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December 14, 1924
The New Palace - The Official Residence of the Bishop
Archbishop Edward Patrick Roche of St. John’s and the priests on the staff of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (now Basilica) moved into their new home on December 14, 1924. The new home referred to locally as “The New Palace” replaced the “Old Palace’ that burned to the ground in 1921. Palace is the name given to the official residence of a bishop.
The Palace located at 200 Military Road, St. John’s is now the home of the Offices of the Archdiocese of St. John’s and is officially known as the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre.
Although it was the official residence, Archbishop Roche never did live in the Palace. He opted to make his home at Beaconsfield located on Topsail Road. He commuted by car to the Palace every day.
The local newspaper The Telegram on December 14, 1924 reported that “The exterior work (of the New Palace) was constructed of bluestone taken from the quarries of Signal Hill. Freestone used in the construction was imported in the rough from the Wallace quarries in Nova Scotia. The architects of the new Palace were Delano and Aldrich of New York.
The firm of Delano & Aldrich occupied a central place in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century, substantially shaping the architectural climate of the period. The grand country estates, striking townhouses and club buildings, churches, schools, and public buildings designed by William Adams Delano (1874–1960) and Chester Holmes Aldrich (1871–1940) are exceptional examples of architectural creativity and originality.
The New York Firm designed the American Embassy in Paris, France in 1929; construction began in 1931 and was completed in 1932. The Chancery of the Embassy is remarkably similar to the Basilica Cathedral Palace. It has been suggested that the American Embassy in Parish is a larger scale version of the Palace in St. John’s.
One of the architects William Adams Delano was quite familiar with Newfoundland. He was a board member for the International Grenfell Association (IGA) and was responsible for donating a number of designs for several hospitals and orphanages to that organization. In St. John’s two of his most recognized designs are St. Clares Mercy Hospital (1938-1939) LeMarchant Road and King George V Building, Water Street, erected in 1911.
Archbishop Roche became quite good friends with Delano joining him for lunch at the prestigious Knickerbocker Club in New York whenever he visited. The Club was designed by Delano and Aldrich and was considered one of the bastions of old-world society.
On the occasion of the official opening of the new Palace a Pastoral Letter dated 14 December 1924 was read in the Roman Catholic Cathedral (now Basilica). In the letter Archbishop Roche makes reference to the original, “Old” Palace. And describes difficulties with financing construction of a new Palace. He also makes reference to criticism of its design.
For more information on this and other related subjects contact the Archives of the R.C. Archdiocese. www.stjohnsarchdiocese.nf.ca
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Larry Dohey
Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John’s
P.O. Box 1363
St. John’s, NL
A1C 5M3
709-726-3660
E-mail: archives@nf.aibn.com
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