Sir Edgar Bowring
In 1908, Prime Minister Sir Edward Morris purchased all the land on the North bank of Quidi Vidi lake to save it from development. The purchase price of $11,129 was raised in a loan from the Bank of Montreal at 5% in terest. Sir Edward mortgaged his home, "Beaconsfield", to provide security to close the deal. A number of his prominent friends acted as guarantors. His hope was that some day he would find a person who would take it over and convert it into a public park for the citizens of St. John's.
Just such a person came along in 1914 in the person of Sir Edgar Bowring. He took over the property, paid the Bank of Montreal in full and agreed to layout the ground and convert the whole site into a park for the people of St. John's.
There was still one hitch, however. The T.A. & B. Society had a boat-house on the North side of the take which effectively cut the whole property in two. Again, Sir Edgar came to the rescue. Through Sir Edward Morris, he made this proposition: If the Society would agree to a new site at the head of the lake, he would undertake to build a new boat-house there for the Club at his own expense. The Society readily agreed.
A series of letters, which follow, between Sir Edward Morris and Mr. M.J. Malone, Chairman of the T.A. & B Society's Boat Club details the whole story.
September 26th., 1914
Dear Mr. Malone,
In reference to the conversation I had with you
the other day concerning the boat-house of the T.A.& B. Society
at Quidi Vidi, I now desire to put in
writing for the information of your Committee just
how the matter stands.
About six years ago I purchased the whole of the
property on the North side of Quidi Vidi Lake between the main road
and the water, from Walsh's to
the foot of the lake, paying for it somewhere in
the neighborhood of $12,000. I did this in order to
prevent it being built upon by private parties who
owned the land in several lots and in the hope that
some day I would find a person who would take it
over and convert it into a public park for the citizens of St. John's.
For the purchase of this I borrowed the money from the Bank of Montreal with my own house as security and the property itself. I was able to get a number of friends in St. John's to assist paying the interest on the amount. I am still further fortunate now in having been able to get Hon. E.R. Bowring to take the property over, pay the Bank of Montreal the full amount paid for it and it is his intention to lay the ground out and convert the property into a park for the people of St. John's.
His solicitor, Mr. W.R. Warren, K.C., has written me to the effect that as your boat-house cuts the property in two parts with no passage between the boat-house and the road, Mr. Bowring is anxious, before taking over the property, to have an understanding with the Club, and he suggests the boat-house might be removed from its present position to the head of the Bake and for that purpose he is prepared to build another boat-house for your Club at his own expense.
I would be glad if you would make some proposal in relation to dealing with the matter so that I may submit it at an early date to Mr. Bowring. He has satisfied me that he is ready and willing to deal generously and liberally with your Club, and I have already assured him that I felt certain you would take up the matter in the same public spirit.
An early reply will oblige,
Yours Faithfully,
(Sgd.) E.P. Morris
M.J. Malone, Esq.,
Chairman of the
T.A. & B. Society's Boat Club
_ ooo -
T.A. Rooms
St. John's, Nfld.
October 2nd., 1914
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 26th., ult. re the T.A. Boat House situated on the margin of Quidi Vidi lake. I called a special meeting of the Club Monday, 28th., inst. Most of the members responded. I laid your communication before them, and I am pleased to say that it was unanimously carried that we leave the matter entirely in the hands of Hon. E.R. Bowring.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Yours faithfully,
(Sgd.) M.J. Malone
Chairman T.A. Boat Club.
Rt. Hon. B.P. Morris, R.C.M.G., Prime Minister
However, World War I had already broken out and there was no Regatta held from 1915-1918, inclusive. The attention of all was directed to the war effort and no further steps were taken immediately in pursuit of the park concept.
At a meeting of the Regatta Committee held on August 25, 1924, the Hon. W.J. Ellis raised the matter of improvements to the grounds at Quidi Vidi Lake. He thought it was time some movement was made and that the Regatta Committee should take the initiative. Ellis felt the City Engineer might be prevailed on to make plans, at very little cost, that would interest all in the beautifying of the grounds.
To keep the matter alive, a small Sub-Committee was appointed to take up the matter with Sir Edgar Bowring, ascertain his ideas and secure his support and interest in the matter.
on October 9, 1924, Ellis reported that the Sub-Committee had met twice with Sir Edgar and received his full support. At the second meeting, City Engineer Ryan, who had prepared plans of suggested improvements, was present and the matter was fully discussed.
It is unclear just how the land was eventually conveyed to the City. The Regatta Committee Minutes of June 1, 1925, refer to the acquiring of the ground on the North side of Quidi Vidi from Sir Edgar Bowring. While it cannot be documented, it is claimed that Sir Edgar donated the land to the City for $1.00, in trust, to be forever used as a park for the citizens of St. John's.
However, an old map of Quidi Vidi Lake purportedly prepared by City Engineer J.W. Ryan indicates that Lord Morris sold the land to the City for the original purchase price on March 31, 1925. This conveyance was registered on June 23, 1938, and a copy of this Registration is on file in the Regatta Committee's Archives.
In any event, tributes and appreciation for the generosity of Sir Edgar Bowring poured in from all quarters.
And so it was that, during the 1920's, through the generosity of Sir Edgar R. Bowring, under the leadership of Hon. W. J. Ellis and Presidents Hiscock and W. J. Higgins, and with co-operation from City Council, a start was made on physical improvements around Quidi Vidi lake.
EDGAR RENNIE BOWRING:
1920 - 1921 Presented special prizes for Races in Annual St. John's Regatta;
1899 Arranged with Dr. H.H. Rendell to design boat that would
beat "Glancet' and "Bob Sexton". In 1900, "Red Cross" was
built and launched;
1897 - 1943 Honorary Member, St. John's Regatta Committee;
1893 Entered Yacht Race at Annual St. John's Regatta;
1891 Contributed $20.00 to St. John's Regatta Committee;
1891 - 1893 Member, City Boat Club;
1889 Entered "Siren" in Yacht Race at Annual St. John's Regatta;
1887 - 1890 President, St. John's Regatta Committee. Left Presidency
due to pressure of business.
Biography - Edgar Rennie Bowring
1858 Born, St. John's, Newfoundland, 17 August, 1858
1858-1868 Educated, Bishop Feild College, and at Liverpool and Scarborough, England;
1875 Entered Bowring Brothers 1886 Partner, Bowring Brothers 1888 Married Flora Munn Clift 1890-1936 Director, Bowring Brothers
1891-1943 President, Bowring Brothers
1891-1943 Director, C.T. Bowring, Ltd., London, Liverpool and Cardiff 1891-1943 Director, Bowring & Co., New York 1893 President, Chamber of Commerce 1894 Vice-President, Gaslight Co. 1894 Vice-President, St. George's Society 1894 President, Importers' Association 1898 Appointed to Legislative Council 1905 Donated land for King George V Seamen's Institute 1911 Donated Bowring Park to City 1912 Member, Dominion Royal Commission 1912-1922 Nfld. High Commissioner in London, 1914 Bowring Park officially opened by H.R.H. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught 1915 Knighted 1916 Established Waterford Hall, soldiers' convalescent home, England 1918 Presented Shannon Munn Memorial to Church of England orphanage 1921 founder, Newfoundland Club, London 1922 Unveiling of The Fighting Newfoundlander, Bowring Park, gift of Sir Edgar Bowring 1925 Unveiling of Peter Pan Statue, Bowring Park, gift of Sir Edgar Bowring in memory of godchild Betty Munn 1933-1934 Honorary Newfoundland High Commissioner in London 1935 Honorary President, Public Libraries Board 1935 Created K.C.M.G 1936-1943 Chairman, Bowring Brothers, Chairman, C.T. Bowring & Co., Ltd., Liverpool 1943 Died, London, England, 23 June 1943.