In 1941, Newfoundland was British territory. It was not part of Canada. As part of the Destroyers for Bases Agreement, the United States military took posession of this site north of Quidi Vidi Lake in March 1941. The base was dedicated primarily to air-defence. The primary tenant at the base was the 6604th Air Base Wing, which maintained and operated Fort Pepperrell.
The United States Navy (USN) established a Newfoundland base at Argentia. The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) built an air base across the island at Stephenville. Here in St. John's, the USAAF, the USN and the Royal Air Force had access to the Royal Canadian Air Force Station Torbay (today's St. John's International Airport).
Little survives of Fort Pepperell, now known as Pleasantville. Five of the former barracks structures survive in various states of preservation (or disrepair) near the posted co-ordinates. The Canadian government had considered the buildings as heritage structures. However, many similarly registered buildings are no longer standing.
This heritage structure is lower center in the historic photograph in this description.
The text below is taken from the historicplaces website.
DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE
Building 309 is located within the community of Pleasantville on the north shore of Quidi Vidi Lake. It is a long, two-storey, flat-roofed, rectangular barracks building with a white painted exterior, and exhibiting low, horizontal massing. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.
HERITAGE VALUE
Building 309 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.
Historical Value
Building 309, as part of the former US military base of Fort Pepperrell, is closely associated with the Second World War perimeter defence plan. This plan called for strategic continental outposts such as Newfoundland and Jamaica to be armed and fortified to prevent an attack on the United States. The base was vacated by the United States in the 1950s and is now owned by the Canadian government.
Architectural Value
Building 309 is a very good example of a wartime wood and steel framed permanent barracks finished with concrete blocks that was conceived to be highly functional in design and construction. Simple rectangular shapes and plain aesthetic elements are characteristic of its modern style. Integral to the complex, the structure’s architectural significance lies in its contribution to the overall visual unity of this cohesive group of modernistic buildings.
Environmental Value
Building 309 maintains an unchanged relationship to its site and the adjacent structures. It also reinforces the 1940s character of its military base setting and is familiar to those living and working on the base.
Sources:
Julie Harris, Pleasantville Site (41 Buildings) St. John’s, Newfoundland. Federal Heritage Building Report 86-016.
Buildings 301 to 306, 308 to 314, and 806 / Buildings 401 to 410, 507 to 509, 511 and 512, Pleasantville, St John’s Newfoundland. Heritage Character Statement 86-016.
CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS
The following character-defining elements of the Building 309 should be respected:
Its modern design and good quality materials and workmanship, for example:
- The scale and low massing of the long, rectangular structure.
- The flat roofs outlined by simple extended eaves.
- The projecting wings and stairwell blocks and each entrance emphasized by a concrete block canopy.
- The highly functional interior divided into offices.
- The white exterior walls and the size, form and spacing of the door and window openings.
The manner in which Building 309 maintains an unchanged relationship to its site, reinforces the military character of Pleasantville and is familiar to those living and working on the base, as evidenced by:
- Its ongoing relationship to its open site and the adjacent structures.
- The modern plain aesthetic of the utilitarian structure, which harmonizes with the cohesive grouping of the buildings, and creates a strong visual unity on the base.
- The building’s function as offices which make it a familiar point of reference.