A lost Paradise landmark holds the key to mysterious new blue monument

For Jessie Jones of Paradise, N.L., the mysterious blue structure seemed to appear in the town's roundabout overnight.

Jones thought the skeletal metal pieces might be a frame for a "Welcome to Paradise" sign, but no such sign materialized. Then she noticed people in the "Town of Paradise" Facebook group posting questions about it. 

"Some people were posting like, 'Does anyone know what that blue thing is?' And I just thought that was really funny because no one seemed to really know what it was."

So Jones started a Facebook group devoted to sharing memes about the mysterious origins of the object in the roundabout. 

"I thought, if everyone's got the same question, it seems like a good time to make some memes about it."

The memes range from serious to outright absurd, speculating on the blue structure being an adult-sized jungle gym or having been left behind by aliens — but what is it actually supposed to be?

Paradise Mayor Dan Bobbett has the answer: it's a monument to the old Octagon Castle, a four-storey structure with a beach area, housing a hotel, a gallery and a restaurant right on the shores of Octagon Pond.

Bobbett explained the former community landmark burned down over 100 years ago, and when the town had an opportunity to build something in the roundabout to honour Paradise's history, the Octagon Castle was a popular suggestion.

Bobbett said the town did studies to ensure the monument would not be a distraction to drivers.

"There was a challenge for the artist to put something there that's not going to draw too much attention away from your driving and your concentration. And I think they've succeeded," said Bobbett, who pointed out drivers can see through the monument.

The structure will be lit up at night, he said, and shrubbery will be added to the base of the monument.

But the question remains: what was the Octagon Castle? Was it just an old hotel, or was there more to this historic structure that makes it worth memorializing? 

The answer can be found in a small collection of documents and artifacts housed in Memorial University's Queen Elizabeth II library.

Colleen Quigley, the head of MUN's archives and special collections, says the files on the Octagon Castle are among her favourite in the collection. She said the castle was owned by "the very eccentric, extravagant, fabulous, Charles Henry Danielle."