Capturing an important chapter in the history of the Northern Peninsula, the recently amalgamated Town of Roddickton-Bide Arm is restoring Bide Arm�s first structure � Ashton House. The restoration will position Ashton House as a key component in encouraging new visitor traffic and business opportunities for the area.

"Ashton House symbolizes the spirit and resilience of residents on the Northern Peninsula who resettled years ago so their families can experience a better way of life today," said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. "The investment of more than $36,000 by the Provincial Government towards its restoration contributes to the Northern Peninsula�s tourism product, furthering the region�s capacity for leveraging tourism-related business opportunities."

The project will include upgrading the building and surrounding landscape. The building will be converted into a museum, storing and displaying the community�s artifacts and ancestral information. It will also serve as a visitors� centre and contain a gift shop. It will be in operation for Bide Arm�s 2009 Come Home Year celebrations, scheduled from August 3-7, 2009, marking 40 years since people resettled to Bide Arm from Hooping Harbour. A feature of the celebrations will involve a miniature replica of Ashton House being floated from Hooping Harbour to Bide Arm, followed by the grand opening of Ashton House upon its arrival.

Ashton House was built in the 1950s by Elias Cassell for his father Ashton, in the community of Little Harbour Deep, with $400 he earned from fishing at the age of 16. From Little Harbour Deep it was floated to Hooping Harbour in 1965 and in 1969, floated again to Bide Arm marking the beginning of the town�s development.

"Over the past three years this little community of approximately 180 has taken advantage of Provincial Government funding to revitalize the economy by preserving the history of Hooping Harbour and Bide Arm," said Phyllis Randell, Town Manager, Roddickton-Bide Arm. "The goals achieved thus far are the preserving of history through a two-year team of heritage researchers, a two-year project to rebuild the Bide Arm Tilting Village now known as Armistice Park and the current project of restoring Ashton House."

The Town of Roddickton-Bide Arm, along with representatives from Englee, Conche, and Main Brook, have been working closely with the Nordic Economic Development Corporation and field staff of the Department of Innovation, Trade, and Rural Development over the past few years to develop the concept of the Northern Peninsula East Heritage Corridor. The objective is to attract more visitors to the less-traveled eastern side of the Great Northern Peninsula.

"This project will contribute to preserving and promoting the rich culture and heritage that the unique community of Bide Arm has to offer, attracting visitors to the Northern Peninsula East Heritage Corridor," said the Honourable Trevor Taylor, MHA, Straits-White Bay North. "An increase in the number of visitors to the region will be beneficial to individual businesses and the local economy."

This initiative was funded through the Regional/Sectoral Diversification Fund (RSDF), which through Budget 2009 was increased to an $8 million fund. Administered by the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, the RSDF provides non-repayable contributions to economic development agencies for initiatives that address regional and sectoral development and diversification.

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