Formal Recognition Type

Registered Heritage Structure

Heritage Value

The Joseph and Caroline Tilley Property was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001 due to its aesthetic and cultural value.

The Joseph and Caroline Tilley Property has aesthetic value as it is a good example of a typical fisherman’s property common to rural Newfoundland in the mid 19th century. Built around 1865 by the Tilley family, this house is a traditional second generation saltbox dwelling with a wood pillar foundation, representative of the building styles and materials common to the region. Double hung 3/3 and 3/6 windows create a symmetrical front façade while minimal exterior decoration reflects the fact that functionality was an important aspect of the Tilley’s lives. Associated outbuildings and structures remain on the property, including an outhouse, a fishing shed, and a wharf. Built using local materials, these outbuildings and structures are uncomplicated in design and decoration, reflective of their utilitarian uses.

The Joseph and Caroline Tilley Property has cultural value as a physical reminder of Newfoundland’s fishing past. The house itself is located on a large lot which was once suitable for farming and animal husbandry, and its exposure to the ocean made it an ideal place for fisherman to work. As a whole, this property is significant for the people of Summerville in that it tells a story of their past involvement in the fishery, a past which shaped the culture of the community, region, and province.

Source: Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador property file “Summerville – Joseph and Caroline Tilley Property – FPT 384”

Character Defining Elements

All original features which relate to the age and style of the property including:
-second generation saltbox style;
-symmetrical main facade;
-un-adorned exterior;
-number of storeys;
-steeply pitched roof;
-chimney number, style and placement;
-narrow wooden clapboard;
-wooden corner boards;
-size, style, trim and placement of wooden 3/3 and 3/6 windows;
-size, style, trim and placement of wooden storm windows;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior wooden doors;
-dimension, location and orientation of building.

All original features which relate to the age and style of the outbuildings including:
-number of storeys;
-roof type;
-narrow wooden clapboard;
-wooden trims;
-size, style, trim and placement of wooden windows;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior wooden doors;
-dimension, location and orientation of buildings.

Community

Summerville

Municipality

Not specified (Newfoundland)

Construction (circa)

1865 - 1865

Builder

Joseph Tilley

Style

Rectangular Long Façade