54 Hawthorne Street, c. 1909

This elegant house is an example of the Picturesque Eclectic tradition of styles found in late nineteenth-century domestic architecture. The blocky, square design is a reflection of the Italianate inspiration as the facade has the appearance of a projected tower; the low pitched roof also features ornamental brackets. The structure displays characteristics of the Queen Anne Revival through the two-storey bay windows and decorative pediment with fancy "gingerbread" trim. The house is graced by a large front verandah, complete with detailed treillage. A later addition was made to the structure in the 1950s and the stained glass windows were not part of the original building.

This house was constructed around 1909 by MacNeil's Construction Company; Frank D. MacNeil, a carpenter, was the first owner. In 1914 the house was sold to Alphonse B. Simpson, a prominent business man and manager of the Palace Clothing Company. Simpson did not always reside at the house as he rented it to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for office space. The house was sold in 1930 to J. Ralph Kirk, a politician and successful merchant in Antigonish who sold the property again after only one year.

Peggy Archibald