Barbour Living Heritage Village | New-Wes-Valley, NL
The Barbour Living Heritage Village is located in Newtown, which is part of New-Wes-Valley. It’s easy to find, take Route 320 north from Gambo. The Route number changes to 330 at New-Wes-Valley. Just follow the signs to the Barbour Village.
Barbour Family
The Barbour Family was a prominent family in Newfoundland, involved in both sealing and the merchant trade. Benjamin Barbour of Pinchard’s Island married Rebecca Green from Bennet Island in 1841. The couple was involved in sealing and fishing when they moved to Newtown in 1873. Newtown is where they added a merchant business to their ventures.
Benjamin and Rebecca Barbour had 11 children, all involved in the family businesses.
The Benjamin Barbour Home
The house was originally intended to be a semi-detached for two families. There are two front doors, but no wall dividing the two sections of the house. There are twin staircases, twelve bedrooms, two kitchens and two dining rooms.
The pine house was completed in 1875. Today it is restored with period artifacts and guided tours are recommended.
Lester Barbour
Lester Barbour was the oldest son of Edward and Mary Jane. He was a grandchild to Benjamin and Rebecca Barbour. He served in the 1st Newfoundland Regiment. He died at the age of 23 in 1918 in Belgium. He is buried at Oxford Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium.
Lester wrote approximately 70 letters to his family during the war. The letters document the life of a soldier, from training in Scotland to the trenches in Europe.
Lester’s brother, Captain Job Barbour visited Europe in 1930 and returned with soil from Lester’s grave. This is on display on the second floor of the home.
Alphaeus Barbour Home
Other Buildings
