Close to Home - by Valerie Poulin

June 2007

A Tour of the Historic Beaverbrook House
by Joan Cripps

The Purple Hat Ladies on the stairs at Historic Beaverbrook House.

It was a lovely bright Wednesday afternoon when 13 Purple Hat Ladies arrived for a tour and tea at the Historic Lord Beaverbrook House in Newcastle, Miramichi West the home of Lord Beaverbrook.

After introductions were made the afternoon began with singing our Purple Hat song followed by grace and our Tea Poem. A delicious lunch and tea was served in the beautiful large dining room by Connie Somers of Break Time Cafe. The table was gaily decorated with lovely flower centrepieces, china, silver, and crafts made by the ladies.

The theme for the afternoon was a “Tribute to Mother.” Each lady read a poem about mothers, ending with the “Crowning of Mary” while Matilda Murdoch accompanied us on the fiddle as the ladies sang “On this Day Oh Beautiful Mother.”

After tea we were ready for a tour of the house with Faye Somers, who has been looking after the beautiful historic home for three years, seeing to renovations etc. We started on the third floor with Lord Beaverbrook’s bedroom. Furniture for this room was donated by New Brunswick Historic Artifact Museum.

Lord Beaverbrook's bedroom

On the second floor we looked at many old books and learned Lord Beaverbrook was born in Maple, Ontario, on May 25, 1879. He moved to the town of Newcastle in 1880 and lived here until he was 17. In 1911, he became a member of the British Parliament. Lord Beaverbrook died on June 9, 1964, just two weeks after his 85th birthday.

Built in 1877, Lord Beaverbrook purchased the Historic Beaverbrook House in 1952. So much more could be told about this beautiful house, come see for yourself. Summer hours for the tour are Monday through Friday 9am until 5pm, Saturday 10am until 5pm, and Sunday 1pm until 5pm.

Thank you, Faye and Connie, for a lovely afternoon.

Photo of Lord Beaverbrook with his grandson.

Joan Searle and Matilda Murdoch

The Crowning of Mary with Matilda and Lillian

Ladies at the table

Joan Cripps with Lord Beaverbrook portrait

Joan Cripps has been married 55 years. She and her husband, Ray, have 13 children, 40 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren. Joan is a "Domestic Engineer" living in Chatham, NB, who loves to entertain and write. She is the founder of the Purple Hat Ladies Tea Society, a group she formed in 2001.