Designation Document: Historic Sites & Monuments Board, Canada".......The Chairman then invited Dr. George MacBeath, Chairman of the
Historic Sites and Museums Committee
to report to the Board its recommendations formulated after a series of Committee meetings,
and the following were accepted and approved by the Board as a whole:
(1) to (3) other sites(4)
The Phillips-Faulkner House, Belleville, Ontario"that this house is of national
architectural importance, as an excellent example of its type and that steps should be taken to encourage the preservation of
the building and its contents."
TITLE: The Phillips-Faulkner House, 257 Bridge Street East, Belleville, Ontario
SOURCE: Report by Mr. and Mrs. N. H. Mika
On Bridge Street, at the corner of Dufferin Avenue in Belleville, Ontario, stands the stately home of Mrs. Philippa Faulkner,
a well-known artist. The rambling mansion, built by her grandfather, John Philpot Curran Phillips,
in the early 1880's, resembles a French chateau.
"Glanmore", as it is called, is one of Belleville's many fine old homes dating back to that period,
and an example of high Victorian architecture at its best.
A brick house with bay windows and a mansard roof adorned with iron cresting, it is set far back from the street.
Despite the fact that parts of the once spacious lot have since been sold off and contemporary-style homes
have been erected in the immediate vicinity of "Glanmore", it still has the air of grandeur about it,
unchanged by the passing of time.
If the exterior of the house is impressive, its interior is even more magnificent, lavishly designed in French Rococo,
planned for luxurious living. A sweeping main staircase, wall and ceiling frescos, ornate statues and furniture,
rich carpeting and draperies speak of wealth and taste.
John Philpot Curran Phillips, first occupant of the house descent from the same family as Lord Milford(1).
His father came to Canada in 1832 and subsequently married Amelia Jane Curran, niece of John Philpot Curran of Ireland, King's
Counsel, Member of the Irish Parliament and Master of the Rolls in Ireland, famed throughout the country for his wit and eloquence.
John Philpot Curran Phillips was born in 1843 and named after his famous great-uncle. He was educated in London, Ontario and married Harriett Ann Dougall, daughter of Judge Dougall of Belleville, Ontario. Serving with the Bank of Montreal for fifteen years,
he was an experienced financier, organized the Hastings Loan and Investment Society, of which he was General Manager, and
successively became local manager of the United Empire Bank and
the Union Bank in Belleville.
John Philpot Curran Phillips' wife, Harriett Ann Phillips,
Mary H. Yarwood and A. F. R. Roberts and husbands were the owners
of a parcel of land which was part of the Estate of the late
George Bleecker (part of east half of Lot. No. 7 Con. 1 Thurlow
- now in the City of Belleville(2). This
land was sub-divided in September, 1878 and Harriett Ann Phillips
acquired Lot No. 5 inter alia (Lot No. 5 and other land), which
is the property on which the house was later erected(3).
Montreal architect, Thomas Heanley was subsequently commissioned
to design a house for Mr. and Mrs. J.P.C. Phillips to be erected
on the property (south side of Bridge Street and West side of
Dufferin Avenue in Belleville. The house appears to have been near completion by the summer
of 1882.
In August of that year, however, the contractor, Francis
McKay of Belleville, started to undertake a number of alterations
and perform work in excess of the original plans, which was completed
in June of 1883(4). An entry in the Abstract Book at the Registrar's
Office reveals that a Mechanics' Lean in the amount of $810.27
was put on the property on August 18, 1883 by Francis McKay,
indicating a dispute over the work done in excess of the original
plans.(5) It is interesting to note that
the Mechanic's Lean was placed upon the estate and interest of
John P.C.Phillips, although the Bridge Street property was owned
by Mrs. Harriett Ann Phillips.
J.P.C. Phillips and wife and one son, Percy, who died at an
early age. Their daughter, Jessie Maude Patterson Phillips, was
adopted. In the early part of 1912 the rear of the Union Bank
located in the Centre Block on Front Street in Belleville was
damaged by fire. Mr. J.P.C. Phillips was Manager of the Bank
at the time. While inspecting the premises after the blaze, he
stumbled accidentally onto an open trap door and fell several
feet to the cellar beneath, suffering a broken leg and severe
shock. He never recovered from the injuries sustained and died
on February 14, 1912 at the Belleville General Hospital.
On March 18, 1912, Harriett Ann Phillips, widow of J.P.C.
Phillips transferred the Bridge Street property and premises
(Lots four, five and six on the south side of Bridge Street)
along with the other parcels or tracts of land and premises in
the City of Belleville to her adopted daughter, Jessie Patterson,
known as Jessie Phillips, spinster(6).
Jessie Phillips, in turn, under the date or March 18, 1912, assigned
to her mother, Harriett Ann Phillips, widow of J.P.C. Phillips,
in consideration of the conveyance of the above lands and premises,
all rights to the estate of J.P.C. Phillips left to her in the
latter's last will and testament(7). Jessie
Maude Phillips was never legally adopted, and therefore her name
appears in all documents as Jessie Patterson, known as Jessie
Phillips.
An agreement signed on April 18, 1914 between Jessie Phillips
and Harriett Ann Phillips, widow of John P. C. Phillips, assures
the latter for the remainder of her natural life of:
"the absolute and undisputed right to live in, reside
upon and direct and control the management and operation and
the sale, lasing and otherwise dealing with the lands and premises
and each and every part thereof...."
The Agreement further entitled her:
"to take and receive for her own benefit all the rents,
profits, privileges and advantages to be taken, receive or derived
therefrom, as fully and effectually and to all intents and purposes,
as if she was the absolute owner...."(8)
Mrs. Harriett Ann Phillips and her daughter Jessie continued
to reside in the rambling Bridge Street mansion, Jessie now being
the owner of the house. On December 13, 1915, Mrs. Phillips died
suddenly, while on a visit to Toronto.
Jessie Maude Phillips was married on March 7, 1916 in Old Trinity
Church in Toronto to Sanford Rattray Burrows of Belleville, Ontario.
After their marriage the couple lived in Belleville at the Bridge
Street house. Two daughters were born to them; Philippa and Sheila.
Jessie Burrows died on March 4, 1932, and according to her last
will and testament, her husband Sanford Rattray Burrows became
the owner of the Bridge Street property (9).
Sandford (Sandy) R. Burrows was a prominent businessman, ardent
sports fan and music lover. Sandy Burrows succeeded his father
as Management of the Belleville Branch of Mutual Life of Canada
1933 and continued in this capacity until his retirement in 1948.
He died on November 13th, 1952 in Belleville.
At the time of S. R. Burrow's death, both of his daughters were
married. Sheila (Mrs. Sheila Chapline of New York, USA) and Philippa
(Mrs. Philippa Faulkner of Belleville) inherited Sanford R. Burrow's
estate in equal shares (10). Accordingly,
the Bridge Street land and premises became the joint property
of Mrs. Philippa Faulkner and Mrs. Sheila Chapline. (Deed dated
Dec. 29th, 1953 - registered at Registrar's Office, County Court
House, Belleville, on Dec. 10, 1954).
On Dec. 30, 1953, Mrs. Sheila Chapline of New York (sister
of Mrs. Philippa Faulkner) filed a Quit Claim concerning the
above land and premises (registered at Registry Office, County
Court House, Belleville, on Dec. 10, 1954) and thus Mrs. Philippa
Faulkner, wife of Dr. George Vermilyea Faulkner, became the sole
owner of the Victorian mansion on Bridge Street, where she and
her husband resided.
Dr. George V. Faulkner came from a family closely associated
with the medical profession. One of his ancestors had been surgeon-general
in the American Civil War. After the Second World War, Dr. Faulkner
returned to Belleville and opened a medical practice as a specialist
in child diseases. He died on March 23, 1955 while on a trip
to Montreal.(Note: The above information re: the Civil War is clearly
incorrect with respect to the "surgeon-general" reference My side of the Faulkner family were United Empire Loyalist and part of our family remained in the United States, in Mass.
The relative in the United States was also Dr. George Faulkner and information about him can be
found towards the bottom of the page Here.
During
the Civil War he served with the 15 Massachusetts Infantry, which then became the 20 Massachusetts Infantry.)
Mrs. Philippa Faulkner, his widow, and two children, Sanford
and Anne Faulkner, continued to live at "Glanmore".
Philippa Faulkner carefully preserved its Victorian atmosphere.
Some of the original ornate furniture and heavy window draperies,
of course, have been removed, and the room no longer have the
cluttered look of the late nineteenth century. The magnificent
chandeliers in the drawing room have long since been converted
to electricity, and the Greek bronzes with the gas lanterns that
once lighted the elaborate stairway in the main hall now have
electric bulbs. The master bedroom which occupies half of
the second floor has been completely re-decorated. Downstairs,
however, the gilded plaster moldings, the ceiling frescoes and
frieses, the original carpet an the sweeping stairway, all are
untouched and much of the furniture still dates back to the 1880's
when the house was built.
- 1. Morgan, Canadian Men and Women of the Time, 1912
- 2. Plan 211 filed under the Registry Act at Registrar's Office - County of Hastings Court House.
- 3. Abstract Book - Registry - County Court House, County of Hastings - Lot No. 5 Southside of Bridge Street.
- 4. Schedule A attached to Mechanics' Lean placed against Phillips House - August 18, 1883.
- Exhibit C in connection with court case resulting over dispute between Francis McKay, contractor and J.P.C. Phillips - 1883.
- 5. Mechanics' Lean by Francis McKay, Belleville, against John P.C. Phillips of Belleville.
- 6. Copy of Indenture No. 8548 re: Grant of Land.
- 7. Copy of Assignment - No. 8564.
- 8. Copy of Agreement - R. 9921.
- 9. Copy of Probate and Last Will and Testament of Jessie Burrows.
- 10. Copy of Last Will and Testament of Sanford R. Burrows.