Description of Historic Place

Stoodley Fishing Stage is a wooden two-storey, low pitch roofed building clad in wood shingles. Constructed circa 1880, it is located on Lower Water Street in Grand Bank, NL. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Stoodley Fishing Stage has been designated a Municipal Heritage Building by the Town of Grand Bank due to its historical and aesthetic values.

The Stoodley Fishing Stage is of historical importance because of its extended use as a fisheries premises and its association with the inshore fishery. Built around the 1880s the stage was used for the inshore fishery through several generations. Historically, Grand Bank is most well known as a centre for the Banks fishery fleet, rather than for its involvement in the inshore fishery. The Stoodley Fishing Stage therefore stands as a physical reminder of a way of life centered around the inshore fishery in an area more well known for its involvement in offshore fisheries.

The Stoodley Fishing Stage is of aesthetic importance as it is a good example of an intact fishing store/stage in the region. There are few examples of this type of craftsmanship in the Grand Bank area, or the province in general, left in their original shape and condition. Such buildings were designed for practical use and had to endure the rigours of a harsh environment. The use of rough materials, simple design elements and utilitarian construction techniques exemplify these fishery buildings. Of further interest is the design of the building. Whereas many stages have one storey, the Stoodley Fishing Stage has two storeys and traditionally had a stage head with two levels, allowing two users unimpeded access to the building.

Source: Town of Grand Bank Regular Council Meeting Motion #2007-926, March 12, 2007.

Character-Defining Elements

All those elements reflective of the vernacular style and design of the building, including:
-original form, scale and massing of structure;
-low pitch roof;
-number of storeys;
-exterior wood shingle sheathing;
-corner boards;
-red ochre exterior colour;
-window size, style, trim and placement;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior doors;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior doors on harbour facade;
-two level stage head;
-wooden post building supports;
-overall dimensions and footprint shape;
-location on the waterfont and orientation facing the ocean.