Description of Historic Place

Sunder House, one of the largest homes in Woodstock, is a two-storey neo-classical house featuring a unique Tudor arch veranda. The house is located centrally on an elevated lot on Green Street. The house and grounds are included in the local historic place.

Heritage Value

Sunder House is designated a Local Historic Place for its aesthetic value and for its association with the Connell and Sunder families.

Sunder House is recognized for its aesthetic value. Its exceptionally large early neo-classical design features distinctive architectural characteristics and a pleasing balance of classic and Tudor elements. The grounds originally included much of the present day Green and Orange Streets. Today, the elevated lot and original maple and elm trees still create an impression of a grandiose property.

Sunder House is also recognized for its association with the Connell and Sunder families. The home was built for George Heber Connell, son of the Honourable Charles Connell, in 1857. Charles Connell was active in all three levels of politics, including a term as Postmaster of New Brunswick. The house was purchased in 1903 by Lt. Col. Sunder MD, a distinguished surgeon, and his wife Clara Isabel Shea Boyer, former Baptist missionary to India.

Source: Carleton County Historical Society Historic Places File #23

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the exterior of the house associated with its aesthetic value include:
- symmetry of the house;
- large footprint;
- two stories plus full attic;
- wide pilasters;
- pronounced entablature and returns;
- surrounds;
- fin-de-siecle shingles;
- veranda with Tudor arches;
- two storey glassed in porch at north end;
- large square double bay added after 1889 with central attic dormer on facade;
- long ell at rear;
- elevated grounds with original maple and elm trees.

The character-defining elements associated with the Connell family include:
- eave decoration mimicking the Honourable Charles Connell House at 128 Connell Street;
- located on former Connell land.