Other Name(s)
Chestnut Hall
Cottage Craft
Harris Hatch House
Maison Harris Hatch
Ross Memorial Museum
Musée Ross Memorial
Links and documents
Construction Date(s)
1824/01/01
Listed on the Canadian Register:
2007/07/26
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
Chestnut Hall is a 2-storey brick Neo-Classical building with hipped roof and an elaborate central entranceway. It is located on Montague Street in St. Andrews.
Heritage Value
Chestnut Hall is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and for its association with the people and businesses that have occupied this home.
Chestnut Hall is recognized for its architecture. It is an excellent example of a two-storey brick Neo-Classical home. The central entranceway with detailed fan window and sidelights is a strong characteristic of this style. The main characteristics of the interior are the Corinthian modillions and the beautiful spiral staircase.
Chestnut Hall is also recognized for its association with the people and the businesses that have occupied this building. It was built in 1824 for Harris Hatch. Mr. Hatch was admitted as an attorney in 1808. Two years later, he was named Registrar of Deeds and Wills for Charlotte County and served the militia of the county for many years. In 1838, he was appointed to the Legislative Assembly and in 1842 was named Commissioner for the Estates and Bankruptcy in Charlotte County. He was also president of the Charlotte County Bank and of the Agricultural Society and member of the St. Andrews and Quebec Railway company. He passed away in 1839 and was succeeded as Judge of Probate by his eldest son, Harris Hatch Jr. The home remained with Harris' daughter, Mrs. James David Green, until 1902.
In 1920, Grace Helen Mowatt obtained this building as her retail store named “Cottage Craft”, staying in business at this location for 18 years. In 1915, she had founded Charlotte County Cottage Craft to provide a source of income for women and to revive their traditional skills. She divided Charlotte County, as well as neighbouring counties, into districts, assigning a forewoman in each district to direct the work of women weaving, knitting, hooking, doll making, and embroidery in the privacy of their own homes. Everything was made from local wool, colours, and dyes. The expertise obtained by these women inspired their children thus the influence of the revival of traditional skills is still apparent in the region today.
Chestnut Hall is also recognized through its association with Henry Phipps Ross and Sarah Juliette Ross. While visiting St. Andrews in 1902, this American couple became attached to the town's beauty. The Ross', after spending many years in St. Andrews, purchased Chestnut Hall in 1938 to house their extensive collection of fine furniture, oriental carpets, and art from their world travels. In 1945, they bequeathed Chestnut Hall to the town of St. Andrews for a museum of their collection and a lasting legacy of their affection for St. Andrews. They also left money and details of construction for a new library. Both the museum and library are attractions in the town of St. Andrews today being respectively named the Ross Memorial Museum and Ross Memorial Library. Portraits of the original owners and of the Ross family still adorn the walls of Chestnut Hall.
Source: St. Andrews Civic Trust - Charlotte County Archives
Character-Defining Elements
The character-defining elements that describe Chestnut Hall include:
- original classical symmetry;
- 2-storey rectangular massing;
- 5 bays;
- 8/12 windows with double hung sashes;
- shutters on all windows;
- 4 chimneys symmetrically placed on each corner;
- hipped roof;
- central entranceway;
- patterned fan window;
- patterned side lights;
- paneled wood door;
- spiral staircase;
- Corinthian modillions.
The character-defining elements that describe the Ross Collection found in Chestnut Hall include:
- painted portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Ross;
- fine furniture made by 19th Century New Brunswick cabinet makers;
- oriental carpets;
- objets d’art.
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
2007/03/26
Historical Information
Significant Date(s)
1945/01/01 to 1945/01/01
1824/01/01 to 1902/01/01
1920/01/01 to 1938/01/01
1928/01/01 to 1945/01/01
Theme - Category and Type
- Developing Economies
- Trade and Commerce
- Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
- Learning and the Arts
- Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
- Architecture and Design
- Developing Economies
- Extraction and Production
- Building Social and Community Life
- Community Organizations
Function - Category and Type
Current
- Leisure
- Museum
Historic
- Residence
- Single Dwelling
Architect / Designer
n/a
Builder
n/a
Additional Information
Location of Supporting Documentation
Charlotte County Archives, 123 Frederick Street, St. Andrews, NB
Cross-Reference to Collection
Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier
1351
Status
Published
Related Places
n/a