If those Walls Could Talk…

...they'd tell a love story that spans 100 years. One that begins around the turn of the 20th century with a local gent named James Guy. Mr. Guy may have made some of his fondest memories in 1904, marrying beloved Susan Russell and building what would become Long Beach House. James was not only a carpenter, but a fisherman and sealer who for eleven seasons, went "to the ice." We're not sure how or why Mr. Guy passed, but we know that the house stayed in the Guy family, being passed on to his brother's grandson, Bert. While most would agree that the house itself is typical of a fisherman's home back in those days, you can still see evidence of Mr. Guy's remarkable carpentry talent in every corner of the home. In 2014, when the Durdles bought the home built by Darrell's great uncle, the love story continued.

As wood roof shingles became more difficult to obtain and roofing felt was adopted as a cost-efficient alternative, the two-bay, low gable-roof structure with 2/2 windows and an interior chimney became a popular house style in Bonavista in the first half of the 20th century. However, the two-bay, steep gable-roof version of this house (essentially the same design) also remained fairly popular circa 1890 - 1940 by those who preferred the higher roof and wood shingles. Unlike many similar low gable-roof structures nearby, the house is distinct in that it doesn't have the gable roundel and panel feature.

​

Check out our feature in Home & Cabin magazine!