in our world today we all need something to look forward to! Whether you are coming from away, or you are neighbours from surrounding communities or you live right here on the Peninsula, we invite you to share in all the activities that are being planned.
Our Committee is working hard to bring you five days of fun, friendship and food! The exact schedule will be posted when everything has been certified, but we are going to have fun and so looking forward to it!
We are also in need of volunteers to help us and to help out during those five days!
Please share with your family and friends! If you have any questions please contact me at comehomeyearpdgphs@gmail.com.
The Port de Grave Peninsula Heritage Society was saddened to hear of the passing of one of its members. Grace Tilley passed away at the age of 87. Grace was long time member and supported the Society any way she could. By coming to Canon Richard`s Tearoom for weekend meals, any fundraising she always did her part.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this difficult time. We are very thankful to the family for acknowledging the Society in a way to remember Grace. Please note that any monies received in memory of Grace will be issued a Charitable Tax Receipt.
Port De Grave Peninsula Heritage Society Inc. 