Rabbittown is a neighbourhood in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...

. It is located near downtown

Downtown St. John's

Downtown St. John's is the historic core and central business district of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Located north of St. John's harbour, it is the business, entertainment, and tourism centre with office buildings, hotels, restaurants, and other services.The historic boundaries...

, and is bounded approximately by Empire Avenue, Freshwater Road and Newtown Road.

History

Rabbittown was first developed in the years between World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 and World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. Many of the street names correspond to locations where the Newfoundland Regiment fought or was stationed during World War I. Merrymeeting Road is the primary traffic and commercial street.

Boundaries

Rabbittown exists primarily on the North ("outer") side of Merrymeeting Road, which was one of the early official boundaries of the City of St. John's. The neighbourhood is home to many students; the neighbourhood is within walking distance of Memorial University of Newfoundland

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...

, and contains many relatively low-rent apartments.

Community

Rabbittown is generally a residential area. The area's primary commercial enterprises are two grocery stores; Coleman's and Sobey's, as well as two barber shops and several independent family-owned short-order restaurants serving local favourites (fish, chips, dressing & gravy; turkey dinner, etc.) The area is also served by two convenience stores, a drugstore and one gas station.

The Rabbittown Community Centre, which is located at 26 Graves Street, hosts a number of services for different age groups. There is a teen program, an afterschool program, an adults' neighborhood group. Also on-site are an Employment counselor, a CAP site and a nurse.

The Rabbittown Theatre Company (who work from a facility of the same name) is a successful small theatre company located in the area, at the corner of Merrymeeting Road and Linscott Street. The Theatre (with its Company) are the only institutions other than the community centre to formally bear the name of the neighbourhood.

The Hub, which refers to itself as "The Physically Disabled Service Centre" is on Merrymeeting Road, in the heart of the neighbourhood.

Religion

The Seventh-day Adventist Church

Seventh-day Adventist Church

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...

has both a strong history and a current presence in the neighbourhood, with its only St. John's church located on Aldershot Street. The original Adventist manse was at 106 Freshwater Road. That building was eventually replaced with a three-story Adventist Academy (high school) and an Adventist elementary school at 154 Freshwater. When public funding for religious schools was cut in 1997, the two schools were consolidated, and the only Adventist school in the province, St. John's Adventist Academy, is now located at the site of the old elementary school. Due to lack of funding, the school has not operated since 2003, but plans are reported to be in the works to consolidate church and school buildings and reopen the school. The old high school building is now the home of the Rabbittown Theatre Company.

Streets in Rabbittown

(arranged west to east)

• Empire Avenue
• Graves Street
• Little Street
• Winchester Street
• Freshwater Road
• Liverpool Avenue
• Monchy Street
• Hamel Street
• Suez Street
• Suvla Street
• Cairo Street
• Salisbury Street

• Malta Street
• Aldershot Street
• Goodridge Street
• Rankin Street
• Hennebury Place
• Calver Avenue
• Merrymeeting Road
• Edinburgh Street
• McNeil Street
• Summer Street
• Newtown Road
• Linscott Street

• Blatch Avenue
• Avalon Street
• Howley Avenue
• Howley Avenue Extension
• Calver Street
• Scott Street
• St. George's Court
• Cook Street
• Feild Street
• Spencer Street

External links

• Rabbittown Community Centre