GENERAL
Alternate TitlesMrs. Leonard's Guest House
Boarding house / veteran’s home / private residence
123 Chapel Street, Woodstock, New Brunswick
The Wolverton House is a white Classic Revival residence with a prominent dormer window and red siding along a large veranda.
The Wolverton House is recognized for its association with the Wolverton family and its various purposes over the years.
This Classic Revival residence was originally used as a boarding house by James Wolverton (1856-1917) and his wife Eva (Hovey). It had one of the finest contemporary bathrooms in Carleton County. It was capable of pouring both hot and cold water, a luxury at the time. Later on the couple’s son, Dr. Frank Wolverton (1888-1967), operated his medicinal business in the front parlor from 1920 right up until his passing in 1967.
In 1971, the house was sold to Branch 11 of the Royal Canadian Legion, who converted it into the only branch-owned Legion Veterans’ Home in Canada. Years later in 2004, the Wolverton House resumed its original purpose as a boarding house, now under the title of Mrs. Leonard’s Guest House. It was most recently converted into a private residence in 2014.
A historical marker was placed outside the house by the Town of Woodstock.
ARCHITECTURE
Date of Construction1889-1890
- Large Classic Revival-style massing
- Side-gabled roof
- Pedimented central dormer with two windows
- Enclosed full-length front veranda
- Taps capable of pouring both hot and cold water, a luxury at the time of the building's construction
OWNERSHIP HISTORY
Notable Historic OccupantsJames Wolverton (1856-1917, co-owner of boarding house)
Eva (Hovey) Wolverton (James' wife, co-owner of boarding house)
Dr. Frank Wolverton (James and Eva's son, 1888-1967, used front parlor as a medical office starting in 1920)
Branch 11 of the Royal Canadian Legion (Used the building as the only branch-owned Legion Veterans’ Home in Canada from 1971 to 2004)
SOURCES AND DOCUMENTS
PhotosPhotographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2019, taken from the Historical Marker Database
Sources Contributors
Gabrielle Byrne