Research Assistant Introduction and Update

Hello! My name is Sarah Sharpe, Admiralty House’s research assistant. I joined the Museum team in September, and my role is to research and create updated exhibit material based on the Museum’s Interpretive Plan. Admiralty House Communications Museum is Mount Pearl’s greatest hidden gem, and I am proud to be part of the Museum’s team. 

A little bit about me: I have a BSc and a MA in Archaeology. Though I am originally from Alberta, I moved to St. John’s to complete my Masters degree at MUN. My research focused on Inuit place names and oral history in Labrador. Since graduating, I have worked in various museums and heritage positions across the country. I was delighted to have the chance to return to St. John’s and work at the Admiralty House Communications Museum.

In March 2022, Admiralty House Communications Museum created a new Interpretive Plan in order to update the Museum’s exhibits.

The purpose of this update is to:

• Increase the accessibility of the Museum.
• Enhance the experience of visitors and attract new audiences. 
• Deliver meaningful and engaging historical content. 

Since I began at the Museum, I have been able to explore and interact with all of the current exhibits. If you have never visited the Museum or have not visited in a while, I highly encourage you to visit and experience the amazing stories showcased at the Museum.

Starting in the Commanding Officer’s Sitting Room, this exhibit offers a very cool immersive experience. This recreated office is located in the same space as the original Commanding Officer’s Sitting Room, which was used when the station was operating in the 1910s. It is very easy to imagine stepping into this space to talk to your Commanding Officer. We are looking forward to making this exhibit even more interactive for our visitors. 

The Mount Pearl Room is a large space that displays the history of this community in rich detail. The central figure of this history is James Pearl, Mount Pearl’s complex and fascinating founder. From his early days in the navy, to his knighthood (recently confirmed!), to his influential time in Newfoundland, the importance of James Pearl to this community can not be overstated. 

As well, this exhibit highlights the unique cultural identity of the city of Mount Pearl, and its underappreciated contributions to aviation, agriculture, and communication. 

The Museum has one of the most extensive collections of historical information on the SS Florizel disaster in the province. For example, based on detailed first hand accounts, we can identify by name all 27 survivors who sheltered in the Marconi Room. As well, the Museum houses several rare artifacts from the ship. Often overshadowed by the RMS Titanic, the SS Florizel disaster is a tragic tale punctuated by the bravery, determination, and teamwork of many notable Newfoundlanders. 

One of the Museum’s greatest assets is the ability to tell the story of the H.M. Wireless Station within the historical building, even highlighting traditional features such as the wattle and daub wall construction (visit the Museum for more information on this fascinating architectural technique!). The HM Wireless exhibit demonstrates the pivotal role that the station played in World War I and the Mount Pearl community at large. 

The Museum’s most extensive collection of artifacts relates to the Evolution of Communication exhibit. This collection is wide ranging, from an 1850s telegraph cable to early 2000s cell phones. The celebration of notable individuals, such as Guglielmo Marconi and Hedy Lamarr, demonstrates the expansive growth of technology over the last century. One of the goals for the future development of this exhibit is the inclusion of more interactive elements.

The Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve exhibit proudly honours the sacrifices and bravery of Newfoundlanders who fought in World War I. Adequately displaying the entirety of these remarkable stories is a daunting task, but we look forward to further increasing the visibility of these histories, including those of training on the HMS Calypso and experiencing the horror of the battle of Beaumont Hamel. 

It is difficult for me to pick a favourite exhibit among all the amazing experiences the Museum offers. However, I have particularly loved learning about the intricate human stories of the SS Florizel. The bravery of individuals such as Captain William Martin, telegraph operators Cecil Carter and Bernard Murphy, Joseph Maloney, and Kitty Cantwell cannot help but inspire deep admiration and emotional personal connection. 

Likewise, it is nearly impossible to pinpoint any one exceptional artifact among the Museum’s rich collection. However, a few artifacts are particularly meaningful to me personally.

In our Mount Pearl exhibit, the Museum houses the wheel from Harry Hawker and Kenneth Mackenzie Grieve’s British Sopwith plane (the Atlantic) which completed the first flight in Newfoundland in 1919. This amazing artifact represents the beginning of Newfoundland’s profound role in aviation history, leading to the first non-stop transatlantic flight of John Alcock and Arthur Brown (also in 1919).

Though not technically artifacts, the reproduction of the Marconi Room and the scale model of the SS Florizel are fascinating to me. Being able to walk inside the Marconi Room and imagine over 20 individuals sheltering in the 2.5 m2  space together is an unforgettable experience. As well, understanding the layout and size of the ship (approximately twice the size of the main museum building) aids in picturing what traveling on such a magnificent ship was like.

Lastly, a perhaps underappreciated artifact is an early digital Panasonic Portable Computer dating from 1980. While some guests may be shocked to see an item from the 1980s on display in the museum, I see this computer as a brilliant illustration on how quickly communication technology has progressed from simple telegraphs, to personal computers, to modern smart phones. 

I am delighted to be part of updating these exhibits. While more specific details of these improvements are forthcoming, some exciting aspects include:

• Increasing accessibility for the Museum at large, including provisions for wheelchairs, visual impairments, and more.
• Adding more interactive elements to allow visitors to immerse themselves in the exhibits. The Commanding Officer’s Sitting Room will be a particular focus of this improvement (stay tuned!).
• Inspiring more personal connections through the celebration of individual stories.

In summary, Admiralty House Communications Museum continues to be a community staple and indispensable aspect of the cultural history of Mount Pearl. We are excited to be journeying towards further improvement and hope to inspire visitors and locals alike for years to come.