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Gilbert H. Grosvenor Hall is a historic building in
The building was originally built as the Baddeck Post Office and Custom House, Opening in 1886. The post office was located on the main floor with the custom house on the upper floor. The post office relocated in 1956, and the building was sold to Samuel Gayley who gave it to his wife Gertrude Gayley—the granddaughter of Alexander Graham Bell. Gertrude Gayley named the building after her father,
Baddeck, Nova Scotia
Baddeck () is a village in northeastern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated in the centre of Cape Breton, approximately 6 km east of where the Baddeck River empties into Bras d'Or Lake.
Local governance is provided by the rural municipality ...
, Canada. The 19th-century building has served as a post office, library, and interpretive centre.
History
The building was originally built as the Baddeck Post Office and Custom House, Opening in 1886. The post office was located on the main floor with the custom house on the upper floor. The post office relocated in 1956, and the building was sold to Samuel Gayley who gave it to his wife Gertrude Gayley—the granddaughter of Alexander Graham Bell. Gertrude Gayley named the building after her father, Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor
Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor (; October 28, 1875 – February 4, 1966), father of photojournalism, was the first full-time editing, editor of the ''National Geographic'' magazine (1899–1954). Grosvenor is credited with having built the magazine into ...
a former editor of National Geographic Magazine
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
. The building was given to the Baddeck Library Board and housed the Baddeck Library until the 1980s. The property was recognized as an historic property by Nova Scotia's Heritage Property Act in 1983. In 1999 the building became home to the Bras d'Or Lakes and Watershed Interpretive Centre.
Design
The building is three storeys tall and built of red sandstone excavated from Boularderie, Nova Scotia. It was designed byThomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller (baptised 19 June 1608 – 16 August 1661) was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his ''Worthies of England'', published in 1662, after his death. He was a prolific author, and ...
, Chief Architect of Canada and co-designer of Ottawa's first Parliament buildings. Its design is typical of 19th-century Canadian post offices, featuring Romanesque Revival
Romanesque Revival (or Neo-Romanesque) is a style of building employed beginning in the mid-19th century inspired by the 11th- and 12th-century Romanesque architecture. Unlike the historic Romanesque style, Romanesque Revival buildings tended to ...
elements. The face of former local Member of Parliament Charles J. Campbell is carved into the stone above the entrance. The clock, located on the west gable, was added in 1912.
See also
*Historic Buildings in Baddeck, Nova Scotia Baddeck, Nova Scotia is a small village on Cape Breton Island with several historic buildings, including:
*The Telegraph House - Constructed in 1861
* Saint Peter's and Saint John's Anglican Church - Constructed in 1883
*Gilbert H. Grosvenor Hall - ...
*History of Baddeck
Baddeck, Nova Scotia is a village founded in 1908, with a history stretching back to early Mi'kmaq, French and British settlements. The village was home to Alexander Graham Bell and was witness to the first flight in the commonwealth with Bell's ' ...
References
{{Baddeck Buildings and structures in Victoria County, Nova Scotia Tourist attractions in Victoria County, Nova Scotia Heritage sites in Nova Scotia Government buildings completed in 1886 Post office buildings in Canada Romanesque Revival architecture in Canada Thomas Fuller buildings