Joseph and Selena Templeman Property Municipal Heritage Site

The Joseph and Selena Templeman Property has aesthetic and cultural values.

The Joseph and Selena Templeman Property has aesthetic value as a good example of a type of late nineteenth century vernacular housing in the region. The original house, with its symmetrical three bay facade and steep gable roof, would have been a fairly common type in the area in the late 1800s. When Joseph and Selena’s daughter Alfreda took possession of the home, she and her husband Heber John Tremblett added a central front tower, a stylistic element marking the evolution of housing styles.

The aesthetic value of the Templman House is enhanced by its context. The building exists in a very traditional Newfoundland setting, with outbuildings in close proximity and fencing surrounding the property. The cellar and store were designed for practical use, employing rough materials, simple design elements and utilitarian construction techniques.

The Joseph and Selena Templeman Property has cultural value as a physical reminder of a certain time and place. It is an integral part of Bonavista’s cultural landscape, and its superior folk craftsmanship is reflective of a settlement which saw prosperity for merchants and fishermen alike. The outbuildings and fencing add to the property’s cultural value. Up until the mid 1900s most outport domestic properties had several outbuildings, used to store vegetables grown in private gardens and to house livestock. These buildings served a vital purpose in a subsistence economy which demanded that food be stored for both animal and human consumption. Most properties also had extensive fences as livestock were free to roam communities in the summertime. The fences were used to keep the animals out of the vegetable gardens, rather than keeping the animals enclosed.