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William Eldridge Property
Bay Shore Road, Sandy Cove
approx. 1885
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This house was built in the early 1880's by/for William Eldridge. It was built on his father's land and William never obtained a deed for the separate lot. It is clear that William was living here from an 1886 mortgage by Squires that states: "For the whole of his property except the house and land attached at the extreme west corner of the lot that William lives in". Squires obtained a mortgage in 1885 and the exception wasn't included. The house may have been built in 1885. In 1886 William moved to New Hampshire, and John F. Eldridge bought the house from his uncle Squires for $500. William was the eldest son of Squires Eldridge. He was born in 1844. William and his youngest brother Holland were fishermen. Squires, Holland, and Will formed a fishing and boat-building company called Squires Eldridge & Sons. They built a small schooner, the "Little Fanny", 13 tons, in the field beside this home, hauled it to the beach by oxen and launched it in the Bay of Fundy on February 16th, 1877. In 1880 Will (called a Master Mariner) owned 64 shares in the 28 ton "Alert". Later, in 1885, the ship was enlarged at Meteghan and Will, Squires, and Holland owned equal shares. In 1888, Will was a partner in the "M.C. Rowe". In 1887 Squires Eldridge and Sons went bankrupt.
Capt. John F. Eldridge (1854-1900) was the eldest child of Harvey and Mary Ann (Morehouse) Eldridge. He married Janet Morse and they had four children: Mary Chipman, Horace, Ida, and John Bryson. John lived there fourteen years until his untimely death. His wife was the daughter of Rev. John Chipman Morse.
The following information about John Eldridge was given by Hugh Morehouse:"He sailed one of the largest ships out of New Brunswick, the "John Hickman", I believe built at Bathurst, N.B. He sailed her for years and his brother Amasa and Eddie Mckay went with him as sailors. They always said he used them like the biggest strangers in the world, never spoke to them on the trip. They went from here to Germany and then to China and back, took 18 months. Amasa said if he was seen talking to you on deck why he was showing partiality. The captain told his orders to the mate and the mate told the bosun; that was the organization. The bosun could take any mate's place if he were taken sick and when he wasn't doing that he had charge of the work crews, chipping and painting and repairing. Captain John was drowned off the "S.S. Newfield" in the St. Lawrence in 1900. She was a government buoy boat, and oddly enough she was wrecked at White's Cove near Little River a few years after. The brass door to the captain's cabin is in Amasa's house. John's father-in-law, John Chipman Morse, as administrator of the estate, sold the house to John Eldridge's widowed sister, Addie A. Hooper (1860-1939) in 1902." Addie was married to Rev. Charles Hooper and they lived in Middleton. Rev. Hooper died in 1890. They had two children: Harold (1888-1948), and Florence (1891-1919). In 1929 Addie gave an interest to her younger sister, Annie Eldridge (1871-1962). Annie never married. Addie and Annie lived here together. Annie spent her last days in Barton. Annie and Addie were acquaintances of Rachel Field who was a noted author. She gave one of her books to Annie and Addie and wrote: "Miss Eldridge and Mrs. Hooper who have been friends of mine long before July 14th, 1933- Rachel Field." The name of the book was Taxis and Toadstools. Other books by Rachel Field were: An Alphabet Book; The Pointed People; Six Plays, and Eliza and the Elves. In 1962, Annie conveyed the house to her great-nephew John Bryson Eldridge shortly before she died and in 1964 the house left the Eldridge family for the first time when Dorothy Bancroft, widow of Frederick Bancroft, purchased the house. Dorothy owned the house for six years and in 1970 her son obtained the house. The house is still owned by the Bancrofts. The Bancrofts have now owned this house for 36 years and the house is still furnished with Eldridge furniture and workmanship.
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Architecture
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This Greek house has a Gothic influence. The façade has a bay window and a portico. A steeply pitched roof with a tiny one over one attic window. The columns are uniquely slanted. The north side of the house is believed to be an old addition. The roof on this house is very steep and has hoods over the windows actually creating a different style. This house is very attractive inside and out.
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Contextual Comment
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Northwest of home owned by George Canuel. The last home visible on the East of the Fundy Bay Shore Road.
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