Item

The Bay Pilot
Dec. 11, 1879
Dr. Parker's New Residence
The residence recently in course of erection for Dr. N. D. G. Parker, is now completed, and from the commanding site occupied, standing as it does on the top of the hill to the southward of Fort Tipperary must always attract the attention of all persons approaching the town of St. Andrews by land or water. It is by all odds the handsomest residence within many miles of it, and it is to be sincerely hoped that Dr. and Mrs. Parker and family may be long spared in health and comfort to occupy it. The house is in the Doric style of Architecture, two stories with mansard roof, diamond coursed, the roof will ornamented with an iron cresting. On the south-east end is a three-story bay window. The main entrance is 6 feet wide with a glass panel door surmounted by an elaborate portico, with heavy bracketed corners. The foundation wall is of stone; the main building is 44x37 feet, 8 inch, post 24 feet, the L two stories high is 27 feet by 22, post 16 feet. The basement is seven feet in the clear, is well lighted and ventilated, in it is a Magee furnace, of the latest pattern, a wine cellar, coal cellar, etc., and a circular brick tank, capacity 2,000 gallons, into which conductors lead the rain water.

First Flat
Immediately inside the main door is a vestibule 8 x 7 feet, separated from the hall by a fancy glass panelled door. Opening this door we step into a hall 21 feet long by 7 feet 6 inches wide, ceiling 11 feet high, the floor is southern pine; to the right are doors leading into two fine rooms, a parlor and sitting room, each 18 feet square, finished in ash, marble mantles, and low down grates, to the left of the hall – front – is a room 16 feet square, finished in pine, slate mantles and grate, to be fitted up as a library; fireplaces are to be used only when the furnace is not in operation. At the latter end of the hall is a breakfast room 10 ½ by 10 feet finished in architrave; off this room is a pantry 13 x 10 feet, fitted up with drawers, closets, etc., from which a door leads into the kitchen.
Returing to the hall we approach the stairs in rear of the library. The stairs are four feet wide with landings half-way up each flight, rises 6 ¾ inches and tread 11 inches; the ballisters and rails of black walnut, at the foot a very handsome panelled mottled walnut newel post, with care receiver on top.

The Second Flat
Is divided by an irregular hall 12 feet wide and 16 feet long. On this over the parlor and sitting room on the first flat at two rooms each 18 feet by 16 ½, ceiling 10 feet, heavy architrave finish, with mantles and grates, intended for a parlor and bedroom; over the library is a bedroom 16 feet square, with mantles and grates, and finished in ash; at the rear end of the hall is a clothes closet 6 feet by 5, finished in cedar, off which is a dressing room, and then the bathroom 10 feet square, fitted up with all the conveniences including plunge and shower bath, wash stand supplied with cold and hot water, the former from a tank with a capacity of 200 gallons, fixed in a corner of the room, the latter from a large copper cylinder connected with the cooking stove in the kitchen. The third flat it is not intended to finish at present.
In the ell of the first flat is the kitchen 16 feet by 12 in which there is a large iron sink with closet attached, it is supplied with warm water from the copper cylinder, and cold from the cellar tank by a force pump which also forces water into the bathroom tank. A door in the kitchen leads to the cellar, off it is a room 16 by 8 feet, intended for a washroom. On the northwest side of the ell is a hall 4 ½ feet wide running its entire length to a door leading into the yard. The second flat is reached by a stairway running up between the washroom and kitchen; it contains two comfortable rooms for the use of the servants, a door leads from it to the second flat of the main house. The handles to the doors are of solid bronze, the handles to the fittings in bathrooms, closets, etc., are nickel-plated.

The roof of the house is on Asphaltum, and was laid by Mr. Fraser of St. Stephen. On the north-west side of the house a very fine barn has been erected size 38 by 28 post 20 feet, hip roof shingled, with a ventilator on top. The lower room is divided into a carriage room 27 x 16, stable 27 x 19 and divided into one box and three common stalls, and a harness room. Adjoining the barn is a woodshed 36 x 28 and 12 feet post – opposite the wood house a well has been dug, and fitted with a glass cylinder pump.

The house has been painted inside in two shades of drab. Along the street line an irregular picket fence has been put up, the grounds between the fence and house are to be laid out in a manner to correspond with the building. The architect was Mr. Matthew Hanna; the contractors and builders Matthew Hanna and Son. The plastering and chimnies by Jas. McKenzie; the foundation wall by Lindsay Thompson; the painting by W. Robinson and Son, all of St. Stephen, and the plumbing by Mr. John Leahan of Calais. The work all appears to be of first class and creditable to the gentlemen in the different departments thereof. The house is an ornament to the town, and we trust ere long it will have many companions.

Beacon
Sept 5, 1907
New Summer House
The purchase by Mr. Charles F. Smith, of the Dr. Parker lot near the Algonquin Hotel, has been ratified by the owner, who is in England. Mr. Smith, who has about completed his first season her and who is charmed with the town as a summer resort, will very shortly begin the erection of a beautiful summer house for himself on his new estate. The house will occupy the site of the Parker residence, which was destroyed many years ago, but will be considerably larger.