Description of Historic Place

Harmsworth Hall is a large brick and wooden building located at 005 High Street, Grand Falls – Windsor. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Harmsworth Hall has been designated a heritage building because of its historical and architectural values.

This building is historically significant to Grand Falls – Windsor because of the associated firms and events directly related to it. It was constructed by the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company (AND) in 1929. The AND Company was one of the most important companies in Newfoundland in the early part of the twentieth century. It was largely responsible for the development of Grand Falls as a town with the creation of a pulp-and-paper mill. Before Grand Falls was officially incorporated in 1969, this hall was used by the community as a theatre, playhouse and meeting hall. After incorporation the AND company gave the building to the new municipality as a town hall, and currently it is still being used for that purpose.

Architecturally, this building is valuable because of its attractive façade and decorative brick work. Influenced by the neoclassical style, Harmsworth Hall has a symmetrical façade with large windows surrounded by keystone brickwork. The central roof is peaked, and large pilasters flank either side of the main doorway.

Source: Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador unnumbered property designation file, 1 Springdale Street, St. John's, NL, A1C 5V5

Character-Defining Elements

All original features which relate to the age and design of the property including:
-large central peaked roof;
-copper flashing;
-decorative brick work including: pilasters, keystone decoration around windows and main door;
-multi-paned windows;
-lintels;
-large masonry balls on roof;
-roof trim moulding;
-decorative circular window on front gable end;
-wooden frame; and
-location in relation to High Street.