Other Name(s)
Maplehurst
Maplehurst
George Wentworth Chandler House
Links and documents
Construction Date(s)
Listed on the Canadian Register:
2010/07/09
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
The George Wentworth Chandler House is a rectangular mid-19th century three-storey Second Empire house located on Main Street in Dorchester. It is one of three similar homes in the vicinity built by Edward Barron Chandler as wedding presents for his sons.
Heritage Value
The George Wentworth Chandler House was designated a Local Historic Place for its association with the Chandler family and for its architecture.
The George Wentworth Chandler House is recognized for its association with the Chandler family. Edward Barron Chandler, born in 1800 in nearby Amherst, Nova Scotia, was an eminent lawyer, a Member of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council of New Brunswick, a railway commissioner, a federal senator, a Father of Confederation and a Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick. He was known as the richest man of Westmorland County. In 1831, he built the mansion known as Rocklyn, now a National Historic Site of Canada. With his wife, Phoebe Walker Millidge, E. B. Chandler had eleven children. Of the nine sons of Edward Barron only five outlived him. For his marriage on December 30, 1858, Charles’ son George Wentworth Chandler received from his parents a three-storey Second Empire house located on Main Street near his parent’s home. Charles Upham Chandler and his brother Joshua Chandler were married at a double wedding at Trinity Anglican Church on August 11, 1869. They both received as gifts from their parents similar two-storey Second Empire houses located on Main Street near Rocklyn.
The George Wentworth Chandler House is recognized for its architecture. Built circa 1858, the house is a good example of residential Second Empire architecture from this era. Its exterior and interior appearance hasn’t changed much. The mansard roof with dormer windows and the three stone chimneys are still in place. The home also features moulded cornices and decorative brackets under the eaves. A two-storey bay window, decorative quoins and the attached carriage house are still intact. The interior is remarkable with its three staircases, including a central three-storey staircase with original newel post and spindles, eight bedrooms, six fireplaces, original windows with air bubbles and distortions, original window and door mouldings, plaster crown mouldings and medallions and a plaster arch in the hallway. In the basement is a lead lined water reservoir that was hand pumped to upper floors plumbing. Also existing in the basement is an original bread oven.
Source: Dorchester Village Hall, Local Historic Places file #10.2
Character-Defining Elements
The character-defining elements of the George Wentworth Chandler House include:
- symmetrical rectangular massing;
- mansard roof with gable dormer windows;
- three stone chimneys;
- moulded cornices;
- decorative brackets under the eaves;
- two-storey bay window;
- rectangular, segmented arch and Roman arch windows;
- decorative quoins;
- full-width enclosed front veranda;
- attached carriage house;
- three staircases, including a central three-storey staircase with original newel post and spindles;
- six fireplaces;
- original windows with air bubbles and distortions;
- original window and door mouldings;
- plaster crown mouldings and medallions;
- plaster arch in the hallway;
- water reservoir and original bread oven in the basement.
Recognition
Jurisdiction
New Brunswick
Recognition Authority
Local Governments (NB)
Recognition Statute
Local Historic Places Program
Recognition Type
Municipal Register of Local Historic Places
Recognition Date
2010/04/19
Historical Information
Significant Date(s)
n/a
Theme - Category and Type
- Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
- Architecture and Design
Function - Category and Type
Current
Historic
- Residence
- Single Dwelling
Architect / Designer
n/a
Builder
Edward Barron Chandler
Additional Information
Location of Supporting Documentation
Village of Dorchester, 4984 Main Street, Dorchester, NB, E4K 2Z1, Local Historic Places File # 10.2
Cross-Reference to Collection
Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier
2108
Status
Published
Related Places
n/a