Historic Chapman House:
Scottish born industrialist Donald Fraser built the house in 1903. He was in the lumber business and operated a mill nearby where the Delta Hotel currently stands. He was the founder of the international forestry company Fraser Companies Ltd. The house is in the Queen Anne Revival Style of architecture and is one of only a few homes of this style in the city. We are currently working on more research. George Chapman, a prominent fox farmer, later purchased the house. He raised seven children here and we are currently tracking down and meeting with family members to get information on their lives in the house. Local residents commonly referred to this historic house as the Chapman House.
The Queen Anne style in British architecture refers to either the English Baroque architectural style approximately of the reign of Queen Anne (reigned 1702–1714), or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century (when it is also known as Queen Anne revival).
My father, Cecil George William Chapman, was raised at 301 Woodstock Road, New Brunswick, Canada. It was the home of his parents, George and Meta Chapman, and their seven children. Today I received from my brother-in-law, Edward Marion Hladkowicz, two links on the internet to our erstwhile family house. I thought I should for the benefit of our family make a note of these connections in the event I am unable to do so at later date.
The property is now the “By the River Bed & Breakfast”:
- 1 (506) 454-5602
- 1 (506) 440-2551
- bytheriver301@gmail.com
- 301 Woodstock Rd, Fredericton
Several years ago we had the privilege to meet the new owners of the property. From everything I have seen myself and from what I can otherwise glean from newspaper reports and on-line comments, the new owners have done a superb job renovating the property and rekindling its former glamour.
As might be expected there is a great deal of history connected to this property not only by virtue of the singular nature of the property itself but also by strength of the people associated with it by proprietary interest, family and marriage.
I remember as a child of approximately 10 years of age sitting in the kitchen with my grandmother Chapman. For lunch she served me a sandwich of iceberg lettuce on white bread with butter and sugar. I had never had such a sandwich. Nor have I since. Though I confess it was tasty and satisfied!
In the large front drawing room I recall there was a large chair upholstered in dark blue or purple velvet, the back and lower cushions of which were sprung on heavy polished silver arms, backing and legs. Also at the front of the house, but on the other side of the centre hallway, was a room resembling a study where for some reason I was positioned with either my grandfather or my grandmother reviewing historical records.
Like most grandchildren of young age I don’t recollect much else of any significance. We played in the fountain on the front lawn. We peeped into the remote ground floor rooms at the back of the house approaching the St. John River.