Official homepage for the Town of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

STREET ADDRESS: 15 Collins Street

CITY/TOWN/VILLAGE: Yarmouth

MUNICIPALITY: Yarmouth

COUNTY: Yarmouth

YEAR BUILT: 1894

ARCHITECTURAL COMMENT:

Queen Ann Revival in style, this is a two storey home of wood construction. The symmetrical two bay facade has an off centered doorway. The roof is steeply pitched and decorative brackets support the eaves. There are two large, end wall chimneys and a small open veranda to the back of the east side. Wooden steps and a decorative railing lead up to the enclosed portico which has stained glass windows at the sides and elaborate woodwork above. There are two storey bays at either side with pedimented false gables above. Another three sided bay at the front is trimmed above with a small railing and below with elaborate wood carvings. There are several stained glass windows of various designs. The house is clad in narrow clapboard with wide cornerboards and the two stories are divided with scallop woodwork. The foundation is of cemented stone and the above ground exterior is faced with red brick.

HISTORICAL COMMENT:

In June of 1894 Ann Willett Spinney (widow of the late H. Arthur Spinney) purchase this lot from Margaret Jane Corning (also a widow) for $600.00. Lawson tells us that Mrs. Spinney's house on Collins Street was erected that same year. Mrs. Spinney later married Harvey S. Tedford, a carpenter and upon the death of his wife Tedford purchased the house from her Executor, John Anderson, for $5.300.00. the house was later owned by Ada Ross, wife of Joseph Wiley Ross, a Master Mariner and then by the Margolian family who also owned real estate in Truro and Montreal.

CONTEXTUAL COMMENT:

Situated next to a brick building of similar style, a small garage with matching roof is located at the rear and a lawn extends to one side. In recent years the house has been converted into two apartments. Early pictures show that the tower originally had a pointed section above the present flat roof. Although it is beginning to show some signs of decay (notably on the steps and veranda) few changes have been made to the original structure.

PRESENT OWNER: Bike Man Services

ADDRESS: 7324 189 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5T 5G6

ORIGINAL OWNER: Ann Willett Spinney

OCCUPATION: Widow

BUILDER: Harvey Tedford

ORIGINAL USE: Home

PRESENT USE: Single family dwelling

COMMENTS ON HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS:

"Mr. Harvey G. Tedford is just about completing a handsome large residence on Collins Street for Mrs. A.A. Spinney (nee Willett). The exterior appearance is very pleasing, the outline being bold, with the details elaborately worked out. The front door is reached by a broad flight of steps. The hall, the parlour and the sitting room are finished in American quartered oak, beautifully carved. Folding doors connect the three rooms. There is a handsome oak mantel and gate in the sitting room, also a mantel in the parlour. Considerable art glass is used in the windows, a panel in the parlor window being particularly beautiful. The dining room faces the west. It is finished in ash with birch floor and has two china closets. The kitchen is snug and convenient to pantry, dining room, washroom, etc. A side door leads from the back hall to a pleasant veranda facing south east. There are inside and outside entrances to the cellar. On the second floor are three large bedrooms, a sewing room, a servant's room and a bathroom. The bedroom over the sitting room is very pleasant, being lighted by a large bay window, and having an open fireplace and mantel. It is connected by a door with the bathroom. To assure the public that the workmanship is first class it is only necessary to mention the names of those employed in the construction of the house, H. G. Tedford, builder; - Thos. Redding, plasterer; Alvin Earle, painter; G.J. Morton, plumber; Jas. Doane, carver."

SOURCES: Yarmouth Light, (August 2, 1894)(Jan. 10, 1895) Registry of Deeds (Yarmouth) Yarmouth Directories 1890, 1895 Yarmouth Past and Present, J. Lawson (p.571)

p>STREET ADDRESS: 14 Collins Street

CITY/TOWN/VILLAGE: Yarmouth

MUNICIPALITY: Yarmouth

COUNTY: Yarmouth

YEAR BUILT: circa 1845

ARCHITECTURAL COMMENT:

New England Colonial in style, this is a two and a half storey home of wood construction. the symmetrical five bay facade has a centered doorway and the gable roof has return eaves. The two small chimneys are inset. The twelve pane, double hung windows are trimmed with narrow casings and the modern addition of false shutters. There is one rounded window in the upper storey. Two columns support a roof above the main entrance. Side lights and a rounded window above the trim the portico. A pedimented false gable is situated above the upper storey bay. The house is clad in narrow clapboard and trimmed with narrow cornerboards. A modern deck has been added to back.

HISTORICAL COMMENT:

Although no deed could be found to James D. Cann, we do know that in November of 1845 Cann and his wife Harriett took out a mortgage on this property with John Bingay for £ 50. John Bingay died within the next few years and James Cann failed to meet the terms of their agreement. the next record available is a Sheriff's deed from Joseph Shaw (High Sheriff) to Rev. Robert Wilson for £ 240. The home was owned for some time by Benjamin Killam, Jr., he died insolvent in 1876 and the house was sold by an assignee of his estate. The house has had several notable owners over the years. Lawson (p. 569) states "Postermater Hood purchased the homestead of Rev. Dr. Day, corner Collins and Willow Streets, in September 1889 for $3,000.00.

CONTEXTUAL COMMENT:

Situated at the intersection of two streets, surrounded by narrow lawns, this house has been kept in excellent condition. As one of the oldest homes in the neighbourhood this is the only one of England Colonial design in the area.

PRESENT OWNER: Bruce Johnson

ADDRESS: 14 Collins Street Yarmouth, N.S. B5A 2C2

ORIGINAL OWNER: James D. Cann

OCCUPATION: Mariner

BUILDER: Unknown

ORIGINAL USE: Home

PRESENT USE: Home

COMMENTS ON HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS:

Born in Weymouth, Mr. Alexander Hood began his early career as a tinsmith and carried on this trade in Yarmouth. It developed into the largest stove store in south western Nova Scotia. He was appointed postmaster after the resignation of A. Lawson, Esq. and began this career in 1864. He erected what is believed to be the first post office building in the province. this small building was on the west side of Main Street.

In 1865 he erected a three storey block of buildings on the corner of Main and Collins Streets, known as "Hood's building". Into this building Mr. Hood moved the post office and it remainded here until the completion of the Dominion public building in March 1887.

SOURCES: Yarmouth Past and Present, Lawson, p.564 Registry of Deeds (Yarmouth) Yarmouth Directories (1890)(1895) A.F. Church Map (1870) BEV Map (1889) D.D. Currie Publisher

STREET ADDRESS: 47 Alma Street

CITY/TOWN/VILLAGE: Yarmouth

MUNICIPALITY: Yarmouth

COUNTY: Yarmouth

YEAR BUILT: 1863-1870

ARCHITECTURAL COMMENT:

Greek Revival in style, this is a one and a half storey home of mainly wood construction. The symmetrical two bay facade has an off-centered door in an enclosed porch. An entabliture is found above the portico with windows at the sides and pilasters on the corners. The medium pitched gable roof has non-return eaves and an over-hanging eaveline. The chimney is discreetly placed at the peak. The windows are six over six double hung with dog-eared labels above. Three sided bay windows are found on the East and West sides as well as on the facade. A small, six sided window, also with dog-eared label is found in the peak of the front gable. Gabled dormers project on either side of the roof. An ell containing a second chimney & an open porch, extends to the rear. The house has been covered with vinyl siding and sits on a concrete foundation.

HISTORICAL COMMENT:

This property was originally part of the Henry G. Farish Estate and was left to his son, Henry G. Farish (Jr.) in 1856. Mr. Farish (Jr.) conveyed the property to Nehemiah K. Clements in 1863 at which time there appears to have been no buildings on the property. It is uncertain whether Mr. N.K. Clements resided here or not, he having owned several other properties. As shown by the A.F. Church map, the house was constructed 1870 and Charles W. Clements, a brother of N.K. Clements, was residing here. It was not until 1872, however, that the property was deeded to Charles Clements. The house has been owned since 1896 by the Harding family. Mr. W.L. Harding was a well-known merchant. He and his wife moved to Yarmouth in the 1890's and bought the I.H. Goudey's Crockery store, what is now 276 Main Street. The china shop was run by the Harding family under the name of W.L. Harding's up until the early 1980's.

CONTEXTUAL COMMENT:

Situated on its original site on the Southeast corner of Alma and Clements Streets, this house is partially hidden from view by two large trees. A driveway and small shed are found at the rear.

PRESENT OWNER: J. Benoit/AnneMarie Robichaud

ADDRESS: 10 Highland Avenue Yarmouth, Nova Scotia B5A 2A2

ORIGINAL OWNER: Nehemiah K. Clements

OCCUPATION: Merchant

BUILDER: Unknown

ORIGINAL OWNER: Residential

PRESENT USE: Residential

COMMENTS ON HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS:

Charles W. Clements, Esq. was the son of Captain Elkanah Clements the 2nd. In 1839 he married Margaret Crosby and together they had eleven children. Captain C.W. Clements is shown as a Master Mariner as well as a Merchant in the town of Yarmouth. He died at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston on July 18th, 1887 at the age of 72.

Yarmouth Reminiscences, p.571: "The homestead property of the late Capt. Charles W. Clements, corner of Alma and Clements streets, was purchased at auction by Mrs. S.F. Raymond on the 5th September, 1894, for $1900."

SOURCES: Registry of Deeds (Yarmouth) 1949 Yarmouth Directory McAlpine Directories (1890)(1895) Doane's Scrapbook of Obituaries, p.45 The Yarmouth Herald (Wed., July 20, 1887)