Harbour Grace War Memorial Library
All that was left at the Lituary Institute at Harbour Grace, one August night in 1944, was a heap of ashes. The great fire which practically destroyed the whole of Water Street had done its work well. The library, housed in the Institute since 1939, was destroyed.
A town that could boast of having the first public library in Newfoundland in 1818 was not to remain without good books very long. In 1946, Harbour Grace joined the regional library by His Excellence Bishop O’Neil of Harbour Grace.
Under the congenial and competent chairmanship of T. Jack Watts, who was also the town’s Deputy Mayor, the Harbour Grace Regional Library Board began plans to erect a new concrete building to house the expanding services of the library.
The success of the Harbour Grace Fair, held during the first three days in October, 1947, assured it. The major portion of the funds raised during the fair went towards the cost of building a new library.
The new building was to be a fitting memorial to all those who served and especially to those who died in World War I and II. Eight years after the fire, the dream came true.
In spite of bitterly cold winds accompanied by freezing rain and sleet there was a capacity audience on hand at Harbour Grace on Wednesday afternoon, to witness the official opening of the Harbour Grace War Memorial Library.
The library which was erected to the memory of those who paid the supreme sacrifice in World war I and II was opened by his Honour, the Lieutenant Governor and dedicated by his Excellency, Reverend J.M. O’Neil, D.D., Bishop of Harbour Grace.
Also in attendance were Lady Rutherbridge, the honourable J.R. and Mrs. Chalker, and the Honourable Myles Murray, as well as leading citizens of Harbour Grace and friends and relatives of the fallen heroes.
His Honour the Lieutenant Governor arrived at the Library promptly at 2:30 p.m. and before entering the building he inspected a Guard of Honour which had been drawn up upside. On entering the building the choir sang the National Anthem and O Canada.
The first item on the agenda was the handing over of the deeds to the land on which the library was built by Mr. O.E. Grimm, acting for the Board of trustees of the Kirk, to the chairman of the Library Board. The chairman then spoke briefly outlining the history of the library and the decision to make it a memorial to the Town’s War Dead. He praised all citizens who had been so generous in underwriting the cost of the $10,000 structure.
The Address of His Honour the Governor is as follows:
We are gathering here today to perform an act of remembrance and gratitude to commerate the Sacrifice of those who gave their lives in two world that we, their live survivors, should continue to live as free men. Today when we enjoy as a matter of course and ling custom, the rights to speak freely, to worship according to our conscience, to receive equal treatment before the law, we are apt to forget that our forebearers over the countries shed their blood in long and bitter struggles to attain those very things which today are our heritage. Those whom we comme rate today helped top maintain that heritage intact -- a way of life which we the members of the British Commonwealth and Empire enjoy- in which there is give and take tolerance-decent behaviour - a pattern of life based on that of a united christian family. We respect the law, but we don’t fear it. Our laws are liberal and aim at providing the maximum of individual freedom within the confines of orderly conduct. It was to perpetuate this system of life which we have inherited - the product of the struggles over the centuries - that those whom we honour and comme rate here gave their lives. It is a system of life worthy to be jealously guarded in the future, should it again be assailed, for within its sphere there is freedom for the mind and soul of man. This War Memorial will ever serve as a reminder that the spirit of those whom we comme rate is the spirit needed today in each one of us in the defence of the free world against immense aggression and infiltration of communistic imperialism, and it is duty of all of us to see that freedom so dearly won is preserved for posterity. The citizens of Harbour Grace have chosen their war memorial wisely. I cannot think of any other form of a memorial which would provide greater, more lasting benefit for the cultural and intellectual advancement of the people of this town and neighbourhood, both old and young. I would suggest as a maximum worthy to be adopted by all, that it is most desirable and important that everyone should try and spend some time in every week of his life in reading a good book - for good book is the best of friends, it refreshes and broadens our minds. Sometimes, however, I think we older people are apt to make the mistake of expecting young children to read and enjoy books of real classical value while they are to young, and before their minds are sufficiently mature to appreciate and enjoy them. A good book of lasting value should be read slowly, leisurely and perhaps several times, but not until our minds are mature and we appreciate their sense and beauty and worth. There are plenty of good Storys suitable for children, and the children can wait until they are grown up to read the originals of our English classics. English literature is a glorious part of our inheritance, open to all without discrimination or prohibition, and contains great treasures and riches, of which the Bible in the spiritual sphere and Shakespheres in the secular sphere stand alone on the highest platform. Enjoying English literature means that one need never be lonely and its variety satisfies all tastes, moods and minds. A well read people means a well educated people, who are capable of thinking clearly and acting fairly. This is the opportunity which this Memorial Library erected by citizens of Harbour Grace, open. Other speakers were Miss Jesse Mifflin of the Newfoundland Libraries Board, Hon. J.R. Chalker, Minister of Health, who also represented Premier Smallwood, who was absent from the Province and the Hon. Myles Murray, Minister of Provincial Affairs, who was here to represent all Canadian Legion Members in Newfoundland. All congratulated the town on the fine memorial that had been erected to their war dead and expressed the opinion that it was a very fitting way to remember those who had died so that others may live and enjoy the freedom of a democracy. The list of the Fallen was then read by Justin McCarthy, Secretary; Harbour Grace Branch of the Canadian Legion and is as follows: Francis Ash, Stephen Andrews, John Adams, Edmund Brown, John Carson, William Crocker, George Crane, A. William Chafe, Archibald Courage, James Cron, Graham Duff, Stephen Fallon, Thomas French, William Chafe, Ernest Gill, Albert Horwood, Alex Harris, John T. Kennedy, William Kehoe, Christopher Kelly, Henry Lilly, William J. Lilly, Charles McCarthy, J. Roderick McRae, Ronald McGrath, Henry Martin, Stephen Martin, William March, Levi M. Nicholas, James M. Power, Stephen Payne, William Pike, William Pippy, Francis Pike, Patrick Reddy, James Snow, James Sheppard, H. Sheppard, Henry Sellars, Melvin Tetford, James Taylor, Levi Verge, Francis Walsh. "At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them." |
This was followed by the minutes silence and the laying of Wreaths in the following order: His Honour, Lieutenant Governor, Harbour Grace Branch, Canadian Legion, Provincial Command, Canadian Legion, next of kin deceased veterans, Harbour Grace Library Board, Societies and Organizations and ourside organizations and individuals. The Hon. J.R. Chalker placed a wreath on behalf of the Brigus Regional Library Board.
By: Gord Pike