Harbour Grace museum marks 50 years preserving history of Conception Bay

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Harbour Grace’s Conception Bay Museum (CBM). 

And as Matt McCarthy, who has volunteered with the museum for over a decade and serves as secretary on its board, can attest, the history of how the museum came about is a story in itself.

The story actually dates back 55 years ago with the establishment of The Conception Bay Museum Association in 1970 with the founders getting together to preserve the history of Conception Bay. 

“I guess the whole idea of the Conception Bay Museum when it was started, was to develop this historical trail from Brigus to Placentia and build up the tourism and economic development of those sections of the Avalon Peninsula,” said McCarthy. 

The association set a five-year tourism plan, which included renovating Harbour Grace’s old Customs House and turning it into a regional museum.

The association brought on married couple Jerome Lee and Pamela Barton-Lee as full-time curators to oversee the renovations, set up displays, and promote the organization’s mandate. Je-rome was the son of Martin “Mac” Lee, the association’s vice president and one of the people spearheading the museum project. Originally from Harbour Grace, Mac had spent most of his life in Placentia before returning to his hometown with his wife, Marie, where they became involved in the association. Jerome and Pamela met while attending Glendon College at York University, in Toronto. They eventually married and Pamela moved to Newfoundland with Jerome when he returned in 1973.

The plan was for the museum to open in 1974. Tragically, during a trip to Nova Scotia in April of that year, Jerome and Pamela, and a friend were killed in a car accident after their van collided with a parked truck. Jerome was 26 and Pamela was 24. While not yet fully ready, the museum hosted a national exhibition that year and officially opened the following year on June 14th, 1975. 

“The museum is almost a testament to the determination of the volunteers to keep that vision going,” said McCarthy. 

Today, part of the museum grounds is named Pam and Jerome’s Garden in the couple’s honour. The museum itself honours the area’s storied past.

“I think every community in Newfoundland probably is connected to its long history, and I think residents always like to have some sort of showcase of their history whether it’s through storyboards, walking tours, arts and culture, in some sort of way, whether that’s a physical space or performance, whatever it might be,” said McCarthy. “I think we’re lucky enough in Harbour Grace that we have a very rich history… It’s a space to host our history, it’s a space to celebrate our past and our future. It’s a great place for giving young people opportunity to work.” 

Over the years, many students have worked at the museum. It’s also a venue for many local events, and its website offers many different resources for visitors and residents alike. McCarthy described the museum as a modern institution that has undergone many changes in the 11 years he has been involved with it. 

“I think it’s onward and upwards,” he said.