Statement of Significance
Formal Recognition Type
Fisheries Heritage Preservation Program
Notes
Alexander Kean’s Room was built in the early 1900s of boards salvaged from shipwrecks, a spar from an abandoned schooner and hand-chopped wall joists. It was built by Alexander Kean and his brothers, who moved from Flower’s Island to Pound Cove in the early 1900s and were relatives of the famous sealing captain Abe Kean. Used to stored salted cod, the one and a half storey wooden building with narrow wooden clapboard siding, has always been painted a red ochre hue with white trim. Symbols of a wheel and anchor have also graced the entry doors for generations. Alexander’s grandsons and great-grandsons – Clifford, Ernest, David, Howard, Patrick and Robert Kean – decided that the stage meant too much to their family to let it fall into a state of irreversible disrepair. Under the Fisheries Heritage Preservation Program the walls of the building were straightened and stabilized, new clapboard was applied to the southern and eastern facades, boards were replaced on the roof and new weather proofing applied. New doors were constructed in the original style as the old ones no longer fitted easily into their frames, broken windows were replaced and new cribbings were constructed for the wharf. The Kean’s hard work paid off as their property was named “Stage of the Year” for 2003-2004 under a contest sponsored by the Kittiwake Economic Development Corporation, the Kittiwake Coast Tourism Association and the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. Out of nearly three dozen nominations, Alexander Kean’s Room was recognized for best representing the traditional design, heritage and beauty of fishing structures along the Kittiwake Coast. In addition to the honour of winning Stage of the Year, the Kean’s were thankful for the opportunity to work together to save a part of their family’s heritage.
Location and History
Community
Pound Cove
Municipality
Town of New-Wes-Valley
Construction (circa)
1905 - 1925
Builder
Alexander Kean and brothers
Style
Irregular
Location
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