Irwins Road, Long Pond, and Sandpits Area - 1940's - 1950's

Irwins Road, Long Pond, and Sandpits Area – 1940’s – 1950’s

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Irwins Road, Long Pond, and Sandpits Area - 1940's - 1950's By: John (J.J.) Williams Irwins Road, Long Pond, and Sandpits - An area bounded by Long Pond and Irwins Road on the north, Elizabeth Avenue on the south, Allandale Road on the East, and Newtown Road Extension on the West. IRWINS ROAD AREA: The predominant property in this area was the Church of England boys orphanage on Irwins Road, with large fields for cattle grazing pasture land on the north and south sides of Irwins Road and west to Newtown Road extension. The old Irwins Road was redeveloped and renamed Prince Philip Parkway, when the new memorial university was built in the 1950-1960's. The Sandpits, between Long Pond, Irwins Road and Newtown Road extension, was an area containing fine sand, possibly ten to twelve holes over an area of two hundred by two hundred feet. Sand from this area was used for cement mixing for some houses in the area. Also, used for building the Newfoundland Constabulary and Royal Newfoundland Regiment Rifle Range located west of Kelly's Shamrock Farm which was located at the bottom of Nagels Hill (Blueberry Hill). The target (elevators) used on the rifle range were still operational until 1960 when Irwins Road and Sandpits was re-developed. Long Pond was a favourite swimming place in the 1950's for residents and public during the summer months. The City of St. John's constructed a semi-circular pool area, about seventy five by fifty feet bounded by a walking platform and rails on both sides leading to a diving board on the outside, or pond side centre for good swimmers and divers to use. In 1954, an accident claimed the life of a St. John's resident from Mundy Pond. When he dove off the diving board he hit his head on an under water post that was embedded on the bottom, possibly broken off when the rails were removed the previous year. This went unnoticed when the new pool enclosure was reassembled the next spring. There was no lifeguard on duty and no emergency services in the area at that time. When an attempt was made by a local resident to phone for assistance he could not get a phone line out. Access to the Long Pond swimming pool was by Carberys Lane, a lane running from Irwins Road to Long Pond along the side of Carberys property. Half way down the lane, was a gully where locals played shinny. Next to the gully was an area called "The Green", an open area green space where those with vehicles would park, old and new lovers, for necking and schmoozing, mostly at night. On the south side if Irwins Road in the Church of England pasture fields, was a hill going down to Burtons Pond marsh, used by the locals for sliding. On the top of the hill was a large old ships anchor about eight to ten feet long embedded in the ground. No one in the area knew where the anchor came from or where it went when the land was redeveloped. This anchor was at least two miles from the harbour of St. John's. On the east side of the Church of England boys orphanage near the coach house on Irwins Road, was the house of the farm caretaker (Searles) . There was an avenue lined with oak trees extending south to Burtons Pond. This avenue was used by the boys in the orphanage and locals for sliding on their Rocket Racers or Champion slides, from Irwins Road to Burtons Pond. There is an old oak tree with a plaque on it commemorating a visit by Queen Victoria. Next to the orphanage, was another large property and house owned by the McGilvary family. It was later sold to the Barr family. The north side of Irwins Road there was another pasture field for Church of England orphanage cattle. It extended from Allandale Road by Long Pond to the Hoskins property. The Hoskins lived in the back side of a large house on the property and and Reddys lived in front. The Ryan's lived in a small apartment on the left side of the house. Previous to the above living arrangement the 1940's, the Hoskins had a small confectionary store on the front of the house. The on the west side of the property, was a lane way leading to Long Pond. At the bottom of the lane, was a gravel pit. The Wheeler house was situated south of the pit. West of this lane way were several open pieces of property and a wooded area bounded by Carberys Lane. On the front side of Carberys Lane was the Carberys house which also had a small confectionary store on the right side called Quintons Store which had a large WYNOLA sign on the side. In the back side of the house was an apartment occupied by the Kinsellas, and on the left was a bed sitting room occupied by the Sweeneys. The Carberys resided on the front side of the house and later sold to the Reardons when they moved to Field Street in St. John's. A very sad day occurred when a young child of two years wandered away. Many residents searched for hours and she was found deceased in a well at the back of the property. Going west on Irwins Road was the Gollop house, Hynes house, and Lar Williams house. That house sold to an elderly British couple who later sold to the Austins. West of the Austins property was the Coady property which held a small summer shack, later used as a stable for their horses, Queen and King. At the back of the property was a large concrete block shed holding coal products and birch junks. Next to the Coady property was the Harry Williams property with a small poultry farm and large vegetable garden. In that garden they had a Christmas goose tethered who was on charge of keeping the garden free of bugs and weeds. Adjoining that property was the Kirby property. It held a small shack on the front for the Moores and on the back the Kirbys had another small shack where splits (kindling) were made by Mr. Kirby and sold in small bundles to locals. Next to the Kirbys was Cranes vacant lot. Next to that, the Charles Williams/Snow property. They had a small goat that was brought in nightly and stood on a table to be milked. They also had a very big pig that everyone fed daily leftovers. West of there on Irwins Road was a wooded area which extended to Newtown Road extension and held the original sandpits. NEWTOWN ROAD EXTENSION (Sandpits Road) AREA: On the corner of Newtown Road Extension and Sandpits Road was a house owned by Brigadier Peach, a devout Salvation Army Lady. Also residing in the residence was the Read family. North of there on a lane off Sandpits Road was a small cabin housing a bachelor, Mr. Kennedy (Johnny Plum). From here the road turned left to the bridge over Learys Brook leading to the rifle range and Kelly's Shamrock Farm. Pat Kelly was a well known long distance runner and owned a 1930's Rolls Royce Car. At the bottom of the property, there was a swimming hole called Sandy Bottom on Long Pond. This was a popular camping area on the weekends during the 1940's. On Learys Brook, north of the bridge was a man made swimming pool called Twinkle Eye, serviced by the Canes. North on Sandpits Road, properties were owned by the Canes, Whittens, and Evans families. West of Newtown Road Extension on Learys Brook was part of McPhersons farm was a small children's wading pool used by local families for picnic outings and boil-ups. On the north side of Long Pond were two ski hills. The left hill was a very steep dog-leg for better skiers and the right hill, was straight and extended onto Long Pond. In later years, a house was built on the top of the right hill by the Newfoundland Provincial Government for its Premiers. Between the two hills at the bottom sat a cabin owned and occupied by an Eskimo man, Billy Winter. He let us, the locals, use his flat bottom boat when he was not using it to row down for provisions from Trickets Store on Allandale Road by Long Pond Bridge. The Tuffs, Giles, and English boys had a 65 horsepower Piper Cub that the local kids pulled on wheels and slides from Allandale Road to Long Pond from which they flew in the winter. When the Cub became unserviceable to fly, they mounted the engine on Billy's boat. On the first run down the pond the boat became airborne and flipped ruining the engine. HIGGINS LINE AREA: On Higgins Line at the place which now has a road onto the Confederation Building was a slough called Larrys Bog. Behind it there was and old shack that held the remains of an old WW2 Tiger Moth aircraft. This aircraft was later moved to Kenmount Road area, to a structure quite a ways behind Kelsey's farm. NAGLES HILL AREA: On the North side of Long Pond the Allandale Road/Long Pond Road branched to the left to the Nagles Hill area. A large house on the corner of Nagles Hill and Higgins Line housed the Rowe family. Up the hill on the right, a lane way went to the Squires house. Across on Long Pond side was a large white house owned by the Horwoods. That house was known as the farm foremans house. The Bessos lived there, and when they moved, the Morrisey family (Newfoundland singer Joan Morrisey) moved in. On the same property, over a small brook the Evans family lived. They had to cross a small bridge to get to the house. The Evans and Bessos had two greenhouses on the property growing mostly flowers. The Evans had two Newfoundland dogs, Lucky and Princess which were from the purebred McPhersons Westerland farm litter, producing a pup name Sherman (big like a tank). RENNIES RIVER AREA: On the east side of Long Pond ran Rennies River. This river flowed south then east into Quidi Vidi Lake. From Long Pond, the river fed Silver Pool, and Sliding Rock swimming holes. South of Elizabeth Avenue was Rennies River pool, which was kept up by the city. It was later closed due to residential development in the late 1950's. ALLANDALE ROAD AREA: Road runs south from Long Pond Bridge. On the corner of Strawberry Marsh road and Allandale Road was the Church Of England girls orphanage. On the east side of Allandale Road was the Vallis, Halley, Benson, Tuff, Giles, and Mercer properties. Next, was the Knights Store and hang out called Knightville. It was a convenience store and soda joint with a small dance floor and tables where young people gathered to enjoy French fries and milkshakes. The Knights had a big Newfoundland dog named Bruno who was friendly and slobbery. On the West side of Allandale Road, going south to Elizabeth Avenue was the English property. Next were several more properties including Collins, Parrels, and Dunns. Collins had a small skate shack backing onto Burtons Pond where the public went to change into their skating gear. The Parrels had two properties with a change house for skaters. They built a race track like rink with lights and a music system for playing old skating songs. They also had a business supplying ice blocks (delivered in an old modified Chevrolet dog catchers truck). The blocks were cut at Long Pond and stored in saw dust in an "ice house" in the area. On the South side of Burtons Pond on Elizabeth Avenue was the Clark property. It was one of the first properties developed in that area. The writer had a paper route on Irwins Road, Allandale Road, Elizabeth Avenue, Whiteway Street and Pine Bud Avenue in the early 1950's. All of the above text was written based on his memories of the late 1940's and early 1950's. There are many people that lived in the area that will enjoy the trip down memory lane and have many fond memories of their own. Submitted By: NULL