Formal Recognition Type

Registered Heritage Structure

Heritage Value

The Mark and Elizabeth Gosse Residence was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2004 due to its historic and aesthetic value.

The Mark and Elizabeth Gosse Residence has historic value due to its associations with the Gosse family. Mark Gosse’s father Nathaniel sailed the 42-ton “Martha Maria” for the firm Punton and Munn – one of the largest outport fishing firms of the time. Nathaniel later built the ship “Friendly Brothers” with his seven sons and Mark eventually took over the vessel until 1890. Mark then rebuilt the “Native Lass” before leaving for New England after the 1894 bank crash. When he returned to Spaniard’s Bay in 1899 he switched to lumbering and woodworking, establishing Mark Gosse and Son in 1900. The  business supplied lumber to local shipwrights, to the iron ore mines on Bell Island, and to customers across the island. It also specialized in house finishings, furniture, and woodturning. Advertisements from the time mention that delivery by boat was available to nearby communities and that a branch store was operating on Bell Island. The firm was an major employer in the Spaniard’s Bay region.

Mark and Elizabeth (nee Barrett and born in Bishop’s Cove in 1854) were married circa 1877 and their first child was born 1879. Elizabeth passed away in 1929 and Mark in 1936. Under their sons Eugene and Mark Junior, Mark Gosse and Sons prospered for many more decades.

The Mark and Elizabeth Gosse Residence has aesthetic value because it is a good example of a merchant-owned home in rural Newfoundland. Located along the main road running through the community, it is a well-known landmark. Built in 1901 by Mark Gosse Sr., the house is rich in exterior detail. Large, symmetrical windows on the façade give it feeling of grandeur, as do the prominent eaves brackets and the open porch on the front facade. Due to careful upkeep throughout the years, it retains many original windows and doors.

There is also a garage on the property of similar style to the house. This one storey building was built around the same time as the house and has seen few alterations over the years. Constructed using traditional materials, the garage features a pair of original double wooden doors, narrow wooden clapboard and original windows. As a pair, these buildings reflect the social standing and wealth of the Gosse family in Spaniard’s Bay.

Source: Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador property file “Spaniard’s Bay – Mark and Elizabeth Gosse Residence – FPT 2149”

Character Defining Elements

All original features which relate to the age and style of the house including:

-number of storeys;
-flat-topped hipped roof with kicked eaves;
-style and location of chimneys;
-size, style, trim and placement of shed style dormer windows;
-eaves bracketing;
-narrow wooden clapboard;
-wooden corner boards;
-size, style, trim and placement of wooden windows;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior wooden doors;
-sidelights in front porch;
-size, style, trim and placement of covered/open porch on front facade;
-all remaining original interior features that reflect the age, style and usage of the building, and;
-dimension, location and orientation of house.

All original features which relate to the age and style of the garage including:

-number of storeys;
-hipped roof;
-narrow wooden clapboard;
-wooden corner boards;
-size, style, trim and placement of wooden windows;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior wooden doors, and;
-dimension, location and orientation of garage.

Community

Spaniard's Bay

Municipality

Town of Spaniard's Bay

Civic Address

185 Conception Bay Hwy

Construction (circa)

1901 - 1901

Builder

Mark Gosse Sr.

Style

Square