Matthew Farfan

Derelict and unoccupied for years, falling further and further into disrepair, and seen by many as an eyesore beyond repair, the oldest surviving customs house in the Eastern Townships has just been granted a reprieve.

A new owner, according to the Stanstead Journal, will soon be taking up residence and restoring the "Pierce House" -- or the “Canada House” -- as it was once called, to its former grandeur.

The Pierce House, last winter. (Photo: Matthew Farfan)

This is indeed welcome news for local heritage activists who have long held that the building is worth saving, not merely for its history but for its architectural importance. According to Harry Isbrucker, past-president of the Colby-Curtis Museum, it was definitely “excellent news.” He said that he hopes “the new owner has the interest and wherewithal to turn the building into something truly beautiful.”

Located in the heart of Stanstead, on historic Dufferin Street, and built around 1813, the building is one of the oldest in the area. Built entirely of brick in the symmetrical style known variously as “federal” or “Georgian” and popular in New England, the building contains a number of interesting neo-classical elements, including a rare second-storey Palladian window and heavy pediments in each of the two gables. Originally a curved "fan light" and two narrow "side lights" graced the front door, but these have long since disappeared. The imposing tower on the northeast corner is a later Victorian addition.

Originally the building served as the home and store of Wilder Pierce, one of the wealthiest merchants in town. The side street directly across from the building bears the name "Pierce" to this day.

Over the years, the building was home to a number of commercial establishments, including the once powerful Eastern Townships Bank (a walk-in vault may still be seen on the first floor). In more modern times, it served as a restaurant and eventually as apartments. Not surprisingly, with so many changes in ownership and vocation over the years, the building has suffered. The interior has been gutted and remodeled extensively, and the roof, brickwork, and windows need immediate attention.

Dufferin Street, c.1910. The Pierce House is on the left.
(Photo: Farfan Collection)

According to the Journal, new owner Pierre Massue has big plans for the house. "I want to restore it to what it looked like when it was first built... At first I didn't notice this place. But then I saw it and thought it was perfect." Renovations, the Journal reports, will take Massue two years to complete. When the job is finished, the new owner plans to open an art gallery in the building.