HOPEDALE

Hopedale was established in 1782. The earliest written reference to a Hopedale band was made by missionary A. F. Elsner in 1853 when he recorded the arrival of a gift of three trombones from Zeist, Netherlands.¹ On August 4th, 1859, the band performed the hymn "Now Let Us Praise the Lord" for the arrival of the Harmony.² On August 29th, 1903, the Hopedale band travelled on the mission-owned boat Sybil to perform for the consecration of a chapel at Uviluktôk (see above picture).³ On February 27th, 1921, the band performed “hymn tunes, old and new” inside and outside the church during a service celebrating the sesquicentennial of Nain.⁴ On August 22nd and 23rd, 1934, the band performed in a launch for the Prime Minister of England, J. Ramsay MacDonald, who was visiting on the ship H.M.S. Scarborough (similar to the above photo).⁵ On July 17th, 1951, the band performed on the wharf for the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland, Leonard Outerbridge (the Hebron band also performed for Outerbridge during this tour).⁶ By 1960, Inuit displaced from Hebron had begun performing with the Hopedale band.⁷

Hopedale band c 1962. From Atlantic Films’ “Labrador” (1963).

Hopedale band, 1893. Photo by Elliott Curwen.

Hopedale band at Uviluktôk. Tom Gordon collection.

References

^{1 A. F. Elsner, “Extracts of Private Correspondence,” Periodical Accounts 21, no. 226 (1853): 299.}

^{2 F. Kruth, et al. “Letters received by the Brethren’s Society for the Furtherance of the Gospel from the Missionaries at Hopedale, Nain, Okak and Hebron, in the year 1859. Hopedale, August 15th, 1859,” Periodical Accounts, 23, (1858–61): 233.}

^{3 “Hopedale. Opening of the Chapel at Uviluktôk, or Double Island,” Periodical Accounts 5, no. 56, (1903): 368–69.}

^{4 S. J. Townley and A. H. E. Asboe, “Hopedale,” Periodical Accounts. 11, no. 2 (1921): 83–84.}

^{5 W. W. Perrett, “Annual Report, July 1st, 1934–June 30th, 1935,” Periodical Accounts 144 (1936): 82.}

^{6 Siegfried P. Hettasch, “Hopedale,” Periodical Accounts 160 (1952): 36.}

^{7 Inge and Gerhard J. Vollprecht, “Annual Report for the Year 1960. Hopedale,” Periodical Accounts 169 (1961): 11.}