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39-cliff-streetSTREET ADDRESS: 39 Cliff Street

CITY/TOWN/VILLAGE: Yarmouth

MUNICIPALITY: Yarmouth

COUNTY: Yarmouth

YEAR BUILT: circa 1872

ARCHITECTURAL COMMENT:

2 storey Second Empire style with 2 storey back ell which has an addition. The steep concavely sloped mansard roof has 3 partially inset, segmental arched dormers in the fornt and 2 on each side, 2 non-symmetrically placed inset chimneys, and inside an open porch with a large, decoratively bracketed hood. Windows have double hung sashes with 2/2 glazing and decorative molded crowns. The windows on the west side of the back ell are paired with larger lower sashes and 3/1 glazing. The house is of wood construction and clad with slate shingles.

HISTORICAL COMMENT:

Probably built between 1870 and 1872 for James Wentworth Bingay, a barrister and partner in the firm of  T.V.B. Bingay & Sons. The Bingays were a very prominent and influential family in Yarmouth and included bankers, brokers, barristers and ship owners. Around the same time as this house was being built, Yarmouth was also enjoying some of the latest improvements to the town, in the form of its first Free Public Library and gas street lighting.

CONTEXTUAL COMMENT:

South side of Cliff Street, opposite a brick apartment block. Extensions at back are later additions.

PRESENT OWNER: Donald P. / Leona Comeau

ADDRESS: 39 Cliff Street, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia B5A 3H6  

ORIGINAL OWNER: James Wentworth Bingay

OCCUPATION: Barrister

BUILDER: Unknown

ORIGINAL USE: Single family dwelling

PRESENT USE: Single family dwelling 

HISTORY OF BUILDING
OWNER                FROM: TO: OCCUPATION BOOK  PG
James Wentworth Bingay Apr. 24, 1869 Feb. 3, 1910 Barrister AS 61
Elizabeth M. Creighton,
et al
Feb. 3, 1910 Feb. 26, 1910 Heirs-at-law of J. Went Bingay N/A
Maria R. Bingay Feb. 26, 1910 Sep. 21, 1910 Widow CX 607
John S. Murphy Sep. 21, 1910 Mar. 07, 1922 Hotel keeper CY 102
Charles K. Fuller Mar. 07, 1922 May 01, 1924 Physician DQ 189
Lewis M. Morton May 01, 1924 Dec. 04, 1936 Physician DS 615
Hallie J. Morton Dec. 04, 1936 Jun. 21, 1954 Wife of Dr. Morton EJ 763
Lewis M. Morton Jun. 21, 1954 Jun. 01, 1955 Physician / Widower FI 109
George / Irene Allen Jun. 01, 1955 May 08, 1979 Grocer FL 49
Donald / Leona Comeau May 08, 1979 Present International trade consultant GP 184

COMMENTS ON HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS:

This property seems to be well remembered as the home of  Dr. Lewis Morton, who had come to Yarmouth from Tusket in early 1924, and went into practice with Dr. Charles Fuller and Dr. W. C. O'Brien in offices on Main Street. In 1955 Dr. Morton sold the home to George and Irene Allen, who were well known for the grocery store Mr. Allen had for many years at 102 Main Street.

SOURCES: Registry of Deeds / Probate (Yarmouth);    1878, 1879 B.E.V. maps of Yarmouth;   N.S. Directories, 1871, 1907-08;   Map of Yarmouth County, by A.F. Church, (1870);   Yarmouth Directories, 1890, 1895, 1949;   Yarmouth Genealogies, C. Doane.