Sittin’ Rock (or Sitting Rock) is located on the east side of New Road in New Perlican, NL. It is a granite rock resembling a chair-like structure that is large enough for 3 or 4 people to sit on. The designation is confined to the footprint of the landscape feature known as Sittin’ Rock.
Formal Recognition Type
Municipal Heritage Building, Structure or Land
Heritage Value
Sittin’ Rock has been designated a municipal heritage site by the Town of New Perlican because of its aesthetic and cultural values.
Sittin’ Rock has aesthetic value as it is a prominent landmark in the community. It is a well-known landmark along New Road, which was a traditional inland route to the neighbouring community of Heart’s Content. For decades the road was little more than a cart path. New Road was considered a possible route for a larger highway but was abandoned in favour of the current highway, Route 80. Older people in the community say that Sittin’ Rock was always situated along New Road – that it is a natural rock formation, although it has also been suggested that Sittin’ Rock was formed during blasting operations. Regardless of its origins, Sittin’ Rock is a special landscape feature along New Road.
Sittin’ Rock has cultural value for generations of New Perlican residents who have a shared recollection of the cultural use of Sittin’ Rock. Its shape meant that the rock was a popular site to take a rest along the road when walking from place to place. In addition, Sittin’ Rock is well-known, especially among older residents of New Perlican, as an old courtship site. As it was a popular rendezvous site, it is said that many kisses have been exchanged on this granite chair.
Source: Town of New Perlican Regular Council Meeting Motion #2008-65 June 10, 2008.
Character Defining Elements
All those elements which represent the aesthetic and cultural value of Sittin’ Rock, including:
-location, orientation and dimensions of Sittin’ Rock;
-natural granite material;
-form being like that of a chair or bench;
-unobstructed view of Sittin’ Rock from New Road, and;
-continued public access to Sittin’ Rock.
Notes
The Sittin’ Rock
(Written by Mrs. Susie Smith and used with her permission.)
Growing up in New Perlican, many a kiss was got,
in a place in on the New Road, it’s called the Sittin’ rock.
It wasn’t far in from the school, and in May and June twas hot,
so recess time we’d take our lunch and eat it on the rock.
Behind the rock we sometimes hid, if we had to do our pee,
we would have someone else on watch, because we didn’t want anyone to see.
Many people planted gardens then, or set a carrot spot,
sometimes we’d take a couple and eat them on the rock.
Oh if that rock could only talk, and tell some things it’s heard,
secrets, proposals and arguments, she would put them all in words.
Yes, memories are so precious and those we all have got,
now we remember some of them when passing by the rock.
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