Beautiful Actress or Genius Inventor - Why not both? The Life and Inventions of Hedy Lamarr

 Introduction 

        Hedy Lamarr was once a household name, but she fell into obscurity during her own lifetime. In the mid-twentieth century, Hedy was most well known as a famous actress, hailed as "the most beautiful woman in the world," by her employers (MGM Studios), the press and the public. Concurrently, she was a genius inventor. She came up with, and initially patented, the idea of frequency hopping for wireless communication; an aspect of her identity which was little appreciated by those that surrounded her, and unknown by the public until close to her death. Nowadays, it is about a fifty-fifty chance on whether people remember her as an actress or an inventor, if they remember her at all. Today I seek to help her regain some of the recognition she so justly deserves. I will do that by laying out who Hedy was, what frequency hopping is, and why it is still so important to this day. 

Hedy Lamarr in Let's Live A Little (1948) - Wikimedia Commons

A Condensed Life Story

    Hedy was not born Hedy at all, but instead came into the world as Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler on November 9th, 1914, in Vienna, Austria. Her father was a bank manager and her mother was a concert pianist (1). Hedwig grew up in a well-off household exposed to the arts and the sciences, but as a young teenager in Vienna she set her sights on being an actress. One day, she skipped school and snuck onto a movie set, quickly cementing herself as a script girl until she was offered some small film roles. She eventually convinced her parents to let her quit school and go to Berlin to study acting (2). Hedy continued to do some small movie parts, as well as acting, and even starring, in theatre plays, until she got her big break, the leading role in Gustav Machatý’s Ekstase (Ecstasy), a Czech art house film, at age 17. This film would follow Hedy for the rest of her career due to its explicit content, which also led to American and German review boards censoring it (3). 

    While starring in a play in Berlin, Hedy met the arms dealer Fritz Mandl, who she later married. Mandl was a very controlling man, who did not let Hedy continue her acting career, or pursue her invention ideas; he treated her as a beautiful show piece. Hedy felt trapped, and ended up fleeing from Mandl in the dead of the night, escaping to England on the cusp of the Second World War (4). While in London, she met the head of MGM Studios, Louis B. Mayer, who offered her a contract to become a Hollywood actress. After rejecting his first offer, Hedy got herself on Louis' ship back to New York, where she secured a better contract on the condition of changing her name, and thus Hedy Lamarr was born (5). Her acting career was tumultuous, as while she was billed as "the most beautiful person in the world," and enjoyed widespread fame, her movies were either huge hits or complete flops, and no one seemed convinced she could even act. Hedy eventually grew bored with acting and the life of a star, so would seek refuge in her inventions (6). 

Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature in Samson and Delilah (1949) - Movie Trailer Still

A Natural Inventor

    When she was a child, Hedy's father would take her on walks around Vienna, during which he would teach her about science and the way things worked. This was her first introduction to science and inventions. These walks spurred her interest in inventing, and in trying to find ways to make the world better (7). While this was an interest that suffered under Mandl, as everything in Hedy's life did, it is one that she could nurture in America, and there it began to flourish. She set up an inventing wing in her home, and kept many scientific books (8). She even worked on her ideas on movie sets between takes, using a small, mobile inventing set given to her by her friend, Howard Hughes. 

    Hedy helped Howard invent a faster airplane, by researching fish and bird species, then combining the elements of the fastest bird and fastest fish into an airplane wing design (9). During the war, she made an attempt at inventing soda tablets to deal with rationing, though they were ultimately unsuccessful. Arguably Hedy's most important and impactful invention was her idea for frequency hopping, which she developed and patented alongside her friend George Antheil in 1941 (10). Hedy realized there was a need for a more secure means of wireless communication to help with the war effort, and so she set out to fix the problem, as she didn't "have to work on ideas, they come naturally," (11). 

-_-_- Frequency Hopping _-_-_

    So what is frequency hopping? How does it work? And why is it so important?

    In short, frequency hopping is a way of encoding radio signals so that they cannot be overheard, intercepted, or jammed. The simplest explanation for how it works is that the transmitter and the receiver are each set to a matching code, so that they are able to synchronize the message being sent. That message then bounces between many different frequencies very quickly, instead of being sent solely across one frequency. This way, if one of the frequencies broadcasting the message is intercepted, the person(s) who intercepted it can only hear a short amount of it- often only one second. It also means if one of the frequencies is jammed, only a small part of the message is blocked from the receiver, the whole thing is not lost. 

    Hedy and George proposed to do this by using a system George had developed for a piano piece he composed, Ballet Mécanique, which used multiple synchronized player pianos that would pick up from one another to continue the score, bouncing the music around and letting it become almost mechanized. The two friends adapted his punch card powered pianos to a system that would work for radio signals. Their proposed system used 88 (the number of keys on a piano) frequencies to transmit information encoded into audio tones at different frequencies, that were then sent between apparently random selected carrier frequencies. To ensure transmission of each frequency was synchronized, a synchronization pulse was sent between the transmitter and the receiver at the beginning of the message, and each end of the circuit proceeded to use tape measures set to accurately controlled speeds. In 1941, they patented their "Secret Communication System" and were granted U.S patent 2,292,387 (12). They tried to deliver their idea to the U.S military, however, the military instead seized the patent because Hedy, as an Austrian, was still considered an "enemy alien," despite how long she had lived in the United States, and that she wanted to help her adopted country. This ensured that she would never recieve any money or recognition from her invention, and while it was not implemented in the Second World War due to a lack of appropriate technology, it was used by the U.S military in the following decades. Of course, her "enemy alien" status did not seem to apply when the military instructed her to use her fame and beauty to sell war bonds instead of inventing (13).

    Frequency hopping, also known as spread spectrum technology, has additionally had widespread use outside of military application. It is the basis, and what powers, so much of what we rely on today in our modern world, like GPS, Bluetooth, and secure wi-fi. While its application is different from what Hedy envisioned, the principles behind it remain remarkably similar to those she first devised in 1941 (14). Without her, it is hard to say when we would have figured out the technology needed for the Internet, and the rapid innovation it brought, and yet, because she had beauty and fame on top of intelligence, she gets no credit for her revolutionary idea.

Patent Case File No. 2,292387, Page 6, National Archives at Kansas City

Conclusion

    Hedy Lamarr died on January 19th, 2000, at age 85, while living in relative obscurity in Florida. Despite the vast fame she experienced for decades of her life, her acting career, and thus her name recognition, petered out not long after the Second World War. It was only for the last decade of her life, starting in 1990, that she began regaining some of that notoriety, but now in small segments of the scientific community. In 1997, the Electronic Frontier Foundation jointly awarded her and Anthiel their Pioneer Award for their invention of frequency hopping (15). When I started preparing this blog post, I asked as many people in my life as I could if they remembered Hedy Lamarr, and almost no one did. My hope is that this account of her life and inventions helps to spread her name and legacy throughout the public once more.

Bibliography

1. Colleen Cheslak, “Hedy Lamarr,” National Women’s History Museum, August 30, 2018, https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/hedy-lamarr.

2. Lena Thomas,”Actress Hedy Lamarr, Inventor: A Public Image Reframed,” (master’s thesis, University of Saskatchewan, 2022), 47.

3. Bombshell: the Hedy Lamarr Story, directed by Alexandra Dean (2017; Reframed Pictures), Youtube.

4. Thomas, “Actress,” 3.

5. Bombshell.

6. Thomas, “Actress,” 56-57.

7. Cheslak, “Hedy Lamarr.”

8. Thomas, “Actress,” 4.

9. Bombshell.

10. Thomas, “Actress,” 57.

11. Hedy Lamarr, quoted in Bombshell.

12. Karl-Arne Markström, “The Invention by Hedy Lamarr and George Antheil of Frequency-Hopping Spread-Spectrum Secret Communications,” The Radio Science Bulletin, no. 372 (2020): 62-63.

13. Thomas, “Actress,” 6, 81.

14. Markström, “The Invention,” 62-63.

15.Cheslak, “Hedy Lamarr.”

        

The Life of James Pearl (Part 2)

 Welcome to the finale post on the life of James Pearl! Below details his life after he settled in Newfoundland, and all he got up to on the island.

A Sailor Settles Down

    Pearl's first attempt at settling down to cultivate land was actually in Shelbourne County, Nova Scotia, but disputes with his neighbours and legal issues led him to sell his plots of land there before returning to England (1). After some time, Anne and James sailed from London to St. John's, and arrived on November 4th, 1829 (2). At the time, officers of Pearl's rank and service would routinely receive land grants for 1000 acres, and he had a letter from the colonial secretary entitling him to that amount. So he went to the governor of Newfoundland, Sir Thomas Cochrane, and requested 1000 acres about six miles west of St. John's on land which was known as the Island. However, Cochrane, for various reasons including competing land requests and his own dislike of Pearl, only granted him 500 acres (3). 

    Pearl's venture into land ownership and cultivation came with its own problems. He had trouble with his neighbours; some lived on lands he felt he had a right to (though it was not included in his 500 acre grant), some would trespass on his property, and two even caused a fire on his property, as the flames they used to clear their own leapt onto his. On top of that, Pearl's long career in the navy had not prepared him for life as a gentleman farmer, and his displeasure at never being promoted past the rank of commander bled into his disappointment at not being treated with the respect he felt he deserved on land. He also fought continuously with the governor until Cochrane returned to England in 1834. However, life in Newfoundland was not all bad, as James and Anne were part of the social elite on the island, spent lots of time with Pearl's family, built and ran a horse racing track on their property, and were able to return to England for breaks as they wished (4). 

Cochrane vs Pearl

    Pearl's feud with Cochrane went beyond the problem of insufficient land acreage. The first thing Pearl did after arriving in Newfoundland was ask Cochrane to appoint him as harbour master, which Cochrane refused to do. Additionally, Cochrane only agreed to grant Pearl the 500 acres if Pearl named it Mount Cochrane. However, likely in part because of their poor relationship, after Cochrane left the island he renamed it Mount Pearl. Furthermore, Cochrane continuously withheld the physical paper grant for Pearl's land, arguing that it was because Pearl was supposed to build a public road adjacent to it, which Pearl claim he had never agreed to. While Pearl was a fan of writing Cochrane directly, the governor almost never returned his letters, instead delegating the reply to his staff. This included his private secretary once telling Pearl that Cochrane "never ever contemplated exceeding the 500 acres he had been induced to promise you" (5). The trespassers on Pearl's grounds were also encouraged by Cochrane, who abused his power to continuously interrupt Pearl's estate. 

    Not ones to stick to one grievance, Cochrane and Pearl also argued over politics. On the matter of responsible government for Newfoundland, a hotly debated topic in the 1820s and 1830s, Cochrane and Pearl wildly disagreed. Pearl was in full support of responsible government, and argued for its institution in the English court. Cochrane, on the other hand, did not believe it was a good idea for the island (6). In addition, the Pearls' trip to England during the winter of 1831 and 1832 sparked another conflict. While in London, Pearl informed the British government that the Colonial Secretary they had appointed for Newfoundland had left the island, with no intent to return, and that, instead of informing them and waiting for the appointment of a new one, Cochrane had promoted his own personal secretary. Once they knew, the government made Cochrane dismiss his own man, and replaced him with one they had selected. Their political disagreements coincided with their personal dramas. 

    In 1831, a rumour started to circulate among Newfoundland's elite that Cochrane was going to be recalled as governor. Cochrane, along with all of his friends and lackeys, believed that Pearl had started this rumour while he was in England. This led to many people, who were either directly or indirectly linked to Cochrane, writing incredibly rude, and sometimes even aggressive, letters to Pearl instructing him to confess to the lie. Nevertheless, Pearl vehemently refuted every accusation. In the end, it was revealed that he was never involved in the rumour, but rather that Cochrane's doctor began it. While this was happening, Pearl also refused an invitation to one of Cochrane's dinner parties, as "he didn't like the way he was invited" (7). Pearl's feud with Cochrane extended to his family as well. After his sister Ruth Holbrook's husband passed, Pearl encouraged her to write letters directly to Cochrane to ask for a grant to the land he had been cultivating. These letters were apparently vicious on both sides, and attacked each other's characters and credibilities before the grant was ultimately denied (8).  Clearly, their grievances went beyond land grants. 

Portrait of Admiral Sir Thomas John Cochrane

Conclusion

   Though the record shows differing dates, it is likely that  James Pearl's short life ended in the early hours of January 14th, 1840. He was buried in the Anglican cemetery in St. John's, where his headstone still rests today (9). In roughly 40 years, he travelled across the globe, founded a city that still bears his name, and met many of the most notable historic figures of his time. From serving in the navy to settling in Newfoundland, his life was filled with notable and fascinating stories, which colour Mount Pearl's earliest history with intrigue and delight. 

James Pearl's Headstone - K. Fifield, findagrave.com

Bibliography

1. Donald L. Hutchens and Lilla Ross, Pearl: The Man and The Place, (St. John’s: SeaFlow Publishing, 2007), 33.

2. Pearl, 35.

3.  Pearl, 37.

4. Pearl, 39, 43-46. 

5. Pearl, 39. 

6.  Frederic F. Thompson, “COCHRANE, Sir THOMAS JOHN,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 10, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed August 2, 2025, https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/cochrane_thomas_john_10E.html. 

7.  Pearl, 47. 

8.  Pearl, 37-55. 

9.  Pearl, 59-60. 

The Life of James Pearl (Part 1)

     The City of Mount Pearl gets its name from its enigmatic founder, Sir James Pearl, who led an incredibly interesting life before settling in Newfoundland. From a childhood bouncing around North America to an early death, Pearl's short life was packed with fascinating stories and events. He served in the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, captained his own vessel in the private industry, had two notable relationships with women, started a farm that became a city, and fought continuously with the governor of Newfoundland. Pearl lived such a full life that being the pseudo-founder of Mount Pearl is only the tip of the iceberg. 

    Due to just how full a life Pearl lived, his history will be posted in two parts. This first one will cover his life before arriving in Newfoundland!

Possible Portrait of Sir James Pearl, Admiralty House Communications Museum Collection

Early Life

    The beginning of Pearl's life is murky, as his family moved around a lot during the years he was likely born. Donald L. Hutchens and Lilla Ross, who wrote the sole book on Pearl, speculate that he was born in 1790, though they can only guess at where. The most plausible options are Yarmouth, Nova Scotia or New York City, as this is where the records place Pearl's family in the years before and after his birth. James was the youngest of seven children, so he was mostly raised by his oldest sister, Eunice, and her husband, George Blamey, in Nova Scotia (1). James likely cared for them both a great deal, as in 1799, a nine-year-old James followed George into service aboard the Pheasant, enlisting in His Majesty's Navy as a volunteer first class (2).

Naval Adventures

    Pearl's career in the navy spanned 28 years, and he had reached the rank of commander by the time he retired in 1827. He had many different roles while in the navy, but the majority of his time was spent as a lieutenant. Pearl joined the British Navy on the eve of the Napoleonic Wars, and the first half of his career was spent fighting them. In fact, he served on the Neptune 98, the third ship on the "windward line of battle" during the infamous Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. During that battle, which pitted the English fleet against those of the French and Spanish, Pearl was the Neptune's signalman, responsible for relaying messages between each ship present. While 44 men on his ship ended the battle dead or injured, Pearl survived unscathed. He was present as the Neptune towed the H.M.S Victory, the British flagship that now carried the corpse of Admiral Nelson back home to England after his death in the battle. Despite these losses, England came out of the battle victorious, with not a single ship lost (3). 

    In 1809, Pearl was serving on the Mediator when it, along with several other British ships under Admiral Lord Gambier, stumbled upon part of the French fleet anchored at the Isle d'Aix. When they discovered the ships, they called on Captain Lord Cochrane to orchestrate their attack. He implemented a new, radical, and to some uncivilized, naval strategy of his own invention, and outfitted eight of the British ships as fireships, rigged to explode after their crews steered them into enemy ships. Pearl was responsible for steering his ship, the Mediator, into the French squadron, and upon impact had to make a hasty retreat into the water with the rest of her crew. While one man died and another was permanently disabled, Pearl escaped with only minor burns as the French fled on the few ships which the English had not destroyed. However it was not a victory for them all, as James Pearl was the only lieutenant involved in the mission that was not promoted afterwards. After participating in a naval brigade of Veere, Pearl spent the next several years of his service on ships which patrolled the waters of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. In the wake of the Napoleonic Wars, naval positions became scarce, so Pearl requested, and was granted, a two year leave of absence to venture east (4). 

Francis Sartorius - Neptune engaged Trafalgar 1805

Far East Expeditions

    It was common in the early nineteenth century for British navy men to take leaves of absence and try their hands at trading in the territories which lay eastward of Europe, mostly in India and China. While Pearl was following in the footsteps of others, his timing was likely decided by a letter received by the Admiralty in July 1816, from a Mr. Ommanney, claiming that Pearl owed him a debt. Regardless of his reasoning, Pearl did fairly well for himself in his first  few years abroad; after taking command of the Indiana, a trading vessel, he was able to pay off his debts and even buy the vessel off of Baretto & Sons, the trading house to which it belonged (5). He was known as a country trader, a European individual who commanded smaller ships and kept their trading confined to the region. There are records of him trading textiles, spices, and opium which, although illegal in China, was smuggled in by private traders not connected to the East India Company. 

    In 1821, on one of his voyages between Calcutta and Burma, the Indiana stumbled upon the debris of the crashed and sank Tek Sing (True Star in English), a Chinese ship that had been carrying passengers and porcelain. The survivors of the accident were clinging to the debris, most of them naked due to the harsh conditions. Pearl spent the two days searching for and picking up survivors, even taking fabric from his trade goods to clothe everyone. He then spent a week sailing to Pontiana, on the coast of Borneo, where the Dutch commissioner, J.H. Tobias commended him for his good work. Pearl later received a gold medal from the King of the Netherlands for his heroism. Due to his sacrifice of textiles, and the diversion, Pearl lost a significant amount of income from rescuing the Tek Sing's survivors, which he spent years trying to recoup, even going so far as to ask for a reward from merchants in Canton for his actions. Regardless of this setback, Pearl returned to England in 1826, and lived as "a man of means," so his time abroad was ultimately successful (6). While abroad, Pearl also served in his last naval engagement, when he volunteered for and commanded ships in the Burmese War (7). 

Chinese "trading junk", 19th-century - Similar to the Tek Sing

A Pause for Romance

    While James Pearl did devote much of his life to his sailing career, he also had time for other pursuits, including romantic ones. Hutchens and Ross detail two of his amorous adventures, Lucy Eleanor Kerehappuch Crook and Anne Hawkens, whom he later married. Not much is known about Lucy Crook, and Pearl never mentioned her in any of his surviving letters. Indeed, we only know about their relationship through a monument he raised in Wiltshire County, England, after her premature death in 1822. He placed it there "to perpetuate the long sincere and lasting affection entertained for her," as they would have married had she lived (8). Seven years later, Pearl married Anne Hawkins on May 6th. 1829 at St. Pancras Church in London. By the end of that year, they had both settled in Newfoundland, and embarked upon the journey to becoming long-remembered (9). 

James Pearl's next adventure was starting a life in Newfoundland, check back in for our next post which details his settlement!

Bibliography

1.  Donald L. Hutchens and Lilla Ross, Pearl: The Man and The Place, (St. John’s: SeaFlow Publishing, 2007), 4-5.

2. Pearl, 8.

3. Pearl, 15-17.

4. Pearl, 19-22.

5. Pearl, 23.

6. Pearl, 24-27.

7. Pearl, 31.

8. Pearl, 29.

9. Pearl, 33-35.

We Are Hiring: Research Assistant

 
We are hiring!

We are looking for a Research Assistant to join our team starting in September, 2025. Further information about the job and how to apply is on Indeed at this link and is posted below. 

Position: Research Assistant
Location: Admiralty House Communications Museum
Type: Full-Time 6-month contract
Wage: $23.00 per hour
Application deadline: August 23^rd, 2025, at 5:00pm NST

Are you passionate about history and storytelling? We are seeking a contracted researcher to support the development of engaging, educational, and accessible interpretive materials for a new interpretive plan that will update our exhibit spaces.

Responsibilities:

- Conduct in-depth historical research using primary and secondary sources

- Collaborate with the Museum Manager and Graphic Designer to develop content themes and floor plans outlining the visitor flow 

- Develop and write exhibit labels, text panels, and supplementary materials

- Participate in content review meetings with the Museum Manager

- Ensure historical accuracy, inclusive narratives, and visitor accessibility

Qualifications:

- A bachelor’s degree in History, Museum Studies, or a related discipline

- A master’s degree in History, Museum Studies, or a related discipline would be an asset

- Strong research and writing skills, particularly for public audiences

- Interest in public history and museum education

- Ability to synthesize complex information into clear narratives

- Ability to manage time, meet deadlines, and work independently

- Familiarity with inclusive and ethical interpretation practices is an asset

Why join us?

- Contribute to a meaningful public history project

- Work alongside enthusiastic professionals in a collaborative museum environment

- Gain firsthand experience in interpretive writing and public history communication

Admiralty House Communications Museum values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer.

To apply, please submit a resume, a writing sample (preferably interpretive, no more than three pages), and a brief cover letter outlining your interest via email with the subject line "Research Assistant Application" to admiraltyhouse@mountpearl.ca by August 23^rd at 5:00pm NST.

Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Historic Places Days: The History of Admiralty House Communications Museum

    This year for Historic Places Days, I want to highlight the history of the building that now houses Admiralty House Communications Museum. It turns 110 years old this year. Many elements of the original construction of the building are still visible today, including the cross-beams, hardwood, a fireplace, and some wattle and daub. Throughout its century-long life, it has served many different purposes, most notably as a top-secret wireless station during the First World War. It lived on past the war however, and was used as a farm, an office building, then, after being briefly abandoned, its history was rediscovered and it was turned into a museum. Every era of its existence contributes to its importance as a "Historic Place."
 

   This building started its life as the barracks for those serving at the HM Wireless Station St. John's. The Marconi Company built it in 1915 alongside the Telegraph Building (that is no longer standing) for use by the British Admiralty. It was one of eleven identical stations built for the Admiralty around the world.¹ Due to the high cost of the boxes used to ship wireless equipment parts between England and St. John's, they were then used to construct the barracks, and you can still see the shipping stamps on the cross beams in the museum. The Admiralty chose this location for the building because its distance from the water would prevent any naval attacks, its steep elevation was similar to Signal Hill, its soil's high conductivity of electricity, and they believed its low population would make it easier to keep its location a secret.² The station helped to coordinate and protect Allied ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and even helped to organize the rescue of survivors from the S.S. Florizel which ran aground near Cappahayden in February, 1918.³ The barracks included dormitories, a kitchen, a mess hall, sick rooms, and a private bedroom and sitting room for the commanding officer.⁴ Isolated from the society of St. John's proper, the men who lived here were often entertained by the Parsons, a local farming family whose property abutted the station. They provided the station with company, friendship, and amusement.⁵ The station remained in operation until 1922, when the Admiralty decided the high cost needed to update the equipment and technology for use in a future potential war was not a worthwhile endeavor, and they put the building and property up for sale. In a happy coincidence, the same Parsons family bought the building after they had served an integral function for the men who worked at the station.⁶

Clem Scott Collection, Admiralty House Communications Museum, 006-001-012.

    The Parsons bought the property in 1926, and they expanded their existing farm into the area. They converted the barracks into a farmhouse for themselves and their children's families. A couple of the men who had worked at the station, like Charles Benjamin Scott, even married into the Parsons, so they continued living in the same building they had served in. While the barracks remained a space for living, the telegraph building did not remain a space for communication. Instead, the Parsons converted that building into a barn for their animals and livestock.⁷ The three radio towers the Admiralty had built on the property also remained during the Parsons ownership and were used by several local radio stations, such as VOCM and CBC. However, they were torn down in 1938, 1954, and 1955.⁸ Members of the Parsons family continued to live and work on this land until 1973, when Madeline Parsons sold the property after the death of her husband and son.⁹

    

Archives, Admiralty House Communications Museum, Box H, 001-003-002.

    When the Parsons sold the property in 1973, the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation purchased the building and used it as their headquarters and office space. They used it until 1988, when they left the property and its history abandoned as it succumbed to time.¹⁰ It sat empty and decayed as the grounds became unkempt over the next decade, until the Mount Pearl City Council decided something needed to be done with it. Their initial plan was to demolish it and repurpose the land, but they deemed it necessary to first look into the history of the building. So, they formed a committee, including the then mayor, to discover the this mysterious, dilapidated building's past. Their investigation recovered it's importance as a historical site, but the council still had to decide if it was worth the cost of renovations which were needed to turn it into a museum. After putting it to a vote, which ended in a 5-4 split, the council was officially in support of opening a museum dedicated to the history of the wireless station, communications technology, and the City of Mount Pearl.¹¹ Admiralty House Communications Museum opened its doors to the public on June 23rd, 1997, in a ceremony which Prince Philip attended, and is still in operation today.¹²

Admiralty House Museum and Archives Digital Collections

Admiralty House Communications and Archives Digital Collections

    Admiralty House recently celebrated it's 28th birthday with a week full of events in June. The building itself has gone through many different inhabitants and renovations over the course of its 110 years, but elements of its youth still shine through, giving it a fascinating feel and look. It is a gratifying experience getting to come to work each day in this historic building, and be surrounded by the memories of all those who have lived and worked here, long before my time. Admiralty House Communications Museum, through both its building and exhibits, is a tangible link to our past; one which allows us to walk in the footsteps of those who came before us.

    If you are interested in learning more about the building's or location's history, please come in and visit us this summer at 365 Old Placentia Road in Mount Pearl, where we are open daily through July and August! We have exhibits not only on the building itself, but also the City of Mount Pearl, the S.S. Florizel, and much more.

Sources

    1. Marconi’s Wireless Telegraph Company Limited. Description and Specification of 30 K.W Naval Wireless Station At St. John’s. 1918. Admiralty House Museum and Archives digital record, 1-4.

    2. Marconi’s Wireless Telegraph Company Limited. Description and Specification of 30 K.W Naval Wireless Station At St. John’s. 1918. Admiralty House Museum and Archives digital record, 1-4.

    3. Gushue, Lisa. “100th anniversary of Florizel tragedy marked at Admiralty House Communications Museum.” CBC News, Feb. 24, 2018. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/100th-anniversary-of-florizel-sinking-1.4550457.

    4. Marconi’s Wireless Telegraph Company Limited. Description and Specification of 30 K.W Naval Wireless Station At St. John’s. 1918. Admiralty House Museum and Archives digital record, 5-7.

    5. Grant, W.L. “Wireless Officer Report on Parsons.” Letter. Admiralty House Communications Museum Collections. 1918.

    6. “Great Sale: Admiralty Wireless Station At Mount Pearl.” The People’s Auctioneers (St. John’s, NL).

    7. Admiralty House Museum and Archives Collections.

    8. “Last ‘Marconi Pole’ Comes Crashing Down.” Daily News (St. John’s, NL), May 19, 1955.

    9. Admiralty House Museum and Archives Collections.

    10. Admiralty House Museum and Archives Collections.

    11. Public Council Meeting, 94-03-143, Admiralty House Communications Museum (March 7, 1994).

    12. Admiralty House Museum and Archives Collections.

Meet our 2025 Spring Market Vendors!

Our Spring Market is coming up fast, and here is our current list of vendors! Some are Saturday or Sunday exclusives, so make note of this when planning your visit :) 

Please note that this post may be updated anytime before the market to reflect any changes in vendor availability. 

NOTE: As of April 4th, we still have a couple of tables available! Please fill out this google form if interested: https://forms.gle/dDV6o3ptGG7SKB5C9 .

The Spring Market will be held on Saturday, April 26th from 4pm-9pm, and Sunday, April 27th from 11am-4pm. Admission will be by monetary donation to Repuplic Pets Rescue, who will have a representative in the Annex porch. 

SATURDAY - ONLY 

Georgia Lynn Art 

Georgia Lynn Art utilizes locally hand picked sea glass, shells, coral, drift wood, and other mixed mediums to create Newfoundland inspired pieces. The artwork and ornaments created may feature nautical themes, traditional mummers, puffins, or local wildlife. This upcoming market will include ‘one of a kind’ pieces that can be previewed via the artist’s social media pages on facebook or instagram… @georgialynn_art 

O'Liver freeze dried 

Oliver Freeze Dried is a unique business based in Conception Harbour, Newfoundland, specializing in freeze-dried candies and dog treats. Founded by a couple who moved back to Newfoundland during the pandemic, the company leverages freeze-drying technology, popular among NASA and doomsday preppers, to create innovative products. Their offerings transform traditional candies into exciting textures and flavors, providing a distinct culinary experience. As the province’s largest producer of freeze-dried candies, Oliver Freeze Dried is committed to quality and community engagement.

Deborah Crafts 

Deborah Crafts was created by St. John’s native Amanda Budgell in response to a growing crochet obsession. After years of experimenting with traditional crochet designs and materials, Budgell honed her craft to create unique and durable crocheted handbags. Using materials such as nylon paracord, and cotton t-shirt yarn, these bags are both fashionable and made-to-last.

SUNDAY - ONLY 

Brush Strokes With Lesley

Handmade jewelry, hand-engraved glassware and coasters.

Ruthies Bead Therapy 

Ruthie's Bead Therapy creates unique, small-batch, handmade polymer clay earrings and pins. Located in Kelligrews, the collection features Newfoundland-inspired puffins and whales, seasonal items, sweet treats, and beautiful florals.

Tina Stewart

"The Walkers" by Tina Mardel Stewart - A self-published novel based on a shoreline trail here in our province linking communities and strangers. Two people walk the trail, one with her rescued Labrador Husky, and two watch the world go by from their homes. They will eventually discover their connections.

100% of all sales proceeds have been and will continue to be donated to NL Animal Rescue charities!

Homes and Custom Embroidery 

I hand embroider 3 inch one of a kind ornaments of homes, cabins, businesses etc. I also do custom hand portrait embroidery. I use pictures and recreate them using free hand stitching. I also create “anywhere ornaments” with various pop culture sayings slogans and references. 

BOTH DAYS 

Valley Girl Creations 

As a talented multi-medium Inuit craftsperson, my work is a celebration of my rich cultural heritage, showcasing the intricate art of sewing and beadwork passed down through generations. Each piece, from vibrant beaded earrings to meticulously hand-stitched designs, is a unique testament to my dedication and skill. 

Purple Glass Crafts 

I sell handmade stained glass suncatchers, candle holders and Christmas ornaments. My pieces are unique and no two are exactly alike; I'm also working on some flower pieces for this market.

Randy Blundon Arts 

I am a visual artists working in various mediums - oil, acrylic, watercolour, charcoal, pastels, pen & ink. I also offer greeting cards and prints reproduced from my original work.

CupCaits

Delicious baked goodies home made with lots of love (and butter). Cupcakes, cake pops, cookies, ect. All peanut free. Gluten free options available as well :)

Rooted Wanderers & Co. 

Information and photos coming soon!