The White Elephant Building is a one-and-a-half storey wooden building with a mid pitch gable roof. Built in 1915 by the Moravian Mission, the building is located in Makkovik, Labrador. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.
Formal Recognition Type
Registered Heritage Structure
Heritage Value
The White Elephant Building was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2000 because of its historic and aesthetic value.
The White Elephant Building has historic value because of its association with the Moravian Mission in Labrador. A Moravian Mission station was established in Makkovik in 1896. With community help, the Mission built the White Elephant Building in 1915 as a boarding school. It is the oldest remaining structure built by the Mission in the community.
The building was used for many purposes over the years – serving as a dispensary, clinic, nursing home and residence for teachers and nurses. Since it was rarely used for its original purpose, but still required maintenance, the building was often referred to as the “White Elephant.”
Many residents of Makkovik can trace their own personal history to the White Elephant Building as it was used by midwives when delivering babies. Several local women were often called upon for this service. Susan (Aunt Susie) Andersen was one. Susie, maiden name Flowers, was born in Flowers Bay, which is north of Hopedale. At age 17 she moved to Hopedale when she was hired on as a servant by the Reverend and Mrs. Sach at the Mission complex there. The couple moved to Makkovik and Susie went with them, continuing to work in their household. Mrs. Sach was a trained nurse and she taught Susie the skills of midwifery. Over 20 years, Aunt Susie delivered 50 babies in Makkovik and other communities along the coast.
Before Confederation in 1949, people often travelled to Makkovik from the now abandoned communities of Ben’s Cove, Seal Cove, Lance Ground, and Turnavik, to take part in church services and community events. Many stayed at the White Elephant when in Makkovik.
In 1959, when some of the people who were resettled from Hebron moved to Makkovik, the carpenters hired to build new homes stayed at the White Elephant.
In 1996, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Moravian Church in Makkovik, the building was converted into a museum.
The White Elephant Building has aesthetic value as it is one of few remaining examples of Moravian architecture on the north coast of Labrador. Built to serve a utilitarian function, the structure is minimalist in its decoration and uniform in terms of design.
Source: Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador property file “Makkovik – White Elephant Building – FPT 1585”
Character Defining Elements
All those architectural features associated with the vernacular design typical of early twentieth century Moravian Mission architecture, including:
-mid pitch roof;
-mock beam at gable peaks;
-number of storeys;
-narrow wooden clapboard;
-wooden corner boards;
-wooden window size, style, trim and placement;
-shed dormer on right front facade;
-dormer placement and style;
-dormer window size, style, trim and placement;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior wooden doors;
-location and style of porch on centre front facade;
-chimney style and placement;
-stone foundation;
-attached ladders on gable ends;
-white paint with green trim on exterior; and,
-dimension, location and orientation of building.
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