 In St. John's, the Natives' Society was formed by Richard Barnes in 1840 and elected its first president, Dr. Edward Kielly, on June 15, 1840.The cornerstone of the society’s hall, located at Bannerman Park, was laid by Civil Governor of Newfoundland Sir John Harvey on May 24, 1845.The completed hall fell in a windstorm on September 19, 1846, killing two people.