HISTORY OF St. GABRIEL'S HALL

St. Gabriel's Hall, a well-known landmark in Marystown for almost 100 years, St Gabriel's Hall has served as a school, community center, church and venue for many events including fairs, exhibitions and graduations. The Hall has also hosted performances from the Masterless Men, Johnny McEvoy, Jim Payne and Fergus O'Byrne, and Kevin Collins, along with many others.

Prior to the construction of St. Gabriel's hall most entertainment and socials were held in a much smaller building. Located on the Red Cliff, in the `down below section of Marystown'. The bulding was known as the Star of the Sea. The oustside of the hall was constructed through the direction of Fr. E.J. Wilson 1912 - 1915. The Hall was constructed through the dedication and pride of our forefathers. They went to an area of Garnish pond known as The Drop and cut the timbers with an axe and bucksaw. They then took the timber to the two nearest sawmills in the area Johnny Farrell's in the Mill Brook,now known as Baker's Cove and Nicholas Withers Mill in Muddy Hole, now known as Drake's Cove. Practically every man from Marystown North , South,Mooring Cove, Little Bay and Beau Bois, as well as some from Jean de Baie and Spanish Room, all did their share.

The carpenters who looked after the project were Nicholas Withers, Richard V Pittman and Thomas Pittman. The interior of the hall was completed by Rev. D. F. McGrath.

Two large calssrooms were located on the lower level one for primary, the other for high school students. Father McGrath was a talented musician and singer. His acting ability was soon reconized for shortly after the interuir was comleted he directed a three act play that has been talked about by senoirs to this day. The name of the play was Hickory Farm. The backdrop for the stage was painted by Adolphus (louis) Terrier, a native of St. Pierre,then living in Marystown. It depicted Mount St. Vincent on Marystown South with it's waterfalls and streams.Fr. McGrath also taught singing to the high school students. With a little training they were soon performing in operettas - two of which were Cinderella in Flowerland and Sunrise land.

In august of 1927 the Sisters of Mercey first arrived in Marystown. In preparation for this event a new school had been built and all 96 students moved fro the hall into that school on Tuesday September 6,1927. The section of the hall that had been used as a school was given over to the Holy Name Society and the womens's alter society. There were other times when due to lack of space in the existing school,that sction of the hall again served as classrooms. In 1954 & 1955 grades four and Five were held there.The teacher was Clareca kelly from Beau Bois.

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