Shand House Tour

Yesterday, Grandson and I went to the Shand House for a tour. I was surprised with what I saw.

The house was built in 1890-91 as a wedding gift from Clifford Shand to his bride Henrie. The style of the Shand House is Queen Anne Revival and is a combination of different houses that could be bought from a catalogue. The cost of the house was $6,000.00 and boasted electricity, central heat, and a bathroom. 
Clifford Shand was a cyclist enthusiast and there is a replica of a bike he rode in Windsor. This bike had no breaks which would make for interesting riding down the hill from his house.

 Clifford Shand not only took part in races in Windsor but in Halifax. 

He was a champ at the races. 

As you step inside the house, the first item they bring to your attention is the door hinges. 

The hinges are engraved and no two sets are the same. 
Once inside, you realize the house isn't as large as the exterior claims it to be. The front entrance is small and houses the stair case and an electric fireplace. 

The electric fire box is beautiful and casts a warm glow around the fireplace. This is for looks only as they had proper heating in the house. 

The grandfather clock sitting on the stair landing is electric (note the plug in on the wall beside it). It was made by the employees of the Windsor furniture factory for the couple as a house warming present. The glass in the door was broken by the children and lovingly done in wood to match the rest of the clock. 
The formal sitting room has all the original furniture and ornaments in it. 

 Tea was set on this lovely table in the room. 

 The fireplaces were beautifully done with covers over them when not in use. 

 The dining room table is the only piece that is oak and not made in the Windsor Furniture Factory. There is a button on the floor under the head of the table.

Who ever sat there was able to step on it and the maid would come in to serve the next course. 

Very English and this is found on the wall outside the kitchen.
All the windows in the house have inside shutters. I am sure they helped keep the house cool in the summers. 

Upstairs is 4 bedrooms. The master bedroom is the largest. 

And small by today's standards. Henrie's gown is gorgeous. 

As is this one found in their daughter, Gwendolyn's, bedroom.

Errol's bedroom was the third bedroom and was full of his items. 

Though I didn't photograph it, there was a fourth bedroom which seemed to be a small guest room. 
We climbed another set of stairs to look into the attic. It stored many items but shows the toys the children had. 

And almost out of sight, was some Christmas decorations. 

And finally, we climbed the last flight of stairs. Very steep and up into a small room. 

In that small room was the most delightful view of Lake Pisquid. 

Some items that we saw on the second and fourth floors include the area around Windsor. 

 The Shand house was only ever lived in by 4 people, the Shand family. Gwendolyn lived in it off and on until she died in 1982 when she willed it to Nova Scotia to become a museum. It is a wonderful look at how people lived in that era in Windsor. 
Errol did not live in the house as an adult. He worked for Pryex and has at least 12 patents in his name for Corning Ware. He also served in WWI. (Errol Shand lived an eclectic life, from fighting in WWI to inventing Pyrex.)
In amongst the pictures were the pictures of the Windsor Furniture Factory of which the owner's father was half owner of. Did the son work in the offices of the factory was not spoke of by the guides. 

And we went to see the Windsor Furniture Factory.

It is not a great picture as it is on a narrow road. But we saw it and were impressed.
A great way to spend an hour in our town.