Burgess Fishing Property Municipal Heritage Building
Whiteway, Newfoundland and Labrador, A0B, Canada
Formally Recognized:
2006/05/29
Other Name(s)
n/a
Links and documents
Construction Date(s)
1890/01/01 to 1900/01/01
Listed on the Canadian Register:
2006/06/06
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
The Burgess Fishing Property is a wooden, steep gable roof fisheries building located on the beach in Whiteway, Trinity Bay, NL. This small building stands alone in an area that once held many fishing buildings, wharves and flakes and is a prominent landmark in the area. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.
Heritage Value
Sheathed in wooden shingles the Burgess Fishing Property has been designated because it holds architectural values. Located in a large open cove, Whiteway Bay, this small fishing building was built by Richard Burgess and his brother Charles circa 1900 as a salting shed, and as one aspect of a larger group of fishing buildings. The building’s architectural style reflects this utilitarian function and features significant elements of a fisheries building. This small two storey building measures 4.79 m by 2.84 m with an upper storey loft door, a bay-side door and a larger, double barn door at ground level. At its heyday the building was used in the production of salt cod fish. The lower part of the building was filled with framed pounds used for bulk salting the split cod fish. There was a drying flake attached to the shed at the loft door level. The salted cod fish were dried on the flake and stored in the loft of the shed. This building was one of several fishing buildings in the area and was vital in the processing of cod fish: boats unloaded fish at the wharf; the fish were gutted and split in the stage head on the wharf and then bulk salted in this salting shed. Originally the only access to the lower part of the shed was through the smaller bay-side door. The larger door was added later by William Burgess (Richard’s son) to allow for storing his boat and fishing gear. The steeply pitched roof gave headroom to the loft inside while allowing snow and rain to slide off the roof with ease. During the off season the salting shed was used for the storage of fishing gear. Today, this building is the last of its kind in the area and stands alone on the beach where many similar buildings once stood.
Source: Designated at a regular council meeting of the Town of Whiteway May 29, 2006; Motion # 05290607
Character-Defining Elements
All those architectural elements that define the utilitarian nature of the fisheries shed,, including:
-wooden construction;
-steeply pitched gable roof;
-wooden shingle sheathing;
-upper storey loft door;
-double barn door;
-location on the beach and proximity to the water's edge, and
-unornamented and simple design.
Recognition
Jurisdiction
Newfoundland and Labrador
Recognition Authority
NL Municipality
Recognition Statute
Municipalities Act
Recognition Type
Municipal Heritage Building, Structure or Land
Recognition Date
2006/05/29
Historical Information
Significant Date(s)
n/a
Theme - Category and Type
- Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
- Architecture and Design
Function - Category and Type
Current
Historic
- Food Supply
- Fisheries Site
Architect / Designer
n/a
Builder
Richard and Charles Burgess
Additional Information
Location of Supporting Documentation
Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador
1 Springdale Street
St. John's, NL
A1C 5V5
Cross-Reference to Collection
Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier
NL-2521
Status
Published
Related Places
n/a