Homeowners honoured for heritage work
Two downtown St. John’s houses — one formerly condemned and the other a new infill construction in the Battery — were given heritage awards at Monday’s city council meeting.
Coun. Sandy Hickman, cochairman of the city’s heritage committee, said the awards recognize work done by property owners in the city’s historic areas.
“Together with these wonderful citizens, we’re preserving and protecting our heritage with the homes and buildings that have literally witnessed the history of St. John’s,” said Hickman.
Morris Reid bought the condemned house at 32 Queen’s Rd. in 2008, and restored its mid-19th century structure, which pre- dates the Great Fire of 1892.
“I started this project over six years ago,” said Reid. “Several times I had no idea if it would ever come to an end. It’s still not ended, but I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Wayne and Virginia Halley, owners of 53 Battery Rd., demolished an older property to make room for a new single-family home, and had to meet the area’s heritage requirements.
“It was a little bit of a challenge in the build,” said Wayne Halley. “We had some difficulties getting the foundation started. But once we got that moving, everything went well.”
Halley also thanked other residents of the Battery for “putting up” with the year-and-a-half-long construction.
“You’ve shown how one can go into an old, historic area of this city and create a new build which complements and enhances the spirit of what has been there for four or five hundred years,” said Mayor Dennis O’Keefe.
It’s still not ended, but I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Morris Read