Belleview Hotel
by Janet Henry Murdoch
December 10, 1980
December 10, 1980
Have you ever heard of the other hotel that Rothesay once had? Perhaps not, but in 1877 the Slattery House at the end of Pugsley court was built for such a purpose by the Parks family. Surrounded by tall, elegant trees, it stands like a quiet white giant. Its white exterior, pitched roof with hipped ends and windows with pediments, contain warmth inside.
The Belleview Hotel, as it was called, was erected to quit the fashion of the times. The twelve foot ceilings reflect the extremes in architecture the Victorian Era endured and dwarf the antique furniture of the present day residents. The grand front hall has double doors leading to a large livingroom on the left, and a stylish dining room followed by a beautiful den on the right, with a pleasant staircase at the end. A bright cheery alcove and adjoining verandah are attached to the den and were added by the New Brunswick government for the visit of the Prince of Wales ( later King Edward VII in 1919.
One has only to walk along the hall to imagine at the atmosphere of the late nineteenth century. Coaches with richly dressed couples would arrive at the front door, the horses being stabled in the carriage house beyond where the garage is today. Tailored butlers would greet the guests and show them to the livingroom where the fire would be crackling if it were cold, or waiters would serve them with cold lemonade to relieve their thirst. If the visitors had just completed an arduous journey they could freshen up in their spacious bedrooms on the second floor, up the wide, elegantly arched stairway. Delicious meals were served in an ell-shaped extension that stretched out towards its annex, today known as the Murdoch home. Well-groomed waitresses expertly served established patrons and newcomers alike with dishes promised to tempt even the most delicate palate.
Of course the luxury and magnificence of this hotel did not stop there. After a leisurely meal followed by steaming cups of rich coffee in the den, sleep came easily in the quiet Rothesay setting. The soft featherbed with brass welcomed any tired traveler beneath its cozy blankets.
The name of the hotel, Belleview, was indeed apt. The building was, and still is surrounded by large well kept lawns. Trees abound and a small stream, known by many as Mackay Brook. Ambles pleasantly across the property. Back in the days of the hotel, too, the glistening waters of the Kennebecasis River could be seen gently rocking the sailing boats.
In the late teens of this century the hotel came under the ownership of Hon. William J. Pugsley. While he was Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick his residence became Government House. This was due to the fact that the government at that time was going through hard times and the house in Fredericton normally reserved for Lieutenant Governors had to be sold.
While Lieutenant Governor, William Pugsley entertained the Prince of Wales as a guest in 1919. Many people greeted his arrival and a lone formed to s hake hands with the British visitor on the verandah. In the evening a ball was held on the raised platform over what is now the Murdoch lawn. Prince Edward was supposed to dance with the premier's daughter, but as told by P. W. Oland, "she wasn't a beauty!" And instead he spent the evening waltzing with a girl who was better looking. Mrs. Oland remembers her older sister who spied on the whole affair, telling of the grand night.
After the death of the Hon. William Pugsley, the house passed into the hands of his second wife, Gertude. 'WildBill' as he had been known, had spent most of his money so his wife was left virtually penniless at a late age, to support herself and a huge house. Of course, she was unable to work, therefor the next avenue open was to rent the former government house. This idea proved successful and the house was leased to several families to the end of World War II.
One such occupant was a man by the name of Charlie Mcmillam. One of his hobbies was his great fascination with model trains. So much was he addicted to them and so many did he have that networks of miniaturized train tracks weaved webs all over the upper floor. In fact, holes had to be cut in doors for the tiny express wagons as they traveled past bookshelves, under furniture and over carpers.
The building, as true of most dwellings built at the same time, had no proper insulation for the cold winter months and had to rely on head generated by two large fireplaces downstairs and smaller one in the suite upstairs. For Gertude Pugsley the best way to get more heat was to plant a big pot bellied stove plunk in the middle of the main hall downstairs. More than a few people were surprised on entering the house to come face to face with the gargantuan beast puffing out waves of steam heat in attempt to keep the house from freezing into a cake of ice.
During the long period of leasing, Mrs. Pugsley stayed at what is now the Shadow Lawn and as long as the rent money came in, she wasn't worried about the upkeep of the house. Because of this, the structure suffered and by the time William Reay Mackay agreed to buy the building on October 22, 1945. It had fallen into stages of disrepair. Much renovating was needed before he and his wife, Molly, could finally settle in on June 6, 1946. The 'ell'-shaped section coming toward the Murdoch home, that had once contained the magnificent dining room of the Belleview Hotel, had to be torn down. The house itself was more fully insulated so that more modern heating equipment could keep the place warm. The aged carriage house was also doomed to fall.
Now, in a sleeker fitter state, the old hotel became a happy family residence for the Mackay parents and children. It was during the time that the Mackays occupied it, that the Belleview Hotel acquired a new name. Mr. Mackay, in working on the grounds, noticed the large number of birch trees on the premises. With that in mine he decided to call his home Bircholme. This was a very pleasant and suitable title; however, some years later a disease peculiar to birch trees left many of the property dead. The last of great birches finally fell in 1970 when a pool was installed on the small front lawn.
With all his children grown and off on their own, Mr. Mackay found time to do what he liked best, woodworking. In his spare time, away from his lumberyard, Mackay Forest Products Ltd., he toiled away at raising a stained wood fence between his property and that of John Large's and of Zlatan Satalic on the other. He also enclosed the new swimming pool and erected a pump house with a changing room and a small lunch counter bar. I can still remember late at night, hearing the hammering of Mr. Mackay and the hooting of a great horned owl as if they were trying to outdo each other.
Mr. Mackay's hobby wasn't limited to the outside of the house, inside he also put in a great deal of work. IN the kitchen he added a little bar with racks for bottles of wine. One wall of the den he completely covered with shelves to hold everything from books and magazines to a television set. Upstairs, he he remodeled the master bedroom and raised the bathtub so that the small wooden counter ran all the way around it. Also he installed a cedar chest.
All the lawns were well cared for with the border gardens planted alongside the meandering brook as well as the several gardens beside the house and a large one behind the garage. The colours of the flowers were brilliant, ranging from bright cherry reds to deep velvet purples. It was often so tempting to pick a perfumed poesy when walking by.
Bill Mackay used to have a small wooden foot bridge over the stream and I an recall as an elementary school student, sometimes taking advantage of the shorter route home for lunch, sneaking across the huge lawn, tiptoeing cautiously over the bridge, and breathlessly scampering behind the garage and racing home. Those escapades however stopped after I was caught one day by Mrs. Mackay entertaining a guest on the patio in front of the garage.
In the summer of 1978, and to the surprise of many people, the Mackays sold Bircholme. It was getting to be to big for two people and two dogs.
The new occupants, the Slatterys, have lived in the house for just over a year and a half and have done little altering except to remove the shelves in the den, thus exposing a small window and building a larger parking lot beside the garage.
The Belleview Hotel, as it was, and the Slattery House, as it is, has certainly seen many changes in Rothesay and few in itself, but it's grandeur and character will always remain.
The Belleview Hotel, as it was called, was erected to quit the fashion of the times. The twelve foot ceilings reflect the extremes in architecture the Victorian Era endured and dwarf the antique furniture of the present day residents. The grand front hall has double doors leading to a large livingroom on the left, and a stylish dining room followed by a beautiful den on the right, with a pleasant staircase at the end. A bright cheery alcove and adjoining verandah are attached to the den and were added by the New Brunswick government for the visit of the Prince of Wales ( later King Edward VII in 1919.
One has only to walk along the hall to imagine at the atmosphere of the late nineteenth century. Coaches with richly dressed couples would arrive at the front door, the horses being stabled in the carriage house beyond where the garage is today. Tailored butlers would greet the guests and show them to the livingroom where the fire would be crackling if it were cold, or waiters would serve them with cold lemonade to relieve their thirst. If the visitors had just completed an arduous journey they could freshen up in their spacious bedrooms on the second floor, up the wide, elegantly arched stairway. Delicious meals were served in an ell-shaped extension that stretched out towards its annex, today known as the Murdoch home. Well-groomed waitresses expertly served established patrons and newcomers alike with dishes promised to tempt even the most delicate palate.
Of course the luxury and magnificence of this hotel did not stop there. After a leisurely meal followed by steaming cups of rich coffee in the den, sleep came easily in the quiet Rothesay setting. The soft featherbed with brass welcomed any tired traveler beneath its cozy blankets.
The name of the hotel, Belleview, was indeed apt. The building was, and still is surrounded by large well kept lawns. Trees abound and a small stream, known by many as Mackay Brook. Ambles pleasantly across the property. Back in the days of the hotel, too, the glistening waters of the Kennebecasis River could be seen gently rocking the sailing boats.
In the late teens of this century the hotel came under the ownership of Hon. William J. Pugsley. While he was Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick his residence became Government House. This was due to the fact that the government at that time was going through hard times and the house in Fredericton normally reserved for Lieutenant Governors had to be sold.
While Lieutenant Governor, William Pugsley entertained the Prince of Wales as a guest in 1919. Many people greeted his arrival and a lone formed to s hake hands with the British visitor on the verandah. In the evening a ball was held on the raised platform over what is now the Murdoch lawn. Prince Edward was supposed to dance with the premier's daughter, but as told by P. W. Oland, "she wasn't a beauty!" And instead he spent the evening waltzing with a girl who was better looking. Mrs. Oland remembers her older sister who spied on the whole affair, telling of the grand night.
After the death of the Hon. William Pugsley, the house passed into the hands of his second wife, Gertude. 'WildBill' as he had been known, had spent most of his money so his wife was left virtually penniless at a late age, to support herself and a huge house. Of course, she was unable to work, therefor the next avenue open was to rent the former government house. This idea proved successful and the house was leased to several families to the end of World War II.
One such occupant was a man by the name of Charlie Mcmillam. One of his hobbies was his great fascination with model trains. So much was he addicted to them and so many did he have that networks of miniaturized train tracks weaved webs all over the upper floor. In fact, holes had to be cut in doors for the tiny express wagons as they traveled past bookshelves, under furniture and over carpers.
The building, as true of most dwellings built at the same time, had no proper insulation for the cold winter months and had to rely on head generated by two large fireplaces downstairs and smaller one in the suite upstairs. For Gertude Pugsley the best way to get more heat was to plant a big pot bellied stove plunk in the middle of the main hall downstairs. More than a few people were surprised on entering the house to come face to face with the gargantuan beast puffing out waves of steam heat in attempt to keep the house from freezing into a cake of ice.
During the long period of leasing, Mrs. Pugsley stayed at what is now the Shadow Lawn and as long as the rent money came in, she wasn't worried about the upkeep of the house. Because of this, the structure suffered and by the time William Reay Mackay agreed to buy the building on October 22, 1945. It had fallen into stages of disrepair. Much renovating was needed before he and his wife, Molly, could finally settle in on June 6, 1946. The 'ell'-shaped section coming toward the Murdoch home, that had once contained the magnificent dining room of the Belleview Hotel, had to be torn down. The house itself was more fully insulated so that more modern heating equipment could keep the place warm. The aged carriage house was also doomed to fall.
Now, in a sleeker fitter state, the old hotel became a happy family residence for the Mackay parents and children. It was during the time that the Mackays occupied it, that the Belleview Hotel acquired a new name. Mr. Mackay, in working on the grounds, noticed the large number of birch trees on the premises. With that in mine he decided to call his home Bircholme. This was a very pleasant and suitable title; however, some years later a disease peculiar to birch trees left many of the property dead. The last of great birches finally fell in 1970 when a pool was installed on the small front lawn.
With all his children grown and off on their own, Mr. Mackay found time to do what he liked best, woodworking. In his spare time, away from his lumberyard, Mackay Forest Products Ltd., he toiled away at raising a stained wood fence between his property and that of John Large's and of Zlatan Satalic on the other. He also enclosed the new swimming pool and erected a pump house with a changing room and a small lunch counter bar. I can still remember late at night, hearing the hammering of Mr. Mackay and the hooting of a great horned owl as if they were trying to outdo each other.
Mr. Mackay's hobby wasn't limited to the outside of the house, inside he also put in a great deal of work. IN the kitchen he added a little bar with racks for bottles of wine. One wall of the den he completely covered with shelves to hold everything from books and magazines to a television set. Upstairs, he he remodeled the master bedroom and raised the bathtub so that the small wooden counter ran all the way around it. Also he installed a cedar chest.
All the lawns were well cared for with the border gardens planted alongside the meandering brook as well as the several gardens beside the house and a large one behind the garage. The colours of the flowers were brilliant, ranging from bright cherry reds to deep velvet purples. It was often so tempting to pick a perfumed poesy when walking by.
Bill Mackay used to have a small wooden foot bridge over the stream and I an recall as an elementary school student, sometimes taking advantage of the shorter route home for lunch, sneaking across the huge lawn, tiptoeing cautiously over the bridge, and breathlessly scampering behind the garage and racing home. Those escapades however stopped after I was caught one day by Mrs. Mackay entertaining a guest on the patio in front of the garage.
In the summer of 1978, and to the surprise of many people, the Mackays sold Bircholme. It was getting to be to big for two people and two dogs.
The new occupants, the Slatterys, have lived in the house for just over a year and a half and have done little altering except to remove the shelves in the den, thus exposing a small window and building a larger parking lot beside the garage.
The Belleview Hotel, as it was, and the Slattery House, as it is, has certainly seen many changes in Rothesay and few in itself, but it's grandeur and character will always remain.