10200 Highway 1: The George Pearson House

Architecture Style: Foursquare with Craftsman details

Built: 1911

This home was built in the simple style of the “Arts and Crafts” era. It was both typical, a  “Foursquare” house common in Nova Scotia at that time, yet special, as it was designed by the architect  L.R. Fairn, who went on to become one of the province’s most respected architects. Mr. Fairn designed schools, including the MacDonald School in Middleton,  and churches, including the reconstructed Grace Methodist church in Dartmouth after the Halifax Explosion.

The house was designed for George and Marianna [Starratt] Pearson. Minnie was the daughter of Col. William Elder Starratt, and the house is built on the old Starratt grant from the very earliest days of Paradise, when the Starratt family owned most of the land in the western part of the village. Minnie and George came home from Massachusetts in 1898 and renovated her father’s elegant home at the corner of the Balcom Road. In 1911 they built this grand new home.  They lived here until 1921, when their health declined, and they moved in with their son Homer in Portland Maine. Marianne died of pneumonia on March 10, 1923, and five days later, George, recovering from flu, died too. The village of Paradise mourned this couple who had been “actively associated in all work that had to do with the good and advancement of the community.” (Outlook, April 13, 1923). At their funeral, Ewart G. Morse and Howard W. Longley sang a duet, “The Homeland.”

In 1927 the home was sold to Floyd Banks, a son of George and Jessie Banks, who lived in the Col. W.E. Starratt home. Like the Starratt’s, the Banks were of Planter descent, from Joshua Banks, who came to Granville with the others in 1760. The Banks’ were a respected and distinguished family. Floyd was one of six children born to George and Jesse. All six went to Paradise school and went on to fine careers. Anthony is in the “Hall of Fame” at the Agricultural College; Leone is remembered as a fine teacher and historian. Leola kept the Col. Starratt home in her family until 1990. This one was quickly lost to them, however, as Floyd inherited the family farm in Kings County.

The Goodwins lived here for years, very much a part of  Paradise community life. Bart and Ray Goodwin had a mill which manufactured doors and windows. Rena was very active in the Women’s Institute and a superb cook. Later, her son Bill lived here alone.