The Story of Salvage
Step inside the Lane/Heffern House and discover the place of Salvage within Newfoundland and Labrador’s 450-year fishing history. Explore the community’s fishing heritage, family histories, architecture, traditional skills and crafts, and artifacts from days gone by. Visit our gift shop to see and purchase locally made crafts.
Visit
By donation
Cash and card accepted
Hours
Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Accessibility Note
The museum is located atop a steep grassy trail that is not wheelchair accessible. The upstairs rooms are reached by narrow stairs with short treads, and some visitors may not be able to access the second floor. Please ask staff for assistance or for information about the our upstairs exhibits.
The House
Walk through an 1860s home that became one of Newfoundland and Labrador's oldest community museums.
Attribution: Joyce Penney collection. John Lane and Frank in Salvage, circa 1960s-1970s.
The Fishery
Learn how the cod fishery and travel by sea shaped family and community life.
Attribution: Salvage Fisherman's Museum Archives, Arthur Heffern. Fishermen with a large tuna, c.1950. CC BY-NC 2.0 CA.
The People
Meet the craftspeople, storytellers, and families who kept Salvage's knowledge alive.
Our Story
1500s-1700s
European migratory fishermen were drawn to the fishing grounds of Bonavista Bay during fishing season, later settling permanently around the 1800s.
1860s
Charles Lane builds the original square house, beginning what would become the Lane/Heffern House.
1880s
Charles Lane expands the house to make room for his wife and future family.
1889
Charles Lane marries Adelaide Brown. Together, they raise two children in the house.
1948
Wilfred and Ida Jane Heffern purchase the property so their children can attend the local school. The family lives in the house before moving to a new home next door built by their son.
1969
The Salvage Fisherman's Museum opens to the public. Previous owners Wilfred and Ida Jane Heffern become its first curators.
2009
After years of care by Heber, Garland, Bessie, and later Art Heffern, the museum closes when the family is no longer able to maintain it.
2016
The museum reopens thanks to local committee work, including roof repairs and improvements to the entrances and interior.
2021
The museum undergoes restoration with support from Heritage NL, government funding, the Town of Salvage, and the Salvage Fisherman's Museum Committee.
2022
The Lane/Heffern House receives Registered Heritage Structure designation for its historic value.
Today
The museum continues to preserve community stories, artifacts, craft, and maritime knowledge.
Support Local Heritage
Each donation helps care for artifacts, maintain exhibits, and tell local stories to future generations.
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