1 Upper Campus Road - Bulkley Division
Links Crest is a very unique Maxwell and Pitts design for St. Andrews. Instead of the Shingle style most often used, the owners selected a Georgian Revival style in red brick. it has a pair of high veranda wings, two roof level pediments supported by stone pilasters, arched windows in the dormers and columned porticos. The house has an impressive view of the harbour, and extensive landscaping, including gardens and a lily pond.
Links Crest is also recognized for its association with first owners. Sir Thomas and Lady Tait. Sir Thomas Tait had the plans for Links Crest drawn up at some point between 1918 and 1924, though construction did not begin until 1928 and was completed in 1929. The Taits visited and stayed at the Algonquin Hotel for many years before they decided to build.
Sir Thomas Tait, son of Sir Melbourne Tait, was born in Melbourne, Quebec in 1864. He began to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in his teen years, becoming the private secretary to Sir William Van Horne between 1882 and 1886. He worked hard, and continued to rise in the CPR, eventually becoming the General Manager of Transportation. He then moved to Australia, where in 1903 the Australian government appointed him as Chairman of the Board of Railway Commissions for Victoria. He performed his duties there in exemplary fashion, turning a $1,800,000 deficit into a $1,000,000 surplus, and was knighted for his work. In 1910, he returned to Canada, and retired altogether from the railway business in 1916.
Sir Thomas Tait was very interested in sailing, and he owned a yacht known as the Pakwan. There was an impediment to Sir Tait’s enjoyment of sailing in St. Andrews, however, and that was the lack of an organized yacht club. This was of no concern though, as Sir Tait appointed himself ‘Commodore’, often walking around town with a white sailing cap. When new boats arrived at the wharf, Sir Thomas Tait would greet them as the Commodore of the St. Andrews yacht club which did not exist. This display provided entertainment for local fishermen. Sir Thomas Tait passed away at Links Crest on July 25, 1940, at the age of 76 years.
Lady Tait was known as being very nice and delightful to her guests. Lady Tait was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George R. B. Cockburn of Toronto. She often organized old-fashioned tennis parties in the 1930s, where all who attended would wear their whites and be treated to afternoon tea. She passed away at Links Crest on Saturday, August 7th 1943.
During World War II, Links Crest was used as a recovery base for as many as 35 pilots of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force. After the War, Links Crest was bought by Dr. Gavin and Mrs. Kitty Miller in 1947. The Millers came from Montreal, where Dr. Gavin was a practicing surgeon. The Millers also bought the neighbouring Dr. H. P. O’Neill property, adding another 25 acres to their homestead. Mrs. Kitty was an avid gardener, and was able to bring the estate back to its former beauty.
After Dr. Miller had passed away, Links Crest was sold to Dr. John and Mrs. Riddell. At the time, Dr. Riddell was the Managing Director of Mount Pleasure Mines. The property was later sold to the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, where the building was renamed ‘Anderson House’ and is used as a residence and conference centre for students and others.
The character-defining elements of this property include:
Rear (facing golf course):
Architectural Style: Georgian Revival
Other Names: Hunstman Marine Centre Residence
Source: Charlotte County Archives – Old Gaol, St. Andrews, New Brunswick
Links Crest is also recognized for its association with first owners. Sir Thomas and Lady Tait. Sir Thomas Tait had the plans for Links Crest drawn up at some point between 1918 and 1924, though construction did not begin until 1928 and was completed in 1929. The Taits visited and stayed at the Algonquin Hotel for many years before they decided to build.
Sir Thomas Tait, son of Sir Melbourne Tait, was born in Melbourne, Quebec in 1864. He began to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in his teen years, becoming the private secretary to Sir William Van Horne between 1882 and 1886. He worked hard, and continued to rise in the CPR, eventually becoming the General Manager of Transportation. He then moved to Australia, where in 1903 the Australian government appointed him as Chairman of the Board of Railway Commissions for Victoria. He performed his duties there in exemplary fashion, turning a $1,800,000 deficit into a $1,000,000 surplus, and was knighted for his work. In 1910, he returned to Canada, and retired altogether from the railway business in 1916.
Sir Thomas Tait was very interested in sailing, and he owned a yacht known as the Pakwan. There was an impediment to Sir Tait’s enjoyment of sailing in St. Andrews, however, and that was the lack of an organized yacht club. This was of no concern though, as Sir Tait appointed himself ‘Commodore’, often walking around town with a white sailing cap. When new boats arrived at the wharf, Sir Thomas Tait would greet them as the Commodore of the St. Andrews yacht club which did not exist. This display provided entertainment for local fishermen. Sir Thomas Tait passed away at Links Crest on July 25, 1940, at the age of 76 years.
Lady Tait was known as being very nice and delightful to her guests. Lady Tait was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George R. B. Cockburn of Toronto. She often organized old-fashioned tennis parties in the 1930s, where all who attended would wear their whites and be treated to afternoon tea. She passed away at Links Crest on Saturday, August 7th 1943.
During World War II, Links Crest was used as a recovery base for as many as 35 pilots of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force. After the War, Links Crest was bought by Dr. Gavin and Mrs. Kitty Miller in 1947. The Millers came from Montreal, where Dr. Gavin was a practicing surgeon. The Millers also bought the neighbouring Dr. H. P. O’Neill property, adding another 25 acres to their homestead. Mrs. Kitty was an avid gardener, and was able to bring the estate back to its former beauty.
After Dr. Miller had passed away, Links Crest was sold to Dr. John and Mrs. Riddell. At the time, Dr. Riddell was the Managing Director of Mount Pleasure Mines. The property was later sold to the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, where the building was renamed ‘Anderson House’ and is used as a residence and conference centre for students and others.
The character-defining elements of this property include:
- perfect symmetry
- cornice with square dentils
- gabled dormers with Roman arched windows
- projecting central bay
- central entranceway beneath a columned portico
- pilasters with fluted capitals
- roman arches with keystones above windows
- two decorative swags
- quoins
- verandahs with brick and wood doric columns
- roman arched windows
- small shed dormers
Rear (facing golf course):
- Similar characteristics to front facade
- projecting bays, with pilasters at each end, support pediment ornamented with dentils. Small shield- shaped sandstone block in tympanum.
Architectural Style: Georgian Revival
Other Names: Hunstman Marine Centre Residence
Source: Charlotte County Archives – Old Gaol, St. Andrews, New Brunswick
