Description

The "old school" in Eastport was identified as a historical site that could be revitalized and transformed into a regional heritage centre. This building, constructed early in the 20th century, has significance for many local residents who would have attended school here.

After closing in 1968 the building was transformed into the Prince Dyke Memorial Theatre, site of many drama presentations during the Eastport Festival of the Arts in the summers of the 1970s. Through the 1980s and 90s it housed a privately operated movie theatre, which closed in 1993.

The building was no longer used until it was purchased by the Eastport Peninsula Heritage Society in 2000. The Society had the building renovated and reopened as The Beaches Heritage Centre in June 2001. Since then, it has operated as a year-round facility, offering music shows and workshops, drama presentations, children’s programs, visual art exhibits, workshops and displays in traditional crafts, pre-school programs, variety concerts, an accordion festival and a very successful literary festival. These are just some of the events that have occurred at the Centre.