27 Parade Street

STREET ADDRESS: 27 Parade Street

CITY/TOWN/VILLAGE: Yarmouth

MUNICIPALITY: Yarmouth

COUNTY: Yarmouth

YEAR BUILT: 1895-1896

ARCHITECTURAL COMMENT:

Queen Anne Revival style church has irregular, multi-level massing. Most of the roof areas are gabled and of medium pitch; one tower has a steep hip roof, one has a flat roof and the third has a conical roof. The asymmetrical facade has recessed entrances in center and west (bell) towers, both of which have round arched stained glass transoms and various stone trim elements. Most windows have double hung sashes and 1/1 glazing; there are several sets of paired windows; front gable and west transept have large rose windows; center tower has a half-round window near top and there are two windows between the center and east (round) tower which are set in segmental arch openings. Brick construction with many, varied trim details including stone belt courses and lintels, corbelled trim in verges, moulded cornices and decorative buttresses on west tower and east wall.

HISTORICAL COMMENT:

Built in 1895-1896 by James E. Huestis. The original site chosen for this church was deemed insufficient and was sold to Townsend Anderson, who made a lawn of it. It is now the site of 11 Parade Street.

CONTEXTUAL COMMENT:

South side of street, midway in block. A large, round arched window on east wall has been replaced with 2 paired windows and the crenellated parapet on center tower has been removed. Some brick has been replaced.

PRESENT OWNER: Trustees of First Baptist Church

ADDRESS: Parade Street, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

YEAR BUILT: 1895-1896

ORIGINAL OWNER: Trustees of the First Baptist Church of Yarmouth

OCCUPATION: NA

BUILDER: James E. Huestis

ORIGINAL USE: Church

PRESENT USE: Church

COMMENTS ON HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS:

Yarmouth Reminiscences, pp. 540-541:

"The tender for the erection of New Zion Baptist Church was awarded to James E. Huestis in February, 1895. The proposed site for the building was sold to J. Townsend Anderson, who converted it into a lawn. A new location a little farther up Parade street was purchased, between the dwellings of George G. Sanderson and John Killam. The building is 92x95 feet, and is of brick and stone, with large, beautiful art glass windows. The corner stone was laid on the 18th July, 1895. There was a dense fog prevailing, which turned into rain before the exercises were finished. Rev. J. H. Foshay conducted the services, which began with the hymn: "Zion Stands with Hills Surrounded," followed by the prayer of invocation by Rev. G. R. White, pastor of Temple Church. The presentation of the trowel by contractor Treen to Mrs. W. H. Gridley was made, after which the sone was laid by Mrs. Gridley with the usual ascription and formula. The pastor, Rev. Mr. Foshay, then delivered a brief historic sketch of the church, and at its conclusion Rev. J. E. Goucher, pastor of the Milton Baptist church, offered prayer. The services ended by singin the hymn: "I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord," and the pronouncing of the Benediction. The church was dedicated on Sunday, June 7th, 1896. The sermon in the morning was delivered by Rev. Prof. Kierstadt, of Acadia College, and in the evening by the venerable Rev. Dr. Morse. Rev. J. H. Foshay, pastor of the church, read an interesting historical address, and took a prominent part at each service. The special dedicatory service was held in the afternoon, at which Revs. J. H. Saunders and George R. White delivered addresses and Rev. E. M. Kierstadt delivered the Invocation, and dedicatory prayer by Rev. Dr. Morse. Crowded congregations were present at all of these services. In the evening Mr. Charles L. Power was presented with a handsome gold headed cane, accompanied by an address from the church, upon his retirement as treasurer of the church and his removal from Yarmouth. The first wedding in the church was that of Miss Anna Leighton McGray, daughter of A. E. McGray, and Mr. Amos LeFavour O'Dell, of Beverly, Mass., on Tuesday afternoon, June 14th, 1898, by Rev. J. H. Foshay, pastor."

SOURCES: Registry of Deeds; Yarmouth Reminiscences, pp. 540-541 (J. M. Lawson, 1902) Yarmouth Nova Scotia, 1918.