Petite Forte is both typical and atypical of the Newfoundland outport. It is typical in that it came into being as an outport of Paradise and was likely first settled by Patrick Hayden in the early 1830s. It survived for years in the fishing industry and had become the major port for that section of Placentia Bay by overtaking Paradise in importance in the 1930s. It is atypical in that, despite isolation (it did not get a road connection until 1992), it resisted resettlement and now has remade itself as a cultural tourism destination. When Patrick Hayden chose his land, he chose well for it provides a good sheltered berthing for boats,.and good ground for the making of fish. Sheltered from the sea winds, the Hayden houses have changed little in the century since they were built. The one exception is that the large gable dormer on the principal house was taken off in 1926.

Both houses are standard two and a half-storey gable roofed houses. When Patricia Hayden Ryan (grand-daughter of Capt. Patrick Hayden) took over the house with her husband, John Ryan, they opened the Anchors Down Inn, a bed and breakfast and began to attract people to this previously isolated outport. Their interest was in preservation of the buildings from sill to saddle: from foundation to roof. The house is - like so many of our buildings - supported on shores. Instead of replacing them with a modern concrete foundation, the Ryans used the traditional form. All the window boxes and sashes had to be replaced but the old glass was saved for reuse BB and to keep the visual character of the house. The clapboard was replaced and, where necessary, sheathing and studs. But the defining characteristic of the house, the dormer, had been gone for over seventy years. This they restored both for character and to bring more light into the attic storey.But, they didn=t stop with the houses. They also recognized the value of the store on the wharf as part of the cultural landscape. This too was restored. Working with them on this project were two local fishermen, Eric Hayden and George Power. These buildings are a testament to their skills.The Southcott Award for the Hayden Residence recognizes the work of Patricia Hayden-Ryan, Eric Hayden and George Power for their work in preserving this grouping of buildings that recall the great western boat fishery.