The Prospect Genealogical Website

Buildings of Prospect

Over the years Prospect has had some very impressive buildings. The one I think is most magnificent is the house of Nicholas P. Christian. This house was a three story mansion in the middle of the Cove road. On this page you will see pictures of this house, along with pictures of the other houses, barns and wharfs of Prospect.

Houses

John Edgar's House: This house was owned by John Edgar Walsh and his brother. The house was located on Indian Point Road and the foundation still exists today.

Christian and Kiley Houses in the fog: The white house in the background was last owned by the Christians and burned down in the mid 1980s. The house was originally used by the priest while staying in the village. The little brown house in front by the bridge was owned by Sherman Kiley (1891 to 1963). Sherman's house recently received severe damage during a storm and has been demolished. Contributed by Pam Christian.

Budger's House: This house was owned by Arthur Reginald Meehan, also known as Budger. This house was torn down recently and a new house has been built on the property. Contributed by Susan Coolen.

The Doherty Homestead: This duplex house was built in the 1860s by Peter Doherty (1815- 1889). The house is now home to Bernadine MacMillian and Peter's great-granddaughter Jovita Slaunwhite. The people standing in front of the house are the Doherty clan. Contributed by Louise Christian.

House of Weldon and Kathleen Coolen: This house, which is presently owned by Weldon Coolen and Kathleen Doherty of Prospect, has been on this site since the early 1900s. This picture was taken sometime in the 1930s or 1940s. The house that originally stood on this piece of land was a little, Cape Cod style house owned my Jimmy and Jany Kavanagh. A picture of the original house can be seen below in the Buildings of the Cove #1. Contributed by Louise (Doherty) Christian.

Coolen Family Home: Dating from the late 1700s to early 1800s this is the original house owned and built by one branch of the Coolen Family. Still owned by a Coolen, this house now has a porch on the front of the house, which was added sometime in the 1930s or 40s. Contributed by Molly (Coolen) White, who was born in this house.

Victor Kiley and The Factory: This is a picture of Victor Kiley and "The Factory". The factory was a three-storey cannery built in the 1860s by Nicholas Christian. Victor purchased it in 1956 for $750. The building stood for 130 years before falling in strong winds from the remnants of Hurricane Edouard . The building fell on 2 September 1996 , just two days after this photo was taken. Strong winds from the remannts of Hurricane Edouard © Douglas Grant 1996.

The Factory: This is another picture of The Factory. Contributed by Susan Coolen.

John Hardiman's Shed: This is a photograph of the storage shed built by John Hardiman in the early 1800s. The shed is located on Indian Point Road at the head of Fawson Cove. Contributed by Barry Coolen.

John Hardiman's House: This is a photograph of Prospect's oldest unimproved house, which was built by John Hardiman in the early 1800s. The house is located on Indian Point Road at the head of Fawson Cove. Contributed by Barry Coolen.

John Hardiman's House & Shed: This is a photograph of John Hardiman's shed and house located on Indian Point Road. Contributed by Barry Coolen.

John Hardiman's House & Shed: This is another photograph of John Hardiman's shed and house located on Indian Point Road. Contributed by Barry Coolen.

Hardiman & Coolen Home: This a photograph of the present day home of Patricia Coolen. It was purchased from William Hardiman in the 1960s. The date of this photograph is unknown. Contributed by Susan Coolen.

Hardiman & Coolen Home: This is another photograph of the Hardiman/Coolen home. This picture was taken in the 1960s. Contributed by Susan Coolen.

Sisters of Charity Convent: This is a photograph of the Sisters of Charity Convent. While the building was originally a convent it was later converted into a hotel. Contributed by Susan Coolen.

Buildings of The Cove

Buildings of the Cove #1: The buildings in this picture are as follows (left to right): James Power's Barn, Sisters of Charity Convent, Jimmy and Jany Kavanagh's House (current position of Weldon and Kathleen Coolen's house). Behind that Earl Duggan's House, Glebe, Church, James Coolen's House (currently owned by the Gray's), shed, wharfs. Contributed by Olive (Christian) Ryan.

Buildings of the Cove #2: On the left is James Coolen's Shed, a long stage was owned by a McGrath, and James Kavanagh's stage. In the background on Saul Island is the house James Saul. In the foreground to the right is the red stage that is still standing in the cove today (owned by Jack Coolen). Contributed by Olive (Christian) Ryan.

Buildings of the Cove #3: This is a picture of the Cove Road sometime around 1950. This picture was contributed by Ed Rogers.

Buildings of the Cove #4: Contributed by Clifford O'Laughlin.

Buildings of the Cove #5: Contributed by Clifford O'Laughlin.

Buildings of the Cove #6: Contributed by Clifford O'Laughlin.

Buildings of the Cove #7: Contributed by Clifford O'Laughlin.

Buildings of the Cove #8: Contributed by Clifford O'Laughlin.

Buildings of the Cove #9: Contributed by Clifford O'Laughlin.

Wharves of Prospect

Wharves of Prospect #1: This is a photograph of various wharves in Prospect. None of these wharves exist today. The date of this photograph is unknown. Contributed by Susan Coolen.

Wharves of Prospect #2: This photograph is of another wharf in Prospect. The wharf no longer exists thanks to Hurricane Juan, but the stage is still there. Contributed by Susan Coolen.

Wharves of Prospect #3: Contributed by Susan Coolen.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, first church in Prospect: In the year 1794 the first Catholic church on the western shore was built at Prospect thanks to the efforts of Rev. James Jones. This building was later used as a schoolhouse. This image taken from "Fourteen Decades in Prospect, 1794 - 1929".

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, second church in Prospect: The second church in Prospect was built sometime between 21 March 1846 and 14 July 1852 to accommodate the increasing population of the village. On 17 October 1921 , at four o'clock in the morning, the church caught fire and could not be saved. This image taken from "Fourteen Decades in Prospect, 1794 - 1929".

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, second church in Prospect: This is a another picture of the second church that stood in Prospect.

Second church in Prospect After Lightning Strike: This picture shows the second church after being struck by lightning. The path the lightning took as it traveled through the building is clearly visible. Contributed by Louise Christian.

Second church in Prospect: This is a more detailed photograph of the second church. If you look closely you can see phrases written on the front. They read from left to right: One Lord, One Baptism, One Faith . This photograph was contributed by Toni Beard.

Rectory, Present Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and Mount Carmel Hall: This image shows the current church, rectory and community hall in Prospect. The church was built in 1922 shortly after the second church burned to the ground. Construction of the rectory commenced in September 1924 and was completed in November, costing approximately $2500.00. In the spring of 1926 a parochial hall was built for the social well-being of the community and as a means to raise funds for the support of the church. The building cost a little more than $2000.00. This image taken from "Fourteen Decades in Prospect, 1794 - 1929".

Present Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: This is a picture of the church that was built in 1922 after the original OLMC church burned to the ground in 1921. This is a present day photo of the church taken by Doug Grant. The parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel celebrated its 200th anniversary in 1994, with Prospect being the centre of the Parish for all 200 years.

Lighthouses

The Betty Island Lighthouse, 1950s: This lighthouse stood on a tip of Betty Island called Brig Point (named because a large brig sank in a storm off this point). The light house had been manned by Christians, Kileys, Clancys, and Coolens.

The Betty Island Lighthouse, 1970s: This picture was taken during the late 1970s prior to the installation of an automated light in 1983. The last light keeper was Max Dorey of Lunenburg whose family lived on the island until it was automated in 1983. The first documented lighthouse keeper was Patrick Christian who began as lighthouse keeper in 1904.

Other Buildings

Consecration of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Shad Bay: St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, which currently sits at the top of the hill before entering Shad Bay, was once situated next to the water. It was built in the early 1900s, but wasn't consecrated until 24 July 1932 . The church was moved away from the water in 1956 to its current location.

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Shad Bay: This is a photo from the Consecration Mass in 1932.

Altar of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Shad Bay: This picture shows the original altar of St. Joseph's church. The beautiful wood and plaster altar was replaced sometime in the 1980s or 90s. This photo contributed by the late Molly (Coolen) White.