The Coming Reopening of a Historic Landmark

A historic landmark in Bay du Vin, NB will be reopening in early May. The timeless sandstone house is coming up on a significant birthday. The community looks forward to the return of population and the activities that will accompany the reopening.

In a small community on the outskirts of the Miramichi, lies a historic landmark, referred to by locals as the “Old Stone House.” Built in 1823 by John Bailey Williston, the house has remained in the family since its construction, passed down over many generations. John Bailey was the son of a loyalist, arriving after the American revolution. The house was originally built entirely of sandstone, which was boated down the river and built on hard labour.

The house sits on the riverbank of the Bay du Vin River, with a brook running through the property, providing fresh spring water to those that reside there. The house is surrounded by roughly 90 acres of  land, covered in woods, water and wildlife. The owners report that it’s not uncommon to come across a bear, making your way around the property.

Bay du Vin is an incredibly small community, home to approximately 200 families. Too small to be considered even a village, Bay du Vin is a local service district. Those that know of the district tend to fall into one of three categories: locals, friends of locals and those that have roots within the community.

“The house means a lot to me,” said Brenda Williston, who grew up in the Old Stone House. “I’ve never truly left it. I came back every weekend in college and never stopped coming home. It’s where my father grew up, and his father before him, going 7 generations back.”

Inside the house can be found countless artifacts of the family and previous residents. Some fascinating pieces include yearbooks of the local high school from the 1950s, journal entries of relatives recording day-to-day life in the Old Stone House in the 1940s, vintage snowshoes and guns from the beginning of the 20th century. The house acts as a sort of time capsule, frozen in time with the remnants of past residents, all following the heritage of one bloodline.

The house is set to open the weekend of May 6th. Due to its age and lack of proper insulation, the house closes during the winter season and reopen once the warm weather makes it once again inhabitable.

Upon reminiscence, Brenda’s mother, Julia Williston recalled a time when she was a young mother, raising a family of 10 in that house.

“The kids were young and had gone to school for the day,” said Julia, “I found it strange to see them coming home early but even stranger to see their classmates and the teacher behind them. When they arrived, the teacher informed me that the kids were on a field trip touring the house for its history and significance. Apparently, they’d spoken to my husband about it all. I got a kick out of the kids coming home for a field trip.”

This year marks a special occasion for the house as it comes upon its 200th year of existence. To celebrate the bicentennial of the landmark, the family is throwing a reunion in its honour. The Old Stone House, which pre-dates the independence of Canada as a country, has remained in the Williston family since it was built. The family is extensive and spread out across the country. The Williston name is one of the most prominent in Bay du Vin, if not in all of the Miramichi. Many people come across the house in researching their genealogy, looking to see where their ancestors originated and the physical manifestation of their family history. The Old Stone House receives frequent visitors from all over the world during its open season and is a point of pride in the small community of Bay du Vin.