"Chestnut Hill", 14 Chestnut Street, c. 1870

"Chestnut Hill" is another splendid example of Gothic Revival architecture in Antigonish. Built in 1870, this house served as the residence of Thomas M. King, owner of the general store, T.M. King and Company, known locally as the "Yankee Store". In 1871, after his Main Street store closed, King was appointed local agent for the Merchant's Bank of Halifax (forerunner of the Royal Bank).

"Chestnut Hill" stands on an imposing height of land framed by trees. This 2 1/2 storey house has many direct links to Gothic Revival. The builder clearly drew upon this tradition with such elements as the prominent steeply pitched gables, the wraparound one-storey porch, and the elaborately hooded windows. One of the most distinctive features of this style was the emphasis on decorative detailing and vertical line which helped loosen the bonds of classicism. "Chestnut Hill" contrasts sharply with the chaste mouldings and pilasters of "Armadale" at 102 Church Street. It features a plethora of lavish woodwork trim, most notably the lacy gingerbread vergeboards along the eaves, the turned gallery pillars and wooden finials, and the triangular window mouldings. These fanciful elements all heighten the house's verticality and visual impact. From the 1850s to early 1900s, this rich diversity of detail was made possible by the development of local woodworking mills fitted with an infinite variety of gingerbread patterns as well as scroll saws, band saws and lathes. Like "Seaview Cottage" on 90 Church Street, "Chestnut Hill" enjoys an harmonious bond with its natural setting. Gothic Revival, after all, was best-suited to a rural-type setting. Moreover, its profuse emphasis on gables and wide porches was not physically compatible with the typically narrow town lots of Antigonish.

Denise Surette

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