62 Champlain Road - Bulkley Division
The Robert Dodd House is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture, its association with past occupants, and its significance of being the last Edward Maxwell designed building constructed in town.
The Robert Dodd House is a two-and-a-half storey residence that is a good example of the English Cottage Revival style. This home, with its hipped roof, hipped dormers, large chimney, and unique long steeply pitched roof that flares at the bottom, is unique in the Town of St. Andrews. The property also has an exceptional rear garden that offers views of Minister’s Island and the Passamaquoddy Bay.
The Robert Dodd House is also recognized for its association with past residents. It was originally constructed as a summer home in 1930 for industrialist Robert Dodd. Mr. Dodd, from Montreal, was President of the Lake Superior Corporation, the Algoma Steel Corporation, and the Algoma Eastern Railway, all of which were located in northwestern Ontario. In 1929, the companies were suffering due to tough economic times, and on the advice of his physician, Mr. Dodd resigned as the president, but stayed on the board as a director. It is interesting to note that Sir James Dunn, who lived in close proximity to the Dodd House, later became president of the Algoma Steel Corporation in the 1930s.
In the early 1940s, the property was bought by Lady Henriette Davis. In 1943 she hired Maxwell and Pitts to complete some renovations on the house. Lady Davis was a well-known humanitarian. Originally from San Francisco, she and her husband moved to France shortly after the First World War, and she remained there until the outbreak of the Second World War. There she organized a summer camp for underprivileged children, and she later organized hostels in Paris for refugees who were fleeing Nazi persecution in Germany. At the outset of the Second World War, Lady Davis returned to Canada, but her generosity continued. She donated a Spitfire aircraft to the Royal Air Force, and was in charge of air force houses in Montreal, Moncton, and Pennfield, where more than 500,000 soldiers came for rest. She vacated this post in 1946, and was decorated Commander of the British Empire. Afterwards, she established the Lady Davis Foundation, which allowed for Europeans to study in Canada, the Lady Davis Institute, which still serves as a teaching hospital in Montreal, and she was known for her contributions to museums, charities, and hospitals on the Montreal area. She passed away on Saturday, December 21st, 1963.
Lady Davis’ husband, Sir Mortimer Davis, was a noted philanthropist and sportsman. He was President of the Imperial Tobacco Company of Canada, and in 1917 he became the first Canadian Hebrew to be knighted. He passed away on March 22nd, 1928, while he and his wife were living in France.
After the passing of Lady Davis, the Robert Dodd House was bought by Marcia Anastasia Christoforides, Lady Beaverbrook. Lady Beaverbrook was also a philanthropist, and for many years she served as chancellor of Dalhousie University in Halifax. She passed away on October 28, 1994.
The character-defining elements of this residence include:
Facing the road, an extension from the main building has character-defining elements that include:
The character-defining elements that describe the Robert Dodd House property include:
Source: Willa Walker "Summers in St. Andrews"; John Leroux "St. Andrews architecture 1604-1966"; CC Archives; The Toronto Daily Star, Friday March 23, 1928 p. 15; Globe and Mail April 25, 1929, p.21; Globe and Mail, August 8, 1928, p.8; Montreal Gazette December 23rd, 1963 p.4
The Robert Dodd House is a two-and-a-half storey residence that is a good example of the English Cottage Revival style. This home, with its hipped roof, hipped dormers, large chimney, and unique long steeply pitched roof that flares at the bottom, is unique in the Town of St. Andrews. The property also has an exceptional rear garden that offers views of Minister’s Island and the Passamaquoddy Bay.
The Robert Dodd House is also recognized for its association with past residents. It was originally constructed as a summer home in 1930 for industrialist Robert Dodd. Mr. Dodd, from Montreal, was President of the Lake Superior Corporation, the Algoma Steel Corporation, and the Algoma Eastern Railway, all of which were located in northwestern Ontario. In 1929, the companies were suffering due to tough economic times, and on the advice of his physician, Mr. Dodd resigned as the president, but stayed on the board as a director. It is interesting to note that Sir James Dunn, who lived in close proximity to the Dodd House, later became president of the Algoma Steel Corporation in the 1930s.
In the early 1940s, the property was bought by Lady Henriette Davis. In 1943 she hired Maxwell and Pitts to complete some renovations on the house. Lady Davis was a well-known humanitarian. Originally from San Francisco, she and her husband moved to France shortly after the First World War, and she remained there until the outbreak of the Second World War. There she organized a summer camp for underprivileged children, and she later organized hostels in Paris for refugees who were fleeing Nazi persecution in Germany. At the outset of the Second World War, Lady Davis returned to Canada, but her generosity continued. She donated a Spitfire aircraft to the Royal Air Force, and was in charge of air force houses in Montreal, Moncton, and Pennfield, where more than 500,000 soldiers came for rest. She vacated this post in 1946, and was decorated Commander of the British Empire. Afterwards, she established the Lady Davis Foundation, which allowed for Europeans to study in Canada, the Lady Davis Institute, which still serves as a teaching hospital in Montreal, and she was known for her contributions to museums, charities, and hospitals on the Montreal area. She passed away on Saturday, December 21st, 1963.
Lady Davis’ husband, Sir Mortimer Davis, was a noted philanthropist and sportsman. He was President of the Imperial Tobacco Company of Canada, and in 1917 he became the first Canadian Hebrew to be knighted. He passed away on March 22nd, 1928, while he and his wife were living in France.
After the passing of Lady Davis, the Robert Dodd House was bought by Marcia Anastasia Christoforides, Lady Beaverbrook. Lady Beaverbrook was also a philanthropist, and for many years she served as chancellor of Dalhousie University in Halifax. She passed away on October 28, 1994.
The character-defining elements of this residence include:
- stucco siding
- shed and hipped dormers
- 4 x 4 elongated windows with transoms
- hipped roof
- large chimney
Facing the road, an extension from the main building has character-defining elements that include:
- Long steeply pitched gable roof, flaring at the bottom, which encompasses two segmented arches for entrance.
- steel rail balcony on second floor and double French doors
- opaque fan window over the French doors on balcony
- small windows in three rank.
The character-defining elements that describe the Robert Dodd House property include:
- location on a large property that maintains historic open space and a view of Passamaquoddy Bay
- formal garden with stone terracing
Source: Willa Walker "Summers in St. Andrews"; John Leroux "St. Andrews architecture 1604-1966"; CC Archives; The Toronto Daily Star, Friday March 23, 1928 p. 15; Globe and Mail April 25, 1929, p.21; Globe and Mail, August 8, 1928, p.8; Montreal Gazette December 23rd, 1963 p.4
