10364 Highway 1: The Nathaniel Parker House

Architecture Style: Vernacular

Built: Before 1850

Notes  by Frederick W.Bishop (1866-1959)  [courtesy of Carolyn Bishop McAllister]

“The first vessel built at Paradise of which I can find any record was built by Nathaniel Parker of Nictaux about the year 1815.  Nathaniel or two-thumb Parker as he was generally known, from having two thumbs on each hand was a striking character of his time. Possessed of great strength and indomitable energy he was the one to surmount any obstacles that might turn aside the ordinary man As an instance of this- just as he was well underway with his vessel some of his men had trouble to obtain board so taking his crew of shipbuilders to the woods with broad axe and whipsaws they got the material ready and built a house to live in, having it ready for occupying in less than five weeks.”

MG 100 Vol. 17, # 23, MacDonald Museum:  Robie Stewart Leonard (1876-1963)

“Two Thumb Parker- for many years he took a crew of men to Paradise to build hulls of sailing boats. After they were built they were floated down the river, probably on the spring flood, rigged at Annapolis and probably loaded with lumber for the West Indies. There is a house in Paradise built by Two Thumb Parker and his crew in seven days. That house is still standing and is the second building east of the Paradise Lane on Hwy 1. …Told to Dr. Frank Morse by  late Robie Leonard, M.A., of Paradise, N.S., in 1950.”

 Inventory of the Municipality of Annapolis County, June 3- October 18, 1966

“In 1848 when building a covered bridge over the Annapolis River they needed a place for the men to stay. They built this house … to house the men.” (Shirley Brooks)

Built on Ambrose Bent’s property and later moved, this house has been home to shipbuilders, carpenters,  farmworkers and families.  Edwin Brooks had his candy, tobacco and barbershop there. (1883-1899)  During the Dexter’s time, it was our post office.

This modest home has contributed a great amount to Paradise.