Town Of Tilting: Lane House

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The Lane House Museum

Located on the north side of Tilting Harbour, at the end of the Church Lane, there is an interesting museum called The Lane House.

The Lane House is the oldest house in Tilting and won the Southcott Award, for excellence in preserving the architectural heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1997. It was built prior to 1836 by the cooper Augustin MacNamara (known as "Augie Mac"). Augie Mac came from Ireland with his sister, and was drowned in Black Rock Tickle (between Bunker Hill and Sandy Cove Beach). After he drowned, Aneas Dwyer purchased the house, he sold it to Dick Cashin, who then sold it to Laurence Lane for $75. It was then inherited by his son Michael Lane. He lived in the house until the fall of 1993, when it was then purchased by the Tilting Expatriate Association, and restored as a museum.

During the late 19th century, under the owner ship of Aneas Dwyer, the house underwent a major renovation. Because his daughters complained about the low ceilings, Aneas took it upon himself to heighten the ceilings on the second floor. The renovations took place in one day "he started in the morning and finished at night . . . (the family) didn't have to move out". The carpentry was done so well, considering the time limit, that the house still has not leaked. Although the ceilings are low to today's standards, they were considered high when they were risen. To display the outline of the original house there has been a green board trim, along with two model windows, added to the exterior of the east side of the house.

The first floor of this four-bedroom house contains a small porch, pantry, kitchen and living room. Connecting the first floor to the second there is a spiral staircase, the only one of its kind in Tilting. This staircase was built by the original owner, Augie Mac. The cooper (a barrel maker) was used to dealing with curvatures in his daily work, and implied this design to the staircase. Each room in The Lane House is also filled with fascinating artifacts from the citizens of Tilting which display the intriguing cultural heritage of the community.

Lane House Museum

For more pictures of the Lane House and the Dwyer Fishing Premises, click here.