A Renaissance man before the Renaissance
By Robert Mellin

Premier Joseph R Smallwood enthusiastically embraced modern architecture as part of his effort to create a new era of progress in Newfoundland. Prestige building projects were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of his administration, and while travelling he was always on the lookout for the latest developments in architectural design. In the early 1950s, Smallwood was reluctant to hire local architects, and he was especially enamoured of German technology and expertise. He toured Germany three times from 1950 to 1952 with Alfred Valdmanis, his Latvian-born Director-General of Economic Development, and various cabinet ministers to promote his post-Confederation industrialization strategy. After advertising in the German press to entice architects to work in Newfoundland, on his second tour in September 1951 Smallwood met with German architect and engineer Dr Ernest A Steinbrink and his partner, architect Franz Thormählen. Smallwood’s plan was to engage these German architects for the in-house design of all public buildings in the province. On October 4, 1951, Thormählen wrote to Smallwood to follow up on work possibilities in Newfoundland:

I herewith beg to confirm the two conversations we had at Duisburg and at Hannover (in the presence of Mr Curtis[i]), in which you offered my partner Dr Steinbrink and me to assist us in establishing an architectural practice in Newfoundland, insofar as you proposed to give us a contract according to which we should be obliged to design such buildings as the Government desires for a fixed annual remuneration for the time the contract will be effective.[ii]

Thormählen was not able to relocate to Newfoundland, but he prepared sketches for a proposed infirmary in St John’s after discussing this project possibility with Smallwood. According to Memorial University Professor Gerhard P Bassler, Thormählen also designed the Superior Rubber Co Ltd plant at Holyrood, recently demolished. Bassler wrote, “The Steinbrinks (Ernest and his wife Ingeborg) arrived at Easter 1952 with 12 feet of snow in St John’s and had to walk to the Crosbie Hotel in search of accommodation. Struck by the poverty, they felt they were being looked at askance and as if they were taking something away from locals …”[iii]

Read the full article in NQ Winter 2025: The Newfoundland Renaissance. Copies are available at these fine stores, or you can subscribe here.

[i] Leslie R Curtis, Minister of Justice in Smallwood’s administration.
[ii] MUN Archives, Smallwood Papers Collection no. 75, folder 3.04.005.
[iii] Gerhard P Bassler, Escape Hatch: Newfoundland’s Quest for German Industry and Immigration, 1950-1970 (Flanker Press, St John’s, 2017), page 173.