Judson and Anna Hetherington lived in a beautiful 26-room mansion, referred to as "Hetherburton", which was meticulously constructed over two years between 1904-1906. This estate consisted of: The main 3-storey house, a large barn with hardwood floors and a basement, a guesthouse, a boathouse, an ice house, a garage, a playhouse and a carriage house. Charles Henry Doney, Judson's brother-in-law, who was a master carpenter, returned from Boston, Massachusetts, with his family and oversaw the completion of the detailed finished work inside the house from early 1906 until the end of 1907 at Judson's request, and was paid $150/month. While the house was being built, Anna, Judson and their daughters Katherine and Virginia lived across the road in what was known as Fairweather Hall. Agnes and Caroline Bourgue were two sisters from Lincoln, New Brunswick, that worked for Judson Hetherington and his wife Anna (Lancey) Hetherington in 1926. They had the responsibilities of cooking and cleaning for the family at Hetherburton. Anna and Judson were of Baptist faith while Agnes and her sister were devout Catholics. There were no Catholic churches in the Codys area, the nearest one being in Cambridge-Narrows; St. Patrick's Mission Church. Anna and Judson would make sure that the sisters were able to practice their faith each Sunday there, by arranging transportation to and from Cambridge-Narrows. After Judson's death in 1928, Anna would continue to make the travel arrangements for the sisters each week while they were in Anna's employment. Sadly, Agnes Bourque (1903-1950) would pass away suddenly at just 46 years of age in 1950 from a brain hemorrhage. In 1909, Anna commissioned John Christopher Miles (1832-1911) of Saint John, New Brunswick, to paint a picture of Fairweather Hall where they temporarily lived, along with a painting of the finished Hetherburton house and nine paintings of Thomas Hetherington's homestead; 1 for each of Thomas' seven children, one for Thomas, and one for Judson and Anna. The painting of Fairweather Hall still remains within the Hetherington family, the painting of Hetherburton went with Anna when she left for Sikeston. Hetherburton was to later pass into new hands after Anna Hetherington left to make her permanent home in Sikeston, Missouri, to live with her daughter, Katherine Coleman, in 1956. She first offered the house, fully furnished, to the Acadia University to be used for retired clergy, but the university did not want such a large responsibility. Anna then offered the house to Dr. Harold Gamblin Hetherington (1919-1998) and his wife Margaret "Grace" (Hetherington) (1921-2019), but the timing wasn't right. At that time doctors didn't have a steady income, since Medicare didn't come into effect until 1968 in New Brunswick. Such a large house would have been a financial burden, so the offer was turned down and the house sat on the market for 3 years until 1959 when a gentleman from Germany bought the mansion and tried to make a mushroom farm in the basement of the large barn. It is understood that he later burned the barn down in an effort to collect the insurance and abandoned the property and returned to Germany after authorities learned of his vast debts and wanted to question him. After he returned to Germany, things gradually deteriorated as the house sat empty and people vandalized and stole from the property. Later Victoria Tapley, from St. Catharines, Ontario, purchased the property and stabilized it (read more here). After which, Glen and Freda Cowan from Moncton, New Brunswick, did much to restore the mansion in the 70's. In 1980, Don and Carol Drury from Fredericton, New Brunswick, assumed ownership. The interior was gradually restored to its former grandeur. In 1987, the Guest Cottage was restored with a new roof and chimney. Its interior is much as it was when Anna Hetherington owned the property. The mahogany woodwork was generally unharmed and undamaged despite the leaky roof. The Guest Cottage looks the same as it did in the 1940's. In 1925, Judson's brother, Charles Arthur Hetherington (1876-1941) was an eligible bachelor at that time. Judson Hetherington (1866-1928) and Anna Hubbard (Lancey) Hetherington (1873-1959) didn't want him to be alone after his mother's death. Judson and Anna "arranged" his marriage to Leora Crawford Harrison (1880-1965). Under Judson's Last Will and Testament, Leora would be paid $50.00 per month from the date of Judson's death and that amount to be paid to Leora each month after Judson's death, but only while Leora and Judson's brother continue to live together as husband and wife, and upon her death, or the death of Judson's brother, all payments under Judson's Will would cease. Their wedding took place at Judson and Anna's home (Hetherburton). Leora was 45 and Charles Arthur was 49. The wedding was a quiet one with Charles Arthur's relatives present; Leora's family were all deceased by the time she was 37. Guests included: Miss Arthuretta Branscombe, Luther Richard Hetherington, Violet (Hetherington) Gamblin and James R. Gamblin (Dr. Gilbert Hetherington's daughter and husband), and their sons Robert and Philip of Coles Island; Frank and Alice (Perry) Hetherington of Mt. Middleton; Thomas Palmerston Hetherington of Codys, and his daughter Maggie Nilson, and her daughter Ruth Nilson of Codys, Anna and Judson Hetherington and Arthur Palmerston Hetherington, Sr. (1911-1999). Reverend John Drake Wetmore was the officiating clergyman. Leora and Charles Arthur Hetherington had a happy marriage. Charles Arthur passed away in 1941, at the age of 64. Leora continued living on the family farm in Codys until 1950, after which she moved to Saint John, New Brunswick. After moving to Saint John, Leora spent much time visiting with her cousin William Henry Hayward and his wife Alice (McDiarmid). She would continue to spend most of her summers in Codys, until Anna Hetherington made her permanent home in Sikeston. Leora passed away in Saint John, February 9, 1965, and was buried beside her husband, Charles Arthur Hetherington, in the Hetherington Cemetery in Codys. Grave site Details The Hetherington Private Cemetery is located within the Codys Baptist Cemetery (Inside Iron Gate). Dr. Gilbert Hetherington was the first to be buried in the Hetherington cemetery in 1925. Fairweather Hall, Codys, New Brunswick, across the road from Hetherburton, where Dr. Judson Egbert Hetherington, his wife Anna Hubbard (Lancey), and their daughters, Katherine and Virginia Hetherington, temporarily lived while Hetherburton was being constructed. Painted in 1909 by J. C. Miles. Thomas Hetherington's farm can be seen in the background along with sailboats on the lake.
Photos: Featured Photo. Hetherington, Michael. The Edwardian Mansion of Dr. Judson Egbert Hetherington and Anna (Lancey). Photograph. Email. July 20, 2020. Secondary Images: PANB. Home of Mrs. Anna Hetherington at Codys, New Brunswick, Queens County. July 5, 1930. Photograph. Email. July 15, 2020. Hetherington, Michael. Charles Arthur Hetherington (1876-1941). Leora Crawford (Harrison) Hetherington (1880-1965). Photograph. Email. July 20, 2020. Hetherington, Michael. J. C. Miles painting. Fairweather Hall, (1909). Photograph. Email. July 20, 2020. In-Text Citation: Hetherington, Michael. A Collection of Memories and Short Shorties, by Arthur Palmerston Hetherington, Sr. 2018. pp. 37, 44, 45 58, 67 Comments are closed.
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