Other Name(s)
Seal Cove Hall
Salle Seal Cove
Seal Cove School
Frosty's Kwik Way Convenience Store
Dépanneur Frosty's Kwik Way
Links and documents
Construction Date(s)
Listed on the Canadian Register:
2010/07/06
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
The Seal Cove School is a long rectangular one-and-a-half storey building located on a steep hill on the western side of Route 776 with the side street School Lane leading to the building. The building is now the area post office and a convenience store. The view from the attached deck overlooks the fishing community of Seal Cove and its waterfront.
Heritage Value
The Seal Cove School on Grand Manan Island was designated a Local Historic Place for being the location where many residents of the island received their education from circa 1896 to 1978. Although there was a smaller school operating at the time, the student population was outgrowing the building. The new school building was under construction for about 6 years. Originally, the one-and-a-half storey structure had a classroom in the main level and storage upstairs. The local newspaper, The Chatterbox, was produced in this upper room. This small village school started as a graded level school for grades 1 to 4 and 4 to 9. When the population expanded again (ca. 1935), a large piece was added on to the front of the building, doubling its size. The floor plan through this period consisted of two large rooms downstairs and one upstairs with a large storage room at the back upstairs. The school closed in 1978 when all village schools on the island were closed and the students were bussed to the central village of Grand Harbour to attend the Grand Manan Elementary School. The Seal Cove Village Council took over the building. After a devastating fire destroyed the sardine factory in Seal Cove in June 1985, a Make Work Project was put in place through 1985-1986 and the Seal Cove School was renovated into a Community Hall with the Council Chambers in the upper classroom. In 1995, all Grand Manan Villages were amalgamated and the Community Halls were all under the new Grand Manan Village Council. In 2005, the Seal Cove School was sold as surplus property and the new owners renovated it into the community post office and a convenience store with a large deck from which the views are spectacular.
Source: Grand Manan Archives – Local Historic Places files
Character-Defining Elements
The character-defining elements that describe the Seal Cove School include:
- large rectangular one-and-a-half storey structure resting on a steep hill overlooking the valley village;
- medium-pitched gable roof;
- remaining windows on the south eastern end with two windows on each floor and one window at the back on the lower level;
- location of the entrance on the northeast façade representing its post-expansion placement;
- full concrete foundation under the newer section built in ca. 1935;
- dirt floor basement with crawl space under the original section at the rear.
The character-defining elements relating to the interior include:
- interior layout reflecting subsequent community uses as a community hall and then as a community store;
- mail room on the southern side;
- original wooden interior stairs, moved from their original location at the central entrance to the kitchen area;
- the spatial layout of the upper floor.
Recognition
Jurisdiction
New Brunswick
Recognition Authority
Local Governments (NB)
Recognition Statute
Local Historic Places Program
Recognition Type
Municipal Register of Local Historic Places
Recognition Date
2010/01/11
Historical Information
Significant Date(s)
1896/01/01 to 1978/01/01
1935/01/01 to 1935/01/01
1985/01/01 to 1986/01/01
2005/01/01 to 2005/01/01
Theme - Category and Type
- Building Social and Community Life
- Social Movements
- Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
- Learning and the Arts
- Building Social and Community Life
- Education and Social Well-Being
Function - Category and Type
Current
- Commerce / Commercial Services
- Shop or Wholesale Establishment
- Government
- Post Office
Historic
- Community
- Civic Space
- Education
- Primary or Secondary School
Architect / Designer
n/a
Builder
n/a
Additional Information
Location of Supporting Documentation
Grand Manan Archives, 1141 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB
Cross-Reference to Collection
Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier
2111
Status
Published
Related Places
n/a