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Park
House
If the walls had ears what a tale they could tell. Park House, known in recent years as the grad house, has been home to many illustrious and influential citizens since it was built more than one hundred years ago. These include members from a variety of fields including business, politics and academia.
Park House escaped the great fire of 1892, which left most of St. John’s in ruins. The exact date in which the house was built is unknown but it appears in the assessment records of 1880.
However we can make an educated guess from the style of the house that it was built sometime between 1877 and 1880.
The style of the house is in keeping with that is known a locally a locally as the Southcott style. John Thomas Southcott, son of a local carpenter, returned to Newfoundland from England around 1877 armed with a degree in architecture. The architectural fashion of the age was the ‘ second empire’ style of building, characterized by a curved mansard roof with dormar windows and bay windows in the ground floor. The building boom in the aftermath of the great fire, allowed Southcott to display his talents throughout
St. John’s. The Second Empire style of building became the trademark of Sothcott’s work. Subsequently this architectural design became known as the Southcott style in Newfoundland. Park House must be one of the earliest examples of Southcott’s work.
In the nineteenth century, the more prosperous the citizen of the St.John’s the further up the hill from Water Street they built. Park House appears to be one of the first houses built on the north side of Military road between Rawlins Cross and the Colonial Building. The house borders on Bannerman Park, hence the name Park House. Due to the house’s proximity to the former legislature, it is possible that the builder had hopes of attracting members of the government as buyers. His hopes were indeed realized, as two Prime Ministers and several other members of the legislature did live in the house. No doubt many plans, which have shaped society throughout the twentieth century in Newfoundland, were hatched in Park House. Household names, which have endured in Newfoundland since the nineteenth century, are to be among the former owners of Park House. These include the Hickmans, Ayres, Carters, summers and Roberts. Some names of owners, once prominent, are no longer common in the town. These include the Kent’s and Gordon’s.
Although the house can be identified in the 1880 fire insurance records, there is nothing documented to confirm the owners at that time. The earliest identification of an owner of the property, Mr.James E Kent, can be found in the water and sewer assessments of 1891 and the listings states that the house was on government ground.
The Kent’s were to the fore in St. John’s society during the nineteenth and early twentieth century. The family included Prime Minister John Kent and several generations of politicians, lawyers, and merchants in
St. John’s. In the late nineteenth century the family business prospered by bringing immigrants from Ireland to
St. John’s. The Irish immigrants held the family in high esteem and Beck’s cove was renamed Kent’s Cove in their honor.Mr.J.E.Kent was the nephew of John Kent, Prime Minister and the son of Robert Kent who headed the family business. James E Kent started his career in 1885 as an accountant at the Commercial Bank and quickly rose through the ranks in the banking industry. Sir Fred Carter Prime Minister 1864-1869 and 1874-1878 also lived in the house but it is unclear if he did indeed live there during his second term as Prime Minister. The directory 1894-1897 lists the house as the abode of Sir Fred Carter. However Mrs.Kent, wife of J.E.Kent is listed as the owner and occupier of the house from the 1894 assessment role. It is probable that the banker at some point rented the house to the Carters.
Sir Fred Carter held many high profiles positions throughout his life. he served two terms as Prime Minister 1865-1869 and 1874-1878 and was Chief Justice of the Newfoundland Supreme Court from 1880 until his death in 1900.Sir Fred is known as one of the first fathers of confederation. He proposed union with Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec to form the Dominion of Canada in 1867.However Newfoundlanders did not support him in his proposal for Confederation and was defeated on this issue in 1869.
James Gordon, merchant, lawyer and secretary to the High Commissioner of Newfoundland bought the house in 1905 and passed the house to his son Victor. No doubt its proximity to government house was a factor in his decision to buy.
The Hickman’s and the Ayres, merchant families who prospered and employed generations of Newfoundlanders were the next residents.
Albert Hickman (1875-1943) bought the house in 1918.Among his many distinctions is the fact that he served as prime minister for one month in 1924,the shortest term of any to hold such office. Other honors include that he was the MHA for the Bay de Verde 1913-19,MHA for Harbour Grace 1924-28,Leader of the Liberal Party and Minister without portfolio 1917-18.In addition to his political career, he had many business interests. These included manager and director of Smith’s Co.Ltd.wholesale fish exports, coal dealers, ship owners, insurance agents, also agents for Ford Motors. He was also the Consul General for Greece.
Most houses of the vintage and proportions of the dwelling on Military Road have names. However, attempts to uncover a listed name for the house through written documents were unsuccessful. Fortuitously, a letter addressed to Mrs.A.E.Hickman from Boston in 1920,was found in the walls on the second floor bathroom during restoration. The address was given as Park House, Military Road.
James Stuart Ayre, prominent businessman and politician, took ownership of Park House in 1939.Mr.Ayre was the grandson of Charles Robert Ayre, the founder of the Ayer family business concerns. He entered the family business in 1898 as an apprentice and by 1914,was a director of the company. Following the death of the honorable C.P.Ayre, he became chairman of the board. James Ayer served as minister without portfolio in the honorable F.C.Alderdice cabinets of 1928 and 1932-1934.
Moving to more recent times, Dr.Harry Robert’s and family moved into the house in 1951.Dr.Roberts held prominence in the medical society and maintained business interests and was involved in educational issues. He served terms as president of both Newfoundland and Canadian Medical associations. Honors awarded to Dr.Roberts include the Centennial Medal of Canada, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and he was distinguished as a member of the order of Canada.
The Conservation Club took over the house briefly in 1969 then the house reverted to a family home ads
Dr.Williams Summers, his wife and children took up residence.
Dr.Summers is an academic and founded the geography department at memorial. The house must have been a lively place with the summers’ eight children and the family’s love of dogs. They had kennels in the back lot and bred Newfoundland dogs.
The house passed from the Summers family to graduate students of Memorial University. The house became a landmark in
St. John’s and has been known for the past twenty-six years as the “Grad House”. Its purpose was to serve as a residence, social center and a venue for academic functions. Not surprisingly, the Grad House was most successful with its social events and some great music filled the large house. Persistent problems related to maintenance of the larger residence, exacerbated by limited funding, prohibited the Grad House from being equally successful with the other two areas of its mandate. The Grad House has remained connected to the University from 1970 until May 1996.
Park House is a fine example of a St. John’s heritage home and displays structural features of another age. The circular mahogany staircase is one example of the craftsmanship of this era and is the work of Mr. Louis Wigh, cabinetmaker
The main floor boasted two drawing rooms separated by solid wooden sliding doors. The basement housed a kitchen. Pantry space and servants sitting room. Servants could be ushered by way of a bell system connecting the basement to the family rooms. The bedrooms were on the second floor and the master bedroom overlooked Bannerman Park. As was customary, the attic rooms were for the servants who maintained the house.
Each family adapted the house a little to suit its particular taste or needs. Albert Hickman made the most extensive change. He added the rounder addition to the North and east sides of the house. This created a much larger room, a study and a kitchen at the back of the house. The Hickman’s also installed a dumbwaiter to bring family meals from the larger basement kitchen to this new kitchen. Albert Hickman also added the wood paneling whose patina adds warmth to the house.
The exterior of the house has undergone a few changes over the years. These were mostly of a minor nature such as the addition of a porch and changes with the bay windows from two to one and then as at present, two windows. The most extensive change is to the North side of the house overlooking Bannerman Park where the Hickman family renovated.
One of the latest groups to use the house has been the Writers Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador. Once a month, in the large room on the North Side, local and visiting writers have read from their work. It is perhaps fitting that this particular group, who are bound only by imagination, should have filled the walls of the house with their thoughts.
They may have given voice to both the gamut of human experience already lived by former residents and the endless possibilities life might have to offer to those who have yet to enjoy Park House.
THE GRAD HOUSE HAS GRADUATED
Originally called the Park House, this Military Road property has undergone a renaissance
Fronted by wrought iron railing, the property known to thousands of Newfoundland university students as the Grad House is an imposing sight.
Built more than 100 years ago, somewhere between 1870 and 1880,the rue name of the house at 112 military Road is Park House.
The house is an example of what’s known as the International Second Empire style of architecture, a style which was introduced and spread in
St. John’s by the firm of J.and J.T.Southcott.
The concave mansard roof with hooded dormer windows, decorative cornices under the eaves, and bay windows on the first floor are characteristic of the Second Empire style as it appears in
St. John’s.
From 1970 until 1996 the house was a landmark to graduate students of Memorial University. Known as the Grad House, its purpose was to serve as a residence, social center and venue for academic functions.
Now restored to its former grandeur and re-established as a family home, the house bordering on Bannerman Park is truly impressive.
As you come into the house by way of the front door, which is located at the side and not the front of the house, you find yourself in a foyer resplendent with an elaborate plaster ceiling, wonderful arches, oak wainscoting and a lovely mahogany staircase which curves gracefully upwards to the second floor. On the first floor landing a striking architectural feature is the large arched window, which overlooks the park.
Off the foyer, what were once two large drawing rooms separated by wooden pocket doors is now an elegant living and dining room separated by columns, with each room having its own fireplace and bay window.
To the rear of the foyer is a wonderful room, which, while not original to the house, is quite beautiful and very much in keeping with the overall décor.
This room, now planned as a family room, was added in the 1920’s by then owner Albert Hickman. His purpose in adding the rounded extension to the north and east sides of the house was to create a study and an upstairs kitchen.
The new kitchen, however, wasn’t used for cooking. It was mainly a convenient place to concoct a late night snack or to add a final touch to the family meals, which continued to be prepared in the larger basement kitchen. To make it easier to bring meals from the basement kitchen to the first floor dining room the Hickman’s installed a dumbwaiter.
When the extension was complete, Hickman covered the walls in a rich warm mahogany paneling. As well, he added a fireplace and set four windows in a rounded wall, which overlooks Bannerman Park. The windows are of beveled glass with stained glass above. Recent additions to this room are French doors, which open to the back garden.
On the second floor of the house, the master bedroom has two windows, a fireplace, and French doors, which lead to an adjoining sitting room with its own fireplace. The master bedroom’s ensuite bathroom has two windows, one with the original stained glass. A second bedroom here had been turned into a study or den.
On the third floor, the area once decreed for servants and /or children, there are four bedrooms, three with fireplaces. Windows in the two bedrooms at the front of the house allow a spectacular view of Cabot Tower and out through the narrows.
Said to have been built for banker James E Kent, who was the nephew of Newfoundland Prime Minister John Kent, Park House has been home to a number of other prime ministers including Sir Frederick Carter and Albert Hickman.
The St. John’s directory of 1894-1897 lists the house as the home of Sir Fredrick Carter. However Mrs.Kent, wife of the J.E.Kent is listed as the owner for the same period so it is probable the house was rented to the Carters by the Kent’s.
James Gordon, merchant, lawyer and secretary to the High Commissioner of Newfoundland, bought the house in 1905 and passed it on to his son Victor.
Albert Hickman bought the house in 1918.Hickman was the MHA for Bay de Verde from 1913-1919,MHA for Harbour Grace from 1924-1928,leader of the Liberal Party and minister without portfolio from 1917-1918.And for one month in 1924,he served as prime minister.
In addition to his political career, Hickman had many business interests including manager and director of Smith’s
Co. Ltd., wholesale fish exporters, coal dealers, ship owner and agents for Ford Motors. He was also the consul for general for Greece.
James Steward Ayre bought Park Place in 1939.Ayre- the grandson of Charles Robert Ayre, founder of the Ayre family business-entered the family business as a apprentice on 1898.In 1914 he later became chairman of the board. Ayre served as minister without portfolio in the Alderdice cabinets of 1928 and 1932-34.
Dr.Harry Roberts and his family moved into the house, Robert’s son Edward, a well-known Liberal and former provincial cabinet minister, was eight his brother Doug was six and his youngest brother, Peter, was four.
Ed Roberts has fond memories of his childhood home. He remembers it as a wonderful place to grow up. And with Bannerman Park just next door it was easy to clamber over the adjoining fence and drop into the park for a spirited game of hide and seek.
When the Roberts lived in the house, Ed, his brother Doug, as well as two family maids, had bedrooms on the third floor. Ed’s parents and his younger brother, Peter slept on the second floor.
The basement kitchen, done over by the Roberts in white pine, was where the family ate most of their meals.
The well-used basement, a high ceilinged area with plenty of natural light, as well as a dining area set in a bay window, a large laundry room, a pantry, a food storage area and a playroom.
When the Roberts lived in the house, the room added by Albert Hickman-described by Ed as “glorious”-was used as a formal dining room.
After the Roberts, the house was briefly under the stewardship of the Conservative Club. It became a family house when Memorial University professor William Summers and his family moved in and when the Summers left, Park House became the Grad House.
Restored today it its original grandeur and elegance, Park House is once again one of
St. John’s grandest homes.
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