Otterbury Schoolhouse

June 12, 2020:

The Town of Harbour Grace is seeking donations of local school memorabilia for Otterbury Schoolhouse (1884).

These memorabilia will be showcased at the Schoolhouse in the future—part of an ongoing project to redevelop this heritage structure into a multipurpose space for our community’s seniors. Items should have relevance to Harbour Grace’s schooling history. Awards, certificates, mementos, books, photo albums, sports apparel—all items are welcome.

Photos are of particular interest: these can be scanned, catalogued, and returned to the original owner at the owner’s request.

For more information, email or call (709) 596-3042.

Otterbury Schoolhouse, 2018. Photo courtesy Dale Jarvis.

History

Early survey maps indicate Otterbury as the area roughly between the beginning of Water Street, Harvey Street, and Lee’s Lane. Interestingly, there are three areas called Otterbury in Conception Bay – one in Harbour Grace, one in Clarke’s Beach, and one northeast of Carbonear. The term refers to an abandoned fishing community. Originally, the word may have been named for Ottery St. Mary, in Devon, England, or a corruption of “otter burrow.”

Built as early as 1884, Otterbury Schoolhouse was a traditional, one room educational institution for Roman Catholic youth in Riverhead and the Otterbury area. The school was located on Water Street West, in the Otterbury district. In 1884 there were 45 students registered. Like other schools of its era, it was heated by a wood-burning stove, and the other students, especially the boys, took turns getting the firewood. There was an outdoor bathroom and all students were responsible for helping keep the school clean.

In the 1930s, Ms. Helena Power was the teacher at the school. Power had previously taught in the United States before coming to Newfoundland. Although Latin was taught in schools at the time, she taught French to the students of Otterbury. (Power later published a book, More Stories from Dickens [1961], which retold the famous author’s stories for children.) During the 1930s an average of 50-60 students attended the school each year. Other official statistics are as follows. In 1919 Kathleen Lynch was teacher, with 17 boys and 13 girls registered. In 1955-56 20 boys and 23 girls were registered.

The school officially closed in 1969. Gordon G. Pike and the Harbour Grace Historical Society helped remodel the deteriorated structure in the late 1990s. However, years later, repairs were needed again; the schoolhouse was then moved to its current location, near the Kearney Tourist Chalet and the SS Kyle, under the direction of Albert (Bud) Chafe. The exterior was repainted in fall 2017.

Otterbury Schoolhouse has aesthetic value due to its vernacular architectural style. This one room building has a steep, gable roof and is built with narrow wooden clapboard. The school also features wide corner boards and a wide water table. The windows, of which there are three on the main façade, are 6/6 double hung type. They have plain moulding with a small, eared raincap over top. The main door is wood plank construction and the trim is comprised of plain, flat mouldings with a small, eared raincap above the door. A small porch once extended from the rear of the building.

Otterbury Schoolhouse was designated a Municipal Heritage Site by the Town of Harbour Grace due to its historic and aesthetic value on January 10, 2006.