Remember This? Home is where the Hearst is

From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:

*************************
Remember This: Eastbourne!  Home is Where the Hearst Is

The Eastbourne house, 1048 Queen Street East, is located on the northwest corner of Queen Street East and Upton Road. 

It has a rather unique history because it was built by Sir William Hearst who was Ontario’s seventh Premier.  William Hearst moved to Sault Ste. Marie in 1888 and established a law practice with fellow Owen Sound law student John McKay soon becoming a part of the town’s political scene.  

In 1901 William Hearst purchased one lot from John Wesley Moffly and Charles Engle Chipley for $150.00. 

In early 1902 he then acquired two additional lots from the same men.  This land was part of the “Simpson Subdivision” which was originally owned by Wemyss MacKenzie Simpson. 

The house was constructed between 1902 and 1904 and was referred to as “Eastbourne” residence, because at this time in our city’s history it was near the eastern boundary of the town.  A stipulation on the original deed indicated that no house costing less than $1500 could be built on the property.    

Eastbourne house. Sault Ste. Marie Public Library archive photo

The house was built during the reign of King Edward VII (1901-1910) in an Edwardian architectural style characterized as being less ornate than the previous Victorian architectural style. One of the distinguishing features is the use of lighter colours throughout the interior. Prior to this, houses were often decorated in darker colours to conceal soot on the floors and walls caused by coal and wood fires but with the introduction of gas and later electric lights this became less of an issue. 

In general decorative patterns were far less ornate in the Edwardian style.   

Eastbourne was designated as a Municipal Heritage Site on October 24, 1983 and has remained virtually unchanged since its construction. According to the report that was prepared at that time, the foundation and basement walls of the house feature some red sandstone and a soft red face-brick was used on the first and second floors. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the house is the attic and porch. The attic gables are covered with white painted wood shingles. 

The window on the attic is set in the gable in a recessed arch which is probably the most unusual feature of the home.  The porch on the south side of the house has balanced broken pediment, which is rare to see in this city.   

As William Hearst’s political career advanced he was forced to move his family to Toronto in 1912 so he made the decision to sell the Eastbourne property.  A manufacturer from Dayton, Ohio by the name of George H. Mead purchased the house in 1912 from William Hearst. It changed hands again when Mead sold it to Lake Superior Paper Company in 1913 to house their executives. Records show that Superintendent Carl Jentz lived there in 1913, Vice-Presidents Percy Wilson in 1914 and George Gray in 1920. 

In 1928 Abitibi Power and Paper Company purchased the home from Lake Superior Paper Company and for the next ten years many people including Rev. George K.  Bamford, Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, W. Roy Maxwell Director of the Ontario Provincial Air Service and Flora Gray, the widow of George Gray lived in the home at various times. 

In 1938 the Hon. Colin Alexander Campbell purchased the home and then sold it again in 1944 to J. Grant Hyland (of Hyland Broadcasting). 

In May 1957, Katherine Shirley MacArthur purchased the property and the family owned it for many years.  By the year 2000 the home had changed ownership and became a Bed and Breakfast called Eastbourne Manor allowing people to enjoy the beauty and comfort of this historical home.

Eastbourne has had a long history, beginning as the home of an Ontario Premier and continuing to be a home to many wealthy and powerful residents throughout Sault Ste. Marie’s history.      

*************************
Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provides SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.

Find out more of what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more Remember This? columns here