MHS Newsletter

• Position: Heritage Center Administrator

  

  Heritage Center Administrator Job Description 2025Download

• Position: Museum Interpreter

  

• 2024 President’s Report

  HEART’S CONTENT MIZZEN HERITAGE SOCIETY INC.

  PRESIDENT’S REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING 2024

  For presentation to the 2025 Annual General Meeting April 7, 2025

  In 2024, we marked our 30th anniversary as a heritage organization. The year was characterized by both successes and challenges. I believe we were still dealing with the ongoing impact of COVID-19, which resulted in reduced attendance at many of our Arts Centre events. But the COVID hangover did not prevent us from having a successful year as I hope this review will show.

  2024 Membership

  Our membership increased slightly during 2024 as per the following:

  Membership Category	Numbers Dec. 31, 2023	Numbers Dec. 31, 2024
  Individual and Family	58	59
  Corporate (business or organization)	4	6
  Lifetime (paid individual or family)	2	4
  Total	64	69

  Thanks to our Membership Committee of Alice Cumby, Sandra Warren, Betty White, Magdi Younan and Gil Billard for organizing and keeping track of our membership list, collecting fees, sending out membership cards, etc.

  We also added to our Honorary Life Membership Award Program last year as three members were inducted into the program during a special 30^th. Anniversary Dinner. This brings our total number of Honorary Life Memberships to 6. The 3 new inductees were Howard Tavenor, Jane Tavenor (posthumously), and John Warren. Congratulations once again to our latest recipients.

  Unfortunately, and with sadness, we lost two of our long-term members last year as Art Tavenor and Janice Wells passed away. Once again, we pass along our condolences to all of Art’s and Janice’s family and friends.

  2024 Activities and Highlights

  Our activities during 2024 centered primarily around monthly meetings, committee meetings, the Arts Centre events, Heritage Day activities, Rendell Forge demonstrations, employing a summer student and overseeing and planning the renovations and development of our museum facility.

  Here are the highlights:

  • We conducted nine regular monthly meetings (for every month excepting June, July and December), one Board of Directors meeting, many committee meetings, and meetings with our Town Council. It takes a lot of meetings to do the work of this organization. Thanks to all members who attend these meetings in person and by Zoom.  

  • At the Arts Centre, we held 8 Concerts, 9 Kitchen Parties, 1 Rental, and a Magic Show. Thanks to Val Worthman, Chair, and her Arts Centre Events Committee of John Warren, Gil Billard, Darlene King, Barry Langer, Lilly Fitzpatrick and Brian Fitzpatrick for their hard work in planning and organizing the Arts Centre Events. Thanks also to all our other volunteers who helped on the door, sold tickets, cleaned up and set up before and after events, MC’d, operated the sound board, made up and posted posters, and so on.

  • In November of 2023, in partnership with the Heart’s Content Community Development Corporation, and after a year plus of fundraising, lobbying, writing applications, and conducting meetings of our Heritage Centre Planning Committee, we finally secured funding from the federal Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Provincial Dept. of Industry, Energy and Technology (IET) to begin the Enhancing the Heart’s Content Visitor Experience Plan. This isa $400,000 project, the centerpiece of which is the restoration and renovation of the Mizzen Heritage Museum into a modern Heart’s Content Heritage Centre, a welcome and interpretation centre that will show and direct visitors to our town’s cultural assets. Thanks to Clarence Brown, Dave Lough, Ted Rowe, Gord Tavenor, John Warren and Val Worthman for joining me on that committee.

  It wasn’t until February of 2024, however, that Requests for Proposals were solicited, interviews were held, contracts were signed, and work on our new Heritage Centre began and continues today with an opening date set for Aug. 1, 2025. We have established a Heritage Centre Operations Committee to oversee the remainder of the project. Special thanks to Clarence Brown, Alice Cumby, Bev King, Eileen Matthews and Val Worthman for serving with me on this committee. And I’d like to single out two people for special mention and thanks – Gord Tavenor who took on the additional role of Project Manager during the renovation and construction phase of the project, and to Bev King who has taken on the role of Project Assistant which involves overseeing the budget, reporting to ACOA and IET and a whole lot more including the planning of a Grand Opening Aug.1.

  • At the Rendell Forge, Darlene King and Doug Cave offered blacksmith demonstrations 2 days a week from June to Sept. They had a total of 85 visitors, 46 of which were on Heritage Day. Thanks to Darlene and Doug for making it possible to showcase a craft which was very important especially to our shipbuilding history. Also, thanks to John Warren for the loan of his generator to power the forge.

  • Eileen Matthews and her Heritage Day Committee (Judy Arnott, Paulette Cumby, Sandra Warren, Val Worthman, Wendy Hunter, and Betty White) expanded our annual Heritage Day into a very successful Heritage Weekend which included a Rug Hooking and Quilt show, House of Commons music and stories event with Bob Balsom and John Warren, demonstrations at the forge arranged by Darlene with Doug and Ian Gillies, a Flower Show / Geranium Festival, and a sold-out Free Beer concert. The Heart’s Content Community Development Corporation chaired by Ted Rowe helped with media promotion, arranging the Free Beer concert and organization of the flower show. Thanks to all.

  • We continued to support and aid the Heart’s Content Community Development Corporation in their endeavors. Seven of our members now serve on the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

  • Our town’s Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee continued to meet and advise our Town Council on all things heritage related. Thanks to Paulette Cumby and Brian Fitzpatrick for co-chairing this committee and to Sandra Warren and Val Worthman for also serving as MHS representatives. The other members of this committee and deserving of thanks are Val Whelan and Tolson Rendell representing the Town Council.

  • Last year we hired 1 summer student for 8 weeks to do work with the Town’s and Rec Centre’s students. They did grass mowing, cleaning, helping with Canada Day activities and other special events and in other ways. Thanks to Kelton Piercey from the Town’s maintenance staff for supervising our student this year and to Alice our Treasurer for handling the payroll and paperwork involved.

  • Our website is very important in presenting ourselves to the world and communicating our activities and beliefs. It continues to receive a lot of hits and is a valuable source of MHS information. Thanks to webmasters Magdi Younan and Gil Billard.

  • Our Social Media presence, thanks to Eileen Matthews and Gail Eddy, continued to expand on Facebook, X and Instagram.

  • We donated the proceeds from our November Kitchen Party, $700, to the Heart’s Content Volunteer Fire Dept.

  • In meetings and in letters, we continued to advocate for our Town Council to conscientiously enforce the town’s Municipal Heritage Regulations.

  • We are represented on the Heart’s Content Community UNESCO Committee and are committed to helping in every way we can to help achieve UNESCO World Heritage Designation for the Cable Station.

  In summary, once again it was a busy and productive year.

  To Wrap up, a few more Thank-You’s

  • Most importantly, a big thank you to you, our members, who pay fees, attend meetings, plan and organize our activities, donate time, money, talent, skill and energy to help make our society strong and our town a better place. Without you we simply could not do what we do.
  • Special thanks to the other executive members (Paulette, Sandra, and Alice) who have given me great support and help again over the past year. Your dedication to this organization and its goals, and your cooperation and encouragement to me are very much appreciated. 
  • To Mayor Piercey and our Town Council for their support and encouragement.
  • To all those others in our community who are not members but volunteer their time, skill and energy to help make our events successful.

  Respectfully Submitted,

  ____________________

  Ed Arnott, President

  Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society, Inc.

• Alice Cumby’s Retirement

  Longtime Mizzen Heritage Society Treasurer Alice Cumby retired on Friday Feb. 28 from her “real job” as Heart’s Content Town Clerk after 57 years!

  

  ---

  CBC News Article

  After 57 years on the job, this town clerk has worked to her Heart’s Content

  VOCM News Article

  Heart’s Content Town Clerk Retiring After 57 Years

• Nov. 9th, 2024 – Celebration of 30 years for Mizzen Heritage Society and celebration of this year’s Honourary Member awards

  The Heart’s Content Mizzern Heritage Society celebrated of 30 years and celebrated this year’s Honourary Member awards with a delicious meal at Legge’s Restaurant in Hearts Content, followed by a get-together at the Hearts’ Content Mizzen Centre for the Arts.

  Lifetime Honourary Membership were awarded to John Warren, Howard Tavernor and Jane Tavernor. Congratulations to all of you for your hard work and committment as volunteers over the years.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• 2023 President’s Report

  Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society Inc.

  2023 Membership 

  As the Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society enters its 30th year, I am happy to announce that our membership has grown over the past year.  The following is a membership comparison for the years’ 2022 and 2023: 

  Membership Category	2022	2023
  Individual and Family memberships	47	58
  Corporate (business or organization)	3	4
  Lifetime (paid individual or family)	1	2
  TOTAL	51	64

  In 2023 we also introduced an additional membership category, that of the Honorary Life Membership Award Program. These awards are presented through a nomination and voting process and last year we started the program by recognizing and presenting the awards to three deserving individuals during our annual Christmas social in December.  Congratulations to Alice Cumby, Bob Balsom and Claude Rockwood, and, on behalf of the MHS, I thank you for all the hard work and dedication you have given our organization over the years. 

  Of our 58 individual and family members of the MHS, 25 live in the Heart’s Content region, 17 have seasonal homes here and frequently visit; and 16 support us to varying degrees from their homes elsewhere, even as far away as British Columbia, Ontario, North Carolina and Florida. A current list of members with contact information is available upon request.   

  Unfortunately, and with sadness, last December we lost one of our long-term members as Stella Tavenor, wife of member Art, mother of member Helen Brauch and sister-in-law of members Howard and Gord, passed away after a long battle with cancer. Once again, we pass along our condolences to Art and all of Stella’s family and friends. 

  2023 Activities and Highlights  

  Our activities during 2023 centered primarily around monthly and committee meetings, Arts Centre events, Heritage Day activities, Rendell Forge demonstrations, summer employment of 3 students and working to secure the required funding to renovate the Mizzen Heritage Museum.  

  Here are the highlights from a busy year: 

  We conducted nine regular monthly meetings, some separate Executive and Board of Directors meetings, many committee meetings, and meetings with our Town Council and other community groups to discuss ongoing issues and mutual interests.  

  We hired 3 summer students to do light maintenance work around our various MHS properties, such as grass mowing, cleaning, setting up the Arts Centre, helping with our Heritage Day etc. Thanks to Noel and Kelton from the Town’s maintenance staff for supervising our students this year and to Alice, our Treasurer, for handling the payroll and paperwork involved. 

  Our Membership Committee, under Chair Jeanette Jobson, was very active again last year in handling all things relating to our membership, including distributing membership cards and working to expand and strengthen our membership base. Thanks to Jeanette and her committee for all their hard work.   

  At the Arts Centre, we held nine concerts (including 2 Old-Fashioned Concerts that we produced ourselves), 8 Kitchen Parties, 4 rentals, a Karaoke Party, a Quilt and Rug Hooking Display, and a Craft Market at the Arts Centre. Thanks to John Warren and his Arts Centre Events Committee for their hard work in planning and organizing the Arts Centre Events.  

  Signage to recognize our corporate members and sponsors and Honorary Lifetime Award winners were erected in the Arts Centre as well as an exterior sign to advertise our Kitchen Parties. We also erected a new sign on the Rendell Forge donated by Gerry Wight. Thanks Gerry.  

  After engaging in Blacksmith training in January, Darlene recruited a new member, Doug Cave, and both offered blacksmith demonstrations two days a week at the Forge from June to Sept. Thanks Darlene and Doug.  

  Eileen and her Heritage Day Committee organized a very successful Heritage Day which included a Rug Hooking and Quilt display as well as Mummers Parade and a display of old-fashioned games at Hopkins’ Landing. John told stories at the House of Commons and Darlene arranged demonstrations at the forge. Thanks to all. 

  We continued to support and aid the Heart’s Content Community Development Corporation in their endeavors. Eight of our members now serve on the Corporation’s Board of Directors. 

  With the continued input and support of the Heart’s Content Community Development Corporation, our Museum Restoration Committee contracted Octopus Consulting and consultant Crystal Brae to develop a Heart’s Content Visitor Experience Plan. This plan focused on expanding the recommendations of the Mills and Wright Heart’s Content Interpretive Framework and Landscape Development Plan as it related to our museum building. This was an important step in supporting our applications to restore and modernize the museum.  

  Our Museum Restoration Committee, calling the project Enhancing the Visitor Experience in Heart’s Content, secured $386,894 in funding from the federal government’s Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the provincial government’s Dept. of Industry Energy and Technology to renovate and restore the former Mizzen Heritage Museum into a tourist welcome and interpretation centre that will show and direct visitors to our town’s cultural assets. We believe our newly renovated centre will be another crucial focal point in our Heritage District and may help in the impending designation of our Heart’s Content Cable Station as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

  Notable Mentions: 

  We finalized an Arts Centre Rental Agreement 

  Our website continued to receive a lot of hits and continued to be a valuable source of MHS information. Thanks to Magdi.  

  Our Social Media presence, thanks to Eileen and Gail, continued to expand on Facebook and Instagram. 

  We donated the proceeds from our April Kitchen Party, $800, to the Winterton Ambulance Service. 

  We had a large representation attend a reception and dinner for the Irish UNESCO delegation from Valentia in August. 

  In meetings and in letters, we continued to advocate for our Town Council to enforce more conscientiously the Municipal Heritage Regulations which they passed in October 2019.  

  We are represented on the Heart’s Content UNESCO Committee and are committed to helping in every way we can in achieving a UNESCO World Heritage Designation for the Cable Station. 

  In summary, it was a busy (in fact, one of our busiest) and very productive year. As a matter of interest, last February we had a goal setting activity where we all wrote down goals that we would like to achieve during 2023. Here were the top 7: 

  • Restoration of the Museum / Welcome Centre. 
  • Legally acquire the SUF Lodge and incorporate it in our planning. 
  • Improve signage, interior and exterior. 
  • Get internet service for the Arts Centre, Museum and Forge. 
  • Bring popular entertainment to the Arts Centre from May to Sept. 
  • Expand plans for Heritage Day on July 27. 
  • Have forge demonstrations during the summer. 

  While we didn’t achieve everything on that list, we did complete some of our goals and partially finished others.  Those that we didn’t complete will be ongoing projects for 2024. 

  Most importantly, a big thank you to you, our members, who pay fees, attend meetings, plan and organize our activities, donate time, money, talent, skill and energy to help make our society strong and our town a better place. Without you we simply could not do what we do.  

  Special thanks to the Executive who has given me great support and help over the past year. Your dedication to this organization and its goals, and your cooperation and encouragement to me are very much appreciated.   

  To Mayor Piercey and our Town Council for their support and encouragement.  

  To other organizations such as the Fire Department and the Rec Centre Committee for their continued support. 

  To all those others in our community who are not members but volunteer their time, skill and energy to help make our Kitchen Parties, Concerts, and other events successful. 

  Respectfully Submitted,  

  Ed Arnott, President

  Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society, Inc. 

• Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society Presents 2023 Honorary Lifetime Membership Awards

  Mr. Ed Arnott, President of the Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society announces the creation of The Honorary Lifetime Membership Award.  This annual award will be bestowed on members who have given at least 10 years of service and have made a significant contribution to the Society.

  Bob Balsom, Alice Cumby and Claude Rockwood recognized

  At its annual Christmas party on Sat., Dec. 9, 2023, Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society President Ed Arnott introduced a new annual award called The Honorary Lifetime Membership Award.
  Arnott said, “This society was founded in 1994 and next year we will be celebrating 30 years of recognizing the wonderful and unique cultural heritage of Heart’s Content. This year we thought it appropriate to honor three of our founders who started it all and laid the foundation which we continue to build on today.”

  The award is given to members who have given at least 10 years of service and have made a significant contribution to the Society which goes beyond the normal role of an ordinary member. Each winner has shown a dedication to the values, principles, and constitution of the HCMHS. This year’s winners are Bob Balsom, Alice Cumby and Claude Rockwood. All three were part of the original group who founded the society on Sept. 26, 1994, and stayed on for many years to help the organization grow. Two continue to be members today.

  Bob Balsom was the society’s first President, Alice Cumby its Secretary-Treasurer and Claude Rockwood its Vice President. “Without the hard work, energy and dedication of these three, and others who we hope to honor in the future, we would not be the heritage group we are today and Heart’s Content would be the worse for it. We owe them a big thank-you,” said Arnott.

  

  Paulette Cumby accepts the
  award from Ed Arnott on
  behalf of Claude Rockwood

  

  Alice Cumby, our first Secretary-
  Treasurer and still Treasurer
  today, receives her award

  

  Bob Balsom, our first President,
  accepts his award from our cur-
  rent President Ed Arnott

• William C. Palmer Paintings Donated To The Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society

  Two of William Palmer’s paintings, from 1908 and ca 1947, were recently donated to the Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society by Shirley (Flower) Pace and Laurie Pace.

  William C. Palmer was an acclaimed painter who lived in Heart’s Content at 194 Main Rd. during the first half of the 20th. Century. Two of his paintings, from 1908 and ca 1947. were recently donated to the Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society (MHS) by Shirley (Flower) Pace and Laurie Pace. According to Laurie, “These paintings were previously owned by Marian (Sooley) Flower of Heart’s Content, daughter of Robert and Emily Sooley. They are being returned ‘home’ in memory of Marion.” Shirley is Marion’s daughter and Laurie is Marion’s granddaughter.

  Ed Arnott, president of the MHS, said that his group is delighted and honoured to be entrusted with these paintings and looks forward to displaying them at the society’s Arts Centre or at the society’s museum which will be renovated during 2024. “We sincerely thank Shirley and Laurie for their donation and want them to know that the paintings are currently stored in our Archives Room awaiting a decision on where to display them. As with all of our archives and artifacts, they are a part of our Heart’s Content cultural heritage and our intention is to preserve them and make them available for viewing to present and future generations”.

  If any reader has an item that they believe may have important Heart’s Content heritage value and wish to donate it to the MHS, please contact us at  webmaster@heartscontentmizzenheritagesociety.ca

  

  

• Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society Community Museum Will Be Closed Until Further Notice

  The Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society has established a Museum Restoration Committee with a mandate of restoring and modernizing the museum to enhance our tourists and visitors experience. ​Unfortunately this will necessitate the closure of the building to the public for the remainder of the year. We look forward to seeing all our friends, neighbours and tourists when we re-open our doors.

  HEART’S CONTENT MIZZEN HERITAGE SOCIETY COMMUNITY MUSEUM UPDATE

  Mr. Ed Arnott
  Mizzen Heritage Society president

  Heart’s Content Community Museum Update
  Enhancing the Visitor Experience in Heart’s Content

  Our Community Museum has now been closed for four years. The 100+ year old building, originally the Methodist Schoolhouse, is in sad shape and in bad need of restoration and modernization. The Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society (MHS) established a Museum Restoration Committee (Ed Arnott, Ted Rowe, Dave Lough and Gord Tavenor) to oversee and guide the steps necessary before we could apply for the financial assistance needed.
  In partnership with the Heart’s Content Community Development Corporation (HCCDC), we have commissioned the following research and development reports and have reached the following milestones:
  the Mills and Wright Heart’s Content Interpretive Framework and Landscape Development Plan;
  the Octopus Consulting Heart’s Content Visitor Experience Plan;
  the Jane Severs Mizzen Centre Business Case;
  and the HCCDC conducted two very successful auctions in part to fundraise the money that the MHS will have to pay toward the project.
  After hundreds of hours of meetings, hard work and effort, the funding applications for ACOA and the provincial Dept of Industry, Energy and Technology are now completed and were submitted on Aug. 8 by MHS. The estimated project cost is $391,300. Now it’s a waiting game to see if ACOA and IET will approve our applications. We are calling the project Enhancing the Visitor Experience in Heart’s Content.

  

• Visitor Experience Plan

  On May 2023, the Mizzen Heritage Society and funding from CBDC, completed a Visitor Experience Plan which includes a redesign and renovation of the Mizzen Museum.

  HC-VE-Plan-FinalDownload
• Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society Community Museum Will Be Closed Until Further Notice

  The Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society has established a Museum Restoration Committee with a mandate of restoring and modernizing the museum to enhance our tourists and visitors experience.  ​Unfortunately this will necessitate the closure of the building to the public for the remainder of the year.  We look forward to seeing all our friends, neighbours and tourists when we re-open our doors. read the update report here

• 2022 President’s Report

  President’s report – A Year of Recovery

  HEART’S CONTENT MIZZEN HERITAGE SOCIETY INC.

  For presentation to the 2023 Annual General Meeting, March 13, 2023

  A Year of Recovery

  After having most of our activities cancelled in 2021 because of COVID, 2022 became the year when our government started lifting anti-COVID regulations and we began to return to life more like it was before.

  2022 Membership

  At our AGM last year, at the recommendation of our Membership Committee, we changed our membership structure to include the following categories and fees:

  Individual (one person) -$15

  Family/Household (one or two named adults and children up to 16) – $25

  Corporate (business or organization) – $150

  Lifetime – $250

  We also have an additional category, that of Honorary Life Membership Award, which is awarded through a nomination process with a maximum of no more than two recipients annually.

  Our individual and family membership numbers grew slightly during 2022 from 44 members in January to 47 in December. We have 1 Honorary Life Membership and we also added 3 corporate memberships and 1 lifetime family membership to our group. Of our 47 individual and family members, 24 live in the Heart’s Content region, 17 have seasonal homes here and frequently visit; and 6 support us to varying degrees from their homes elsewhere, even as far away as British Columbia and Florida. A current list of members with contact information is available upon request.

  Unfortunately, and with great sadness, last fall we lost one of our long-term members as Jane Tavenor passed away as the result of illness. We remember Jane with great kindness and appreciation for the time she spent with us and the wonderful support she gave us.

  2022 Activities and Highlights

  For the most part, our activities during 2022 returned to normal except for the Mizzen Heritage Museum which we decided to keep closed as renovations are badly needed. We currently have a Museum Restoration Committee which is hard at work in partnership with the Heart’s Content Community Development Corporation in efforts to secure the funding necessary to restore and improve the Museum facility. We are hoping to be able to reopen the Museum in 2024.

  Here are the highlights from a busy year:

  • We conducted nine regular monthly meetings, several separate Executive and Board of Directors meetings, many committee meetings, and meetings with our Town Council and other community groups to discuss ongoing issues and mutual interests. The phrase “met to death” comes to mind.
  • We hired 2 summer students to do maintenance work such as grass mowing, cleaning, painting, etc. Thanks to Noel and Derek from the Town’s maintenance staff for supervising our students this year and to Alice our Treasurer for handling the payroll and paperwork involved.
  •  Our Membership Committee, under Chair Jeanette Jobson, were very active last year. They revamped our membership categories, developed new procedures, printed membership brochures and new membership cards, and generally worked to expand and strengthen our membership base, work that continues. Thanks to Jeanette and her committee for all their hard work.  
  • We held 8 concerts and 7 coffee houses at the Arts Centre and also had 2 rentals. Thanks to John Warren and his Arts Centre Events Committee for their hard work in planning and organizing the Arts Centre Events.
  • In June, member Ted Rowe was awarded a Manning Award by the Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador for his outstanding contributions to our province’s history and heritage. We were proud to nominate Ted for this prestigious award and prouder again when he won it. Congratulations Ted! Very well deserved.
  • 2022 was a provincial “Come Home Year” and the NL government made grant money available for groups to organize “Come Home Year” projects. We applied for, and were successful in receiving funding to restore the Rendell Forge as a working blacksmith forge. The project cost $20637.35 with $16362.90 coming from the province and $2274.45 from Heritage NL. We funded the remaining $2000, and we now have a functioning forge to honor the history of blacksmithing in our town. Thanks to Darlene King, Barry Langer, Dale Jarvis and Heritage NL, Ian Gillies (The Newfoundland Blacksmith) and, of course, the provincial government, for making this project possible.
  • The Town of Heart’s Content declared a “Come Home Out of It Week” and we were invited to participate. We did so by having a concert at our Arts Centre featuring Jim Payne and Fergus O’Byrne and a Saturday Night Kitchen Party in the big outdoor Come Home Out of It Tent. Both events were very successful and once again thanks to our Arts Centre Events Committee and all our volunteers for their wonderful help.   
  • We continued to support and aid the Heart’s Content Community Development Corporation in their endeavors. Eight of our members continue to serve on the Corporation’s Board of Directors and we had many members involved in the Corporation’s major fundraising event, an auction, which raised approximately $42000 last fall.
  • Vice President Paulette Cumby applied on our behalf for a Canada Arts and Culture Recovery Program grant from the federal Dept. of Canadian Heritage. She was successful in receiving $12000 for our group to go toward operating costs incurred at our Arts Centre. Thanks Paulette.    
  • In December, our Museum Restoration Committee was successful in securing a Consulting Advisory Services contract from the Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC) in Carbonear. Consultant Crystal Brae has been hired to research and develop a plan for our revisioned museum. CBDC will pay 75% of the consultant’s costs ($5000 plus HST) with MHS paying the remainder. Once completed in May, we hope to be in a position to approach ACOA and apply for funding to restore and improve the museum.  
  • Our Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee recommended that the Roman Catholic Cemetery off the old trailway path be approved as a municipal heritage area. This recommendation was accepted by our Town Council bringing to 4 the number of designated Municipal Heritage Structures and Properties so approved to date. These heritage buildings and areas are in addition to the provincially designated heritage structures which all together help tell our town’s story. Thanks to our Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee, under co-chairs Paulette Cumby and Brian Fitzpatrick, for their hard work in this area.  

  Recommendations

  Some of these are repeated from last year as they have not yet been achieved and remain important to do. Some others are new.

  1. During 2022, we were asked to meet with the Grand Provincial Lodge of the SUF (Society of United Fishermen), our local SUF group and our Town Council with the view to having the Mizzen Heritage Society become owners and operators of the Heart’s Content SUF Lodge No. 1. These meetings resulted in our Town agreeing to buy the building from the Grand Lodge, and I expect we will be asked to meet with our council during this year to discuss the next steps. I recommend that we accept ownership of the SUF Lodge if it is offered but with the condition of council providing an annual operating grant sufficient to cover the cost of insurance at least. This would be our fourth property and although our bank balance looks healthy at present, it cannot sustain the present and future costs of insurance, utilities, maintenance, etc. for the four properties. While it would be most desirable to own the historic SUF Lodge No. 1 and operate it as a Fishermen’s Museum, we could not do it without financial help and improved revenues from all our operations.

  • When we assume ownership and operation of SUF Lodge No. 1, and when we have restored and repurposed our museum into a Museum / Welcome Centre with tourism and retail components, together with the Arts Centre and Rendell Forge, we will then be operating a business with four interrelated properties in close proximity to each other. More than ever, we will need a full-time hired staff person to plan, manage, organize and supervise our operations (e.g. Heritage Programming Administrator?). We must investigate and apply for whatever grants and programs we may qualify for that can help us transition toward this goal. For example, we should investigate the Young Canada Works program (https://young-canada-works.canada.ca/) and MUN’s Co-operative Education Program as possibilities.  

  • Our Arts Centre Events Committee has already started planning concerts, coffee houses and other events at the Arts Centre and it is important that all of us give them the support and help they will need. Although I wrote much the same recommendation last year, I have to say we must do better. Once again, a successful Arts Centre season is crucial this year and we need more volunteer support for our concerts and coffee houses. Remember that each event planned by our Events Committee involves many jobs before, during and after the event. For example, cleanup, setup, distribution of posters and tickets, advertising, various jobs during the event, cleanup again, etc. We cannot expect the same 5 or 6 people to do these jobs every time. 

  • We must continue to search for and collect historical documents, photos, and artifacts at our Archives Room in the Town Hall.

  • Now that we have restored the Rendell Forge into a functioning blacksmith shop, we must improve the landscaping around the area and work with Heritage NL to offer demonstrations and training, especially during the tourist season. There is potential for the forge to become a revenue stream through offering training sessions and items for sale.

  • We should continue the process of restoring our cemeteries. Perhaps we should seek to have 1 or more of our ten cemeteries designated historical archeological sites. This may help in the recovering and restoring of our oldest headstones which date back to the 1700’s.

  • We must continue to encourage, advise, and support the town’s “Municipal Heritage Designation Program”, enforcement of the “Heart’s Content Heritage Regulations”, and improvements to our Heritage District.

  • The good work undertaken by our Membership Committee must continue as our future as a successful organization will depend on an expanded and active membership base. We must continue to search for and encourage new members.

  • Again, this year I recommend that we purchase a multi-media projector for the Arts Centre to take advantage of our large retractable stage screen. The ability to provide visual background and video effects would add a lot to our concerts and other events.

  1. Finally, I once again recommend that we erect new signage on all our properties but especially on the inside and outside of our Arts Centre. As we erect new signs on all our buildings, they should be coordinated in terms of using the same font style and size relative to building, same coloring, etc.  We should form a 2-3 person group to talk to sign professionals for ideas and costs and bring forward a plan.

  Thank-You

  • Most importantly, a big thank-you to you, our members, who pay fees, attend meetings, plan and organize our activities, donate time, money, talent, skill and energy to help make our society strong and our town a better place. Without you we simply could not do what we do.
  • Special thanks to the Executive who have given me great support and help again over the past year. Your dedication to this organization and its goals, and your cooperation and encouragement to me are very much appreciated. 
  • To Mayor Piercey and our Town Council for their tremendous support and encouragement.
  • To other organizations such as the Fire Department and the Rec Centre Committee for their continued support.
  • To all those others in our community who are not members but volunteer their time, skill and energy to help make our Coffee Houses, Concerts, and other events successful.

  Respectfully Submitted,

  Ed Arnott, President

  Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society, Inc.

• 2022 Annual General Meeting

  The 2022 Annual General Meeting of the Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society was held on Monday, March 14th, 2022 at the Heart’s Content Town Hall.  President Ed Arnott and Treasurer Alice Cumby presented a comprehensive annual report on the state of the MHS.  Even though the COVID-19 pandemic continued to hamper the Society’s ability to open it’s doors to the public, resulting in the cancellation of many programs and activities, it was unable to dampen the enthusiasm of our members. It is thanks to their hard work, dedication and perseverance that our Society was able to achieve major accomplishments in 2021.

• “Project Heart’s Content” Online Auction

  “PROJECT HEART’S CONTENT” ONLINE AUCTION WAS A GREAT SUCCESS!

  Recently, the Mizzen Heritage Society, in collaboration with the Heart’s Content Community Development Corporation, hosted “Project Heart’s Content”,  an online fundraising auction to help restore and repurpose the Mizzen Heritage Society Museum.  The auction was a huge success and raised just over $42,000.

  THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED

• Heart’s Content Cable Station Added To Canada’s Tentative List For World Heritage Site

  In September 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Newfoundland Government and the Kerry County Council, Ireland, to have the Transatlantic Cable Ensemble: Valentia – Heart’s Content recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The signing of this document formalizes the commitment and collaboration of the shared leadership to work toward this goal.   

  Lilly Fitzpatrick
  Lilly is a member of the Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society

  World Heritage Sites are locations, identified by UNESCO, that have special cultural or physical significance. They represent some of the most impressive creations made by both nature and mankind. There are some 1,157 World Heritage Sites located across 167 countries, including the Great Pyramids of Egypt, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Stonehenge, L’Anse aux Meadows and Gros Morne National Park. The identification of a location as a World Heritage Site is the highest possible recognition of the heritage value of that site and is recognized internationally.
  The Heart’s Content Cable Station was designated a Provincial Historic Site in 1974 and has operated as a telecommunications museum since then. Since 2013, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has been in regular discussions with representatives from Valentia and Kerry Council in Ireland, Parks Canada and the Irish National Monuments Service, to have the two sites nominated as a transboundary UNESCO World Heritage Site. To proceed with the request, both historic cable stations were required to be included on their respective country’s Tentative List for World Heritage Sites. The Heart’s Content Cable Station was named to Canada’s Tentative List in December 2017. The Valencia Cable Station was added to Ireland’s Tentative List in July 2022.
  In September 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Newfoundland Government and the Kerry County Council, Ireland, to have the Transatlantic Cable Ensemble: Valentia – Heart’s Content recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The signing of this document formalizes the commitment and collaboration of the shared leadership to work toward this goal.

• MIZZEN HERITAGE SOCIETY – HISTORY BUFFS NEEDED

  The Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society is a non-profit charitable organisation founded in 1994.  Our purpose is to preserve, protect and present the history and culture of Heart’s Content for future generations.

  We are the owners/operators of the Mizzen Heritage Museum, the Rendell Forge, and the Heart’s Content Regional Centre for the Arts for which we have received the Manning Heritage Award.  We are extremely proud of our accomplishments to date and are excited about moving ahead with new projects.  Come join us!

  We are currently accepting new members interested in history to join the Society.  Your contribution will help grow and enhance the work of the Mizzen Heritage Society.
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  For details about how to join, the benefits of being a member, as well as levels of membership simply click on the Membership Page of this website and download the Membership Form!  

• Manning Awards

  What an honour, the Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador presented the 23rd Manning Awards for Excellence in the Public Presentation of Historic places on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 in a ceremony held at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John’s and followed by a reception hosted by Lieutenant Governor Frank Fagan and Mrs Patricia Fagan at Government House.

  The Heart’s Content Mizzen Hertiage was a big winner for the restoration of the 140 year old Heyfield Memorial Church into the Heart’s Content Regional Centre for the Arts. 

  

• Heart’s Content Regional Centre for the Arts officially opens

  HEART’S CONTENT, NL — The original plan was to tear the church down after Heyfield United in Heart’s Content was deconsecrated in 2009.

  

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  Over 100 people attended the official opening of the Heart’s Content Regional Centre for the Arts. Here they stand to sign “O’ Canada.”

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  “We acted almost immediately to see what could be done to prevent this,” Claude Rockwood, past-present of the Mizzen Heritage Society, said last Saturday, speaking in front of a large crowd right where the minister used to stand.

  Eight years later, Rockwood found himself with a pair of scissors in his hand, given the opportunity to cut a ceremonial ribbon and officially open the Heart’s Content Regional Centre for the Arts.

  The grand opening culminated years of hard work for volunteers from the society, which purchased the building — completed in 1878 — for $1 and secured considerable funding from the provincial and federal government, the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and the general public to realize its goal.

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  Members of the Celeste choir, under the direction of Sonya Gosse, broke in the new regional arts centre with a few tunes.

  Bay Roberts community choir Celeste performed a few songs to help break in the performance space and test its acoustics. Newfoundland folk group The Once performed a concert later that night, and Sunday marked the opening of an art exhibit titled “Ties to the Avalon.”

  Over 100 people turned up for Saturday’s grand opening ceremony, which also included a few words from government representatives like Carbonear-Trinity-Bay de Verde MHA Steve Crocker.

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  “So now we have a building designed solely for the presentation and preservation of the arts — the first of its kind in the Trinity South shore I do believe,” said a beaming John Warren, president of the society.

  “We see lots of these projects, and people take the idea and do it, but very few ever get to the point where this one is today, and it’s truly a commendable feat when you see people put so much time and effort into a facility like this one,” said Crocker.

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  Heart’s Content Mayor Fred Cumby offered his thanks to the Mizzen Heritage Society, commending them on the strength of character they showed in seeing the project through to the end.

  “They’ve been through a lot, and it’s because of the strength of that committee, their tenacity, their unwillingness to give up, that this building is here today, and as the mayor of this town I’m very grateful that we have such a dedicated committee,” he said.

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  Rockwood offered further thoughts on the opening shortly before he cut the ceremonial ribbon.

  “When I walked into this building this afternoon, 139 year-old building, I couldn’t help but think what a wonderful and great feeling I had knowing that all our dreams, all our aspirations, all the hard work … had finally come to bear fruit,” he said.

• Minister Crocker to Bring Greetings at Grand Opening of Heart’s Content Regional Centre for the Arts

  The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, will bring greetings to the grand opening of the Heart’s Content Regional Centre for the Arts tomorrow (Saturday, June 17, 2017). The event takes place at the Heart’s Content Regional Centre for the Arts, Route 80, Main Road, Heart’s Content, beginning at 2:00 p.m.

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