American architect James Rhodes has offered a description of older buildings that many people who renovate and restore an older building can agree with: “The older building has a personality of its own, a history of its own, a place of its own in the community … approaching such a job is a very special responsibility.”
Christine and Malcolm Stanley fully understood that when they undertook the task of restoring the heritage property at 142 Nelson Street in Victoria-by-the-Sea.
The Stanleys had a dream to replace their self-built Breadalbane country home with a similar older house that would accommodate their many collectibles and art studio needs. In 142 Nelson Street, they saw a house that offered them that same feeling of comfort, warmth, and old-time charm they had created while raising their family. And the idea of moving to
Victoria appealed to them because they had always liked the heritage character of the village. They rose to the challenge, doing all the carpentry work, painting, and insulating. Victoria wood craftsman Richard Van Buskirk made the screen doors. They rebuilt the front entrance, removed all rotten beams, insulated and installed wooden clapboard siding, and put new shingles on the roof. They also rebuilt walls on three sides, repaired rotten floors and laid tiles.
Other tasks included the installation of newly constructed wooden windows, the completion of repairs to plaster and lath walls, hand-sanding the floors, repairing and painting the kitchen, installing new walls in the dining room, repairing floors in the den, and replacing light fixtures. They also created a studio space for Stanley Pottery on the second floor and a space for the Ewe and Dye Weaving studio on the main floor.
For their extensive efforts to renovate this home, Christine and Malcolm Stanley are receiving a Heritage Recognition Award.