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Around the museum
Artifacts wanted
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Around the museum
Artifacts wanted
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The Torbay Museum is growing so fast we’re quickly running out of room. After spending more than 15 years in the town hall and caring for hundreds of artifacts, the Torbay Museum needs expansion. We are exploring avenues for developing a new museum. Any residents or other parties interested in identifying possible properties (land and/or buildings) that might be suitable for the preservation and promotion of our museum and community, please call CompanyPhone or e-mail torbayheritage@nfmail.net.
The museum was opened because of a group of dedicated individuals who wanted to preserve some of Torbay's rich history. Under the direction of president Dr. Jim Tague and vice-president John Ryan, the committee included Claire Tapper, Gerald Manning, Genie Tapper, Marie Evans, John Molloy, Frank Ryan, Judy Watts and Don Cole. This group joined together and worked to open a museum that showed the unique heritage and traditional culture of Torbay. The group started what is still known today as the Torbay Heritage Committee. To carry out such a task, they needed to find a curator - someone whose love was preservation and history. Jerri Pellegrinetti fit this position and has been the curator since 1988. The next step was to get some funding from the Provincial government, which was accomplished in 1988.
The display area of the museum has grown from its original one-room parlor setting to its present day setting - fishery, carpentry and farming corners, a photo gallery and a parlour room. Some artifacts came from the St. Michael's Convent, which was closed in 1986 and helped to start this museum. The donations from the convent were two stained glass windows, two stain glass doors and a nine-piece chesterfield set dated 1880. Because of this, the original room was made to look like the living room of a Torbay house at about the turn of the century. READ MORE...
There
are many artifacts around the museum, including some that have exceptional
history. One notable artifact in the museum are the skies that Captain Victor
Campbell used to participate in and survive the famous Robert Scott Expedition
to the South Pole in 1911 - 1912. Under Captain Campbell's leadership, the
expedition's Northern Party, survived six months in a crude cave and walked 230
miles over glaciers and sea ice to rejoin the main party of the ill-fated Scott
Antarctic expedition. There is also a ripped up umbrella that a Torbay family
found in the rafters of a 100 year old home. The oldest artifact in the museum
is a 200 year old platter owned by the late George White's great grandmother (a
resident of Torbay). A replica of a Penny-Farthing bicycle, built about 40 or 50
years ago, is placed in the street scene. There is also an old bench from the
Roman Catholic Stone Church (1858-1919) and a 150 year old trunk, used to store
garments for services, from the Old St. Nicholas Church, Lower Street
(1827-1926).
Starting your family tree can quite often be a daunting task – especially when you don’t know where to begin. But perhaps the Torbay Museum/Heritage Committee can help. We’ve recently put the finishing touches on our Parish Records Database, which is a computer listing of baptism, marriage and death records from both Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Parish and St. Nicholas Parish. Our database includes records ranging from the mid-1800s to 1929. Museum curator, Jerri Pellegrinetti, is now accepting orders for anyone wanting to access the database. Drop by the museum, call Jerri at CompanyPhone or e-mail torbayheritage@nfmail.net.
Jerri Pellegrinetti has always held an interest in folklore and history. It was these qualification and involvement that awarded her the position of curator of the Torbay Museum since 1988.
She has studied and completed twenty-seven basic courses dealing with museum environment. A visit to the museum can easily take one back to the turn of the century as stories, and traditions are often reflected upon when talking to Mrs. Pellegrinetti.The Torbay Museum welcomes groups and tour buses - even on off hours. Just contact Jerri Pellegrinetti and she will be more than glad to help you in anyway possible. The museum is also wheelchair accessible and has wheelchair accessible washrooms as well. Visiting the museum is a very educational event for young people since it gives them an opportunity to learn about their ancestor's activities.
The museum is located along Route 20 and is open weekdays, as well as some evenings. The hours of operation change to just two nights a week during the winter season. Admittance is free, but donations are welcome.
Call CompanyPhone or email torbayheritage@nfmail.net for more information.
The employees of the Torbay Museum are always available to give you assistance. Whether you are researching your family tree, trying to learn more about the folklore of Torbay or checking out the local scenery - feel free to drop by the museum for some friendly information. Also, volunteers are always welcome and have been an active part of the museum's development through the years.