I see the light across the bay,
I see the light not far away;
And I hear music all around,
I'm gettin' close to Champney’s Town.
The words to Steve Romanoff’s “Portland Town” song were tweaked slightly to suit the festive mood for the start of Champney’s West Come Home Year.
Singer and resident Beverly Freeman was one of over a hundred to celebrate the start of the community’s Come Home Year and opening of its first Heritage House.
The house formerly belonged to Ella Freeman and was donated, along with its contents, to the community to function as their museum.
Although there aren’t many artifacts in the house now, the community’s history can be seen through the albums of dated photographs at the site.
“It’s the centre of our heritage; it’s the centre of Champney’s West,” said Joanne Freeman, an organizer with the Come Home Year committee.
Another committee member, Martin Hiscock, said funds were raised for three years to open the house. He said he hopes more artifacts will be donated to the site now that it’s open.
The opening of the little yellow house drew a crowd that doubled the town’s population of 65 — people coming from as far away as Europe to share in the day’s festivities.
“What surprised me of this one was there were a lot of people from outside Canada,” said Scott Simms, MP for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor. “A town of 65 could pull in so many people and what I noticed was the enthusiasm. They’re very enthusiastic about preservation.”
Simms added the heritage house was a great gift to future generations.
Ross Wiseman, MHA for Trinity North, said residents have always demonstrated a strong sense of community spirit.
“They have a love for this place,” he said. “You have a core group of people now who live here — 60 odd — and they all want to make sure Champney’s West has a prominent place on the Bonavista Peninsula.”
mclarkson@thepacket.ca
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