Normans Memorial

In 2010 we renovated Norman's potato house that is located along RR#134 in the front

of the house. Norman liked the idea of having his Memorial on the roof of his Potato House since he did spend many years inside. After Norman gave up his sheep farming

he grew potatoes on the farm.

Dedicated to our dear friend NORMAN KERR ELLIS

Much has happened to us over the last 4 years. Our dear friend Norman passed away on September 20Th 2009. HE ENJOYED HIS LAST 2 YEARS OF LIFE IN A HOME THAT HE NEVER THOUGHT HE WOULD EVER LIVE IN. He found it hard to believe that a building that was used for storage of hay, potatoes and grain for over 60 years was now a home. He loved being back in Lower Belledune he always spent his day in the kitchen checking out the view from all 4 windows always knowing when someone was coming to visit. He especially enjoyed his visits from people in the neighbourhood, Norman loved to talk.

I especially miss Norman at Christmas he always enjoyed our 4 day celebration. Dec.23 at our home with both Laurie's and my FAMILY in attendance. Dec. 24th was spent at my mothers Clara Flanagan in Jacquet River where again all the family members and more were

gathered. Dec. 25 we would have Christmas supper at my mothers, then on Dec. 26 we would all meet at my brother Andy's house where Jill (Andy's daughter) would play lovely Christmas tunes on the piano, Norman would sing along with great joy.

Norman loved life he never talked about his condition I think that is why he was able to live over 2 years after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. He was able to eat anything and lots of it until a month before he passed away. His last week was very painful for him, I could not put him in a lonely hospital and he did not want to go. Friday before he died we had Extra Mural deliver a hospital bed, he passed away peacefully in his bedroom in our home with Laurie and I at his side on Sunday morning. The day before he died we had all our family over to celebrate my daughters birthday. Norman was so happy to see everyone he sang songs and sat up in his bed, he told everyone he loved them, he even sang Happy Birthday to Melly, as he called her.

The house was very lonely after Norman left us. It took many months to adjust our life after over 7 years of having him with us, we still miss him and wish he could have had a few more years with us. He would enjoy the Farm animals we now have.

LOVE YOU NORMAN

Happy to be Home

We have been in our new old house for a few weeks now and love it very much.
Norman is very comfortable and enjoys watching his dog run through the open fields. I look forward to the spring when I can plant my garden and start to renovate the old potato cellar.

Back in Time

http://www.remodelingmyspace.com/faq.htm

House is Ready to be Lived in After

72 years

This home has sat unfinished and vacant for more than 70 years, it sits in the middle of a field in Lower Belledune New Brunswick. The weather and time has taken a tole on the old building. Sheep kept the old home company in the early years. The farm was well known in the community as " The Ellis Sheep Farm" the owner Norman Ellis was a kind man, he often allowed children to stop in and see the animals. The sheep were Normans life, he never married, he worked on this farm and his fathers farm all of his life. View pictures and get the full story below.
I found the following sites quite helpful.
http://www.oldhome.ca/OHD%20Architectural%20Salvage.htm

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/

http://www.oldhousestuff.net/

http://www.ebay.com/

We moved the old house on a full basement in November 2006.
Left is the old Potato Cellar, we plan on re finishing this building next summer.









October 2006













This shows the old church window I found under all the hay in the house. After we added the dormer for the garden doors I found it looked empty over the doors, I decided this would make a great place for the church window.

Side view of the house

We added a 10'x28' veranda to add charm to the old home.

Shows the pull out shelf under the counter. The shelf also has a bread board that slides out.















I had my cabinet maker add this pull out shelf to my cupboards since space was limited on my counter top. The shelf came from an antique cupboard it was used to roll pastry years ago.It has a porcelain finish and very easy to clean up. I love it








All the floors in the house are hardwood.
All were salvaged from old homes in the area except for the kitchen floor which I purchased
from a local saw mill. The removal of old hardwood flooring is a hard task, however the true beauty once the floors are re finished is well worth the work.

Chandelier above the Stair Case


















The door plates and glass door knobs are on all my interior doors.









I purchased this Antique Cupboard a few years ago and was not going to loose it. I had this in mind when dividing off the rooms on the second floor. The bathroom is 12'x11', we always had small bathrooms 6'x6'. Everything fits perfectly.


















Kitchen light fixtures was purchased in Fredericton.







All of my doors, windows and trim on the second floor is Pine. I found the design for the top of my windows and doors at an old house that I had listed. Very simple yet very unique. Use 5" boards for the trim, a one inch door stop divides the frame at the top with only 1/4 inch showing then put your top board and 3"crown molding to add character.
















I bought two old Iron grates from a man who was tearing down an old house in the area. Two for $30.00 a great deal. I had to prime and paint them. One is used in my kitchen for cold air return and the other in my living room for hot air. The man that sold them to me said he found them under 5 layers of flooring

I always wanted a big bathroom, I knew the house was small so I had to use my space with care. I decided to go with a bathtub with a handheld shower.

Bathroom sink. Notice the marble floor, I love it.






















This is the top of the stairway, the old house was very dark the doors added much needed light and a great view of the back farm.



















This is Normans room on the first floor. I divided the living room with french doors to accommodate
his bedroom and 1/2 bathroom. Norman is not able to walk up the stairs.

This is the master bedroom, it is a nice size with a wall to wall closet on the south end. The windows add light and beauty to the room

The stair case was made by a local wood worker. The antique post came from an old house that was destroyed 20 years ago. We know the family well they gave the post to us. Now they can visit and admire the beauty.












The steps are all Birds Eye Maple that we purchased at a local saw mill, I then had a friend of mine make the risers and steps for us.

I purchased Cultured Stone for the back of my wood stove, it adds a lot of charm to the old kitchen. The floors in the kitchen are all Birds Eye Maple.

This is Part of the kitchen. Below is the kitchen table and cupboards. My husband and I designed the cupboards. We like the Gothic look

it complements the old wooden walls.























Living Room, the French Doors lead into Normans bedroom.









Living Room













http://www.remodelingmyspace.com/faq.htm









Last fall my husband Laurie and I purchased a
95 acre farm in Belledune New Brunswick Canada. We both lived in Belledune all of our lives. Belledune is located in Northern New Brunswick along the Bay of Chaleur, our beaches are clean and beautiful. We have a magnificent view of the Quebec Mountains.

This home is over 70 years old and has never been lived in for more than a year

The property we purchased had a metal dome barn on it and an old house. The house was built in 1935 after a fire destroyed most of the homes in the area. This house was built by the Government to help the homeless people. The owner in 1935 was a McCurdy he lost the house and farm to taxes in 1936. The property was then purchased by a Ferguson who may have lived in it for a year or so. In 1939 the farm was sold to Harold Ellis who farmed the land and used the house for storage of hay and oats. In 1955 Mr. Ellis gave the farm to his son Norman who used the grounds to graze his sheep and the house for hay,oats and potatoes. Norman retired in 1980, the house stood alone for the next 26 years until my husband and I purchased it. The home was never finished inside, the kitchen was the only room that was finished with pine boards on the walls and ceiling.

Filled To The Rafters With Hay

When we purchased the house it was filled to the rafters with hay, we removed over 200 bails of hay from the inside that had been in the house for 26 years. I had a local house mover look at the house to see if it was worth lifting and moving unto a basement, it was so I began my winter project. I worked on the house throughout the winter, I hired a local carpenter to help me. We insulated the walls, installed old hardwood flooring, re framed the walls and installed a floor for the attic. In the spring of 2007 I hired a plumber and installed 1 1/2 baths,we then installed 14 new windows, a metal roof, removed the old shingles and added 2 inches of Styrofoam to the outside . I hired a contractor to finished the hardwood floors and installed marble in the bathroom on the second floor. At this time, August 2007 we are about to add a veranda and re finish the outside of the house with cedar shingles. The septic system was installed in June.

Cutting Corners

The hardwood floors were salvaged from old homes in the area, the light fixtures are all vintage and come from a local antique store. I found some old iron grates to use in ceiling/ floor to heat the second level. The glass in my cupboard doors came from old door that were used in a Collage in the 1930. The french doors in my living room were purchased at a garage sale and came from a convent. All of my doors have glass door knobs which came from the same doors as my glass for the cupboards. My Staircase is all Birds Eye Maple, the posts were given to me they came from an old home in my community. I love old and plan on decorating the house with period furniture, curtains etc.

Leaving Home For The First Time At The Age Of 78

Norman lived with his father and mother all of his life, in 2001 the family homestead was put on the market to settle the Estate. During the time it took to sell the house I got to know Norman. He was a lonely old man, he was having a hard time getting around.

Norman would have to go into a home when the homestead sold, he had no children or wife to care for him. We had a large home in Jacquet River, our children have grown and went away so we asked Norman if he wanted to live with us. He was hesatent at first, then he asked "what about my dog" We told him that if his dog liked our dogs he was welcome to move in also. In 2006 Norman decided to sell his farm in Belledune, he first sold the beachfront

then offered to sell us the remainder of the farm. He never thought we would ever live in the old house.
Moving Into The Home He Owned For 50 Years and Never Lived in.

It has been five years since Norman moved in with us. Within the next month he will be moving with us into his home,the home that he knew all of his life as a storage shed.
Big Savings
Marble Flooring 150 Sq. Feet................$450.00 Delivered from Toronto
10 sets of New Shutters.........................$120.00 E-Bay
100 sheets of 2" Styrofome.....................$850.00 Left over from a new building
6 sheets of Antique Bubble Glass and 6 Antique glass door knobs..............$30.0
Antique French Doors...............................$40.00 Yard Sale
2 Antique Grates.......................................$30.00 Salvaged from an old home
6 Pillars for Veranda...................................$100.00 Local Antique Shop
7 Antique Light Fixtures................................$$60.00 Local Antique Shop Sal
3 Antique Hardwood Stair Posts............................Free
54 Red Oak Spindles and Handrail...............................$620.00 U.S.A.
Birds Eye Maple 250 L feet..............................................$240.00 Local Saw Mill
70 Bundles Cedar Shingles ............................................$250.00 Purchased from an Estate
3 Antique lightning Rods ..............................................$60.00 Ontario
Garden Doors...............................................................$350.0
Antique Church Window...................................................Free

Whirlpool Tub delivered from the U.S................................$1020.00

July 2007

Old Foundation













Moving Day 2006 Norman and I.













Kitchen after I varnished it.




















Stairway

Bedroom

Added Dormer and Garden Doors

Barn before painted

Back of house 2006













Our Fall Hayride, Norman was with us.

Back Property

Back Field

Upstairs bedroom?

Front part of Living Room,front door and door
to kitchen.

Look at how time has created beauty.














Cedar Swamp located on the property















The old rail fence still stands after so many years














Brook located in the middle of the property















Back of Property