HISTORY
EDUCATION
EDUCATION
SALVATION ARMY
by Gail Hussey-Weir
Created November 2021; updated October 2022
by Gail Hussey-Weir
Created November 2021; updated October 2022
The July 1991 photo below shows the former Salvation Army School with the SA Cemetery on the east side of it as seen from 3rd Street. The Salvation Army school was named "Robert Tilley Memorial" in honour of Robert Tilley (1882-1941), who served as the Salvation Army Officer on Bell Island c.1912-14. (See his bio below.) I believe the white house immediately south of the school was the Salvation Army officers' residence. Photo by Gail Hussey-Weir.
It is unclear when the first Salvation Army school was built on Bell Island, but in May 1935, Adjt. Hewitt was having renovations made to the Salvation Army residence and school. Source: Bown, NHBI, 1935, p. 58.
When the United Church school, Jackson Memorial, was officially opened on January 16, 1945, Dr. I.F. Curtis, Executive Officer in the United Church Board of Education, gave a speech in which he mentioned "the new Salvation Army School, now in its final stages of construction."
When the United Church school, Jackson Memorial, was officially opened on January 16, 1945, Dr. I.F. Curtis, Executive Officer in the United Church Board of Education, gave a speech in which he mentioned "the new Salvation Army School, now in its final stages of construction."
Robert Tilley (1882-1941), after whom the Salvation Army School on Bell Island, Robert Tilley Memorial, was named, was the Salvation Army officer serving Bell Island c. 1912-14. He was born in Kelligrews, NL, to Rebecca Butler and Samuel Tilley. He was educated in Kelligrews, at the Salvation Army College, and at Queen's University. He was converted to the Salvation Army in 1902 and became a probationary lieutenant in 1906. He served the Salvation Army at Monkstown, Grand Bank, Tilt Cove, Bell Island, Gambo and Channel. In 1922, he was appointed general secretary of the Salvation Army in Newfoundland, and also taught in the Salvation Army College in St. John's. In 1928, he was appointed divisional commander in Halifax. From 1932 to 1936, he was divisional commander in Hamilton, ON. In 1936, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel (the first Newfoundlander to achieve this rank) and was appointed divisional commander for Newfoundland.
Source: Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, V. 5, p. 386.
Source: Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, V. 5, p. 386.