Greenspond Courthouse

Greenspond Courthouse[1] is a wooden two-storey heritage-designated courthouse built in the Second Empire Style located in Greenspond, Newfoundland and Labrador. Designed by architect William Henry Churchill, the courthouse sits atop a hill overlooking Greenspond Harbour and Bonavista Bay. It replaced an earlier courthouse in the community.[2]

Construction and Design

The cornerstone was laid in 1899[1] but construction did not start till August of 1900:

The erection of the new Court House and jailor's residence was started at Greenspond last week by Mr. W. Churchill, having gone there for that purpose by train and S.S. Dundee.[3]

The building was completed between 1900 and 1901.[2]

The building was designed by architect William Henry Churchill, Superintendent of Public Buildings from 1895 to 1927[2] who was known for using the Second Empire style in many of his designs.[1] Plans were carried out by the builder J.J. Mifflin.[4] The building is of simple, two-storey frame construction, with a mansard roof, dormer windows, and a walk in tower.[4] It is the smallest of Churchill's standard design.[5] The domed top of the tower was removed in the 1920s[6] and later restored.

The design of the Greenspond Court House is similar to other court houses on the Island built during the same period: Bonavista built in 1897; Bell Island, built in 1900 and torn down in 1970; Placentia, built in 1902; Trinity, 1903; St. George's, 1903; Bay Roberts, built in 1903 and torn down in the 1960s; and Burin, 1905.[7] Architect William Henry Churchill was known for using the Second Empire style in many of his designs[1] and the majority of these structures had two-sided mansard roofs, frontal towers that housed the stairway, and were generally three storeys in height.

By 1933 and the advent of the Commission of Government there were approximately 26 court houses in Newfoundland. All were of wood construction except those at Harbour Grace and St. John's. By 1977 when Environment Canada did a survey of the court houses in Canada, there were only nine court houses remaining in Newfoundland; Greenspond has one of them.[7]

Historical Use

The first presiding magistrate in the courthouse was Judge Seymour, who had been the local magistrate during the construction of the building. At the time of his departure from Greenspond in 1901, a local delegation noted,

...we cannot allow you to go from our midst without expressing our regret at your departure. We cannot fail to remember that during your administration you have always taken a deep interest in the welfare of the places under your jurisdiction, and that you have always used your influence in promoting local improvement—notably, we may mention the new Court House at Greenspond.[8]

In 1900-1901, the salary for the Magistrate, was $750. Stipendiary Magistrate R.P Rice was paid $300; the gaoler, $84.[9]

Greenspond Courthouse also served as a morgue when there were shipwrecks.[1]

Designation and Conservation

In 2019, the Greenspond Historic Society stated the courthouse had fallen into disrepair and launched a social media campaign to secure restoration funding.[11]

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References
  1. "Greenspond Courthouse Registered Heritage Structure". www.historicplaces.ca. 23 December 2004. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  2. Rostecki, RR (1977). "Greenspond". The Early Court Houses of Newfoundland. Canadian Inventory of Historic Building - Historical Building Report. Manuscript Report Number 312. Parks Canada. pp. 103–109.
  3. "New Court House". Evening Telegram. 9 September 1900. p. 4. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  4. Jarvis, Dale Gilbert, ed. (1998). "Greenspond Courthouse". The Trident. Southcott Edition: 2.
  5. Hickman, T Alex (1999). "Special sitting of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland, Trial Division, Greenspond, Newfoundland Wednesday, September 8, 1999, at 12:00 noon". Newfoundland Quarterly. 93.1: 13–15.
  6. Mercer, Nicholas (22 September 2011). "DIGGIN' UP ROOTS IN...Greenspond". The Beacon. 52.39. p. A8.
  7. White, Linda, ed. (October 1994). "Greenspond Historic Properties". The Greenspond Letter. 1.3.
  8. White, Fred (1901-04-30). "Farewell Address to Magistrate Seymour". Evening Telegram. p. 3. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  9. Journal of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland 1901 (1st Session). St. John's: House of Assembly of Newfoundland. 1901.
  10. "Greenspond Courthouse Registered Heritage Structure". Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  11. Smyth, Jeff. "Greenspond Historic Society says Iconic Courthouse in Need of Restoration". VOCM. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
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