E. J. Noble Guild's Fall House Tour

The E.J. Noble Guild of Canton-Potsdam Hospital has a Fall House Tour planned for Sept. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $12 and are on sale at the SLU Bookstore, The Pear Tree and Sposa Bella. A brochure will accompany the tickets with a description and history of each house and a location map.

The Guild has several area homes which will be showcased in the weeks leading up to the tour. This week, the Guild is highlighting Charles Rouse's Bed & Breakfast at 24 East Main Street, and the Kerrigan's house at 19 College Street.

Rouse's B&B

24 East Main Street was build around 1905 for the daughter of the family living in 26 East Main Street. There is a limited early history of the home, but neighbors and friends have told us a few stories. In the 1950s, a St. Lawrence University physics professor lived there. The blue and yellow color the house wore for many years suggests involvement with the Boy Scouts, who had the adjacent property. 24 East Main became the off-campus lodge for fraternities and sororities from SUNY Canton and St. Lawrence University. Experiencing neglect between the 1970s and 1990s, the house became low-income housing until it was no longer livable.

In 2003, Charles Rouse, then a sophomore at St. Lawrence University, with support from his family (from Glen Rock, N.J.) decided to invest in the run-down house as a place they could call home during their many visits to Canton. Having worked as an electrician, plumber and builder during high school, they agreed that it would be a good project for Charles and an opportunity to help spruce up the neighborhood.

Since its purchase in 2004, the house has undergone extreme demolition and renovation. Although little could be salvaged, the original floors and pieces of the original staircase were preserved. In 2008, after a majority of the work was completed, the eight to 11 bedroom house was turned into a spacious three-bedroom bed and breakfast (www.24eastmain.com)

The history of house can be seen in unique preservation elements as well as a documented coffee table book of the project. Influences from a trip to New Orleans (two-story porch and interior colors) as well as Turkish family heritage are gently incorporated into the renovated home. A tribute to the north country is also visible in wood and stone harvested from the region and finely applied by Charles and friends.

19 College Street

The house at 19 College Street was built in 1886 by A. Barton Hepburn for his then fiancé Emily Eaton. Hepburn was a successful businessman in St. Lawrence County at the time. His many endeavors included teaching, practicing law, banking, and practicing politics including being named Comptroller of the Currency of the United States by President Benjamin Harrison.

Hepburn was a widower with two young sons when he met Emily Eaton, a student at St. Lawrence University. They soon became engaged. Upon her graduation from St. Lawrence University, Emily took a year off to travel the United States and visit family. When Emily returned to Canton, Barton surprised her with a brand new three story house. Emily and Barton married in July of 1887 and then moved into their new home on College Street. Barton's mother also lived with them in Canton. In 1892, Barton, Emily, their two sons, and the first of two daughters moved to Washington. Barton's mother Beulah and his sister Henrietta remained at the house in Canton. Over the years, the house has had several owners including James Spears, who was a prominent figure in Canton in the early 1900s.

The house has Victorian style architecture but has a simple design. In her biography, Emily describes the home as a "big, generously proportioned house of simple gable design with a minimum of gewgaws." The house was built of wood from the Hepburn timberlands in the Adirondacks with various types of wood used in different rooms. For example, cherry wood was used in the living room, hemlock in the dining room, spruce for the guest rooms, and tamarack for the boys' bedrooms.

The house currently has 15 rooms including six bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. There are 14 generously-sized closets in the house; a rarity for Victorian homes. In 2008, the house underwent extensive renovation. However, the original French doors, living room sconces, dining room chandelier, and part of the original butler's pantry remain. Also, the house has returned to its original color, red.