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Online Heritage Inventory

Cold Comfort Farm

General Information
Thumbnail photograph of Cold Comfort Farm
Click to see full image
Type of Resource: Building
Common Name: Cold Comfort Farm
Address: 2840 River Road
Neighbourhood (Planning Area Name): Thompson
Construction Date: circa 1900
Current Owner: Municipal Government
Designated: No

Statement of Significance
Description of Site
The Cold Comfort farmhouse is located just behind the dyke in the Terra Nova Heritage Area and is a key structure in a linear cluster of farm buildings overlooking the Middle Arm. The house is a rectangular, two-storey, gable-roofed dwelling exhibiting a variety of unique stylistic features including a mid-gothic window and a bay window with a mansard roof. Remnants of the front and rear gardens remain, while agricultural fields stretch away at the rear of the lot.

 Statement of Values
The farmhouse is significant for its historical association to the early settlement of Terra Nova in the 1890’s as a farming, and later a fishing and fish processing, community. It is one of the older buildings remaining in Richmond, and it reflects the original patterns of agricultural settlement in this area.
The house is a unique blend of vernacular Maritime building styles, as the original owner, James Mellis, arrived in the area from Nova Scotia. This structure accommodated his family as well as the Mellis’ stage line business which carried goods to and from Vancouver. The house was built on one of the original eight lots in Terra Nova, and maintains landscape characteristics of that time, including gardens, orchards and an agricultural setting.

 Character Defining Elements
Key elements that define the heritage character of the site include:
· The large front yard of the house and its unaltered spatial orientation to the river
· Its location in Terra Nova, and its fit within the remaining linear cluster of buildings which formed the original settlement, and its agricultural setting
· Garden remnants in both the front and rear yards of the house, and fruit trees, which are the remains of a significant orchard
· Small-scale elements such as fence lines and gates
· The unusual combination of architectural style elements of the house, including the mid-Gothic revival window on the front façade, the bay window with mansard roof on the east façade, and the placement of the main entry door on the narrow end of the house

 History
The Cold Comfort farmhouse is located just behind the dyke in the Terra Nova Heritage Area and is a key structure in a linear cluster of farm buildings overlooking the Middle Arm. The house is a rectangular, two-storey, gable-roofed dwelling exhibiting a variety of unique stylistic features including a mid-gothic window and a bay window with a mansard roof. Remnants of the front and rear gardens remain, while agricultural fields stretch away at the rear of the lot.

 Architectural Significance
Architectural Style
Undefined.

 Building Type
Domestic

 Design Features
Although of a normal rectangular shape with drop siding and an asphalt roof, this house has features which distinguish it from vernacular BC houses. The dominant window on the front facade is mid-gothic revival in style (as noted by the straight and pointed window tops. Early variations have curves.). This window design was common in the Maritimes during the early to mid 1800's. However, this is where the similarity to that style ends. The other unusual feature is the side bay which has a mansard roof on it. A mansard roof is not common to the Gothic Revival style. In fact, none of the Maritime styles use this element over a bay window. Most likely, the designers of this house used a blend of vernacular styles to create his or her own local dialect. Also unusual in regards to accepted styles, is the placement of the main door on the narrow end.

 Landscape Significance
Landscape Element
Trees (Fruit)

 Design Attributes
Some original fruit, orchard trees still exist on the property.

 Integrity
Alterations
The house appears to have had few alterations. A subtle change in the roof-line and material suggests that an addition was made to the back of the house at some point. The date of this is unknown. The windows on the original portion appear to be original. Most of the front of the house and one side is covered with ivy and in danger of further deterioration from the vine.

 Original Location
Yes

 Condition
The condition of the materials on the house are deteriorating and in need of upkeep. The ivy vine should be removed as soon as possible to prevent further loss of material underneath.

 Lost
No

 Documentation
Evaluated By
Julie MacDonald (Julie MacDonald Heritage Consulting)

 Date
Tuesday, February 15, 2000

 Documentation
“Heritage Inventory, Phase II” by Foundation Group Designs, May 1989. Inventory Sheets by Diana Bodnar (Foundation Group), January 1989.

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