Cape Breton Estates: Land of the Golden Arms

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• The present shape, size and proportions of the house were copied from a 1770s era house in Montreal known to the owners.
• The stone exterior of the house was done using 40 tons of field stones (not quarried and not broken) obtained from the same source that provided stone during the reconstruction of Fortress Louisbourg.
• The stonemasonry reconstruction which included the home's exterior and the three fireplaces inside were done by John Urich, the stonemason supervisor of the Fortress Louisbourg project. Mr. Urich hand carved the corbels at the corners of the house using blocks of sandstone from the foundation of an old barn on the this property. Urich also hand-forged all the hardware for the front and back doors, including the door locks and special keys. He made the kitchen andirons, poker, shovel and the hooks for the cooking arm.
• The windows and doors were purchased in Quebec from a firm specializing in restoring old French buildings.
• The deep window sills are achieved by "double framing" the house ... a studded wall on the outside and another studded wall 20" inside the first. Fiberglass insulation fills the space between the walls.
• The design of the 3 fireplaces in the home are the Count Rumford design of the 1700s. They feature a shallow fire box, flared sides, sloping back and large opening. These features allow heat to be thrown back into the room rather than up the chimney.
• Copper eaves roofing is on both the house and the garage.
• The stones used in the kitchen hearth, the back step and the path leading to the driveway are beach stones from the the Atlantic shore on the property.
• The bricks used in the living room and bedroom fireplaces are from the ruins of the house belonging to the first school teacher on Boularderie Island.
• The main floor walls are coated with "rough-cast" plaster using a technique pioneered at Fortress Louisbourg. They are easily painted with thinned-down latex paint.
• The pine floor boards were purchased in Mahone Bay in random lengths and widths of 9" and 11". They were cut and laid loosely on the sub floor where they remained for about 18 months to shrink and acclimatize. The boards were then placed one by one on the sawhorses, sanded, replaced tightly, nailed in place, coated with linseed oil, stained, and finished with 5 coats of verathane. The process took 2 years.
• The boards are secured with reproductions of the old "square" or "rose headed" nails used during the 1700s. They were purchased in Massachusetts.
• The same pine boards were used for the window sills. They were laminated together to eliminate spaces.
• The interior pine doors came from a Victorian house that was torn down in Sydney in 1981.They were stripped of old layers of paint and refurbished and refinished over a 3 year period. The porcelain handles, cast iron hinges, and surrounding door frames are original.
• The same Victorian tear-down provided 3 rooms of Elm wainscoting. Stripped of 100 years of paint, these T&G boards were used under the kitchen counters; to make the cupboard under the kitchen sink; for the hood over the stove and counter; for the bathtub surround and the bathroom sink base.
• Salvaged from the same Victorian, an oak mantelpiece found a new home in the master bedroom upstairs.
• The banisters and newel posts for the staircase came from an 1800s house in Digby, N. S. The caramel light at the head of the stairs came from an old house in Toronto which was being demolished.
• The 100 meter long driveway from the road is paved and ends with a large area of interlocking stone pavers near the home.
• Monthly hydro costs are $150; monthly heating in winter is $600.
• The ocean vista here includes a distant view of Bird Island and, off to one side, a glimpse of a picturesque lighthouse on the DOT-owned tip of Black Rock Point.
• A sufficient supply of high quality slate is on hand to cover the kitchen floor. The kitchen floor is currently made of a very durable material of unknown composition with rubber backing and is in good condition. The new owner may therefore wish to use the slate supply elsewhere.

• Dalem Lake Provincial Park is a short drive away. This picturesque lake has a white sand beach and a shaded picnic area. The park also features a boat launch for non-motorized boats. Open from May 20 to October 10. Address: St. James Road Boularderie Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia Canada

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CAPE BRETON REGIONAL HOSPITAL

This hospital is the major medial referral centre for Cape Breton Island. The web site is extensive, covering all the departments in the hospital as well as a full spectrum of topics associated with a major medical institution.

CAPE BRETON FARMER'S MARKET (Sydney Marine Terminal)

Open year round. Web site has list of products sold, profiles on participating businesses and more.

ALDERDALE GREENS GOLF COURSE

Located in Point Edward, Alderdale is a 2445 yard, 9 hole course has 3 par threes, 5 par fours, and one par 5 hole. Web site has course photos, prices and other details.

THE CITY OF SYDNEY, CAPE BRETON ISLAND

City of Sydney web site.

COMMUNITY PROFILE - NORTH SYDNEY

Profiles of N. Sydney and nearby communities.