Page:New Brunswick Magazine Issue 1.djvu/358

There is a very suggestive entry in one of the old account books, dated November 17, 1773, in which William Hazen is charged 25 shillings for "4 gallons West India rum, 3 lbs. sugar, 3 quarts New England rum, Dinner, &c, &c.," and the memo is appended: "for Raising his House." The house was finished in 1774. It was by far the best and most substantial dwelling as yet erected at Portland Point, indeed in early times it used to be regarded as quite a mansion. The day of "the raising" was doubtless a gala day and we may be sure every man of the little community was there to take his part in the work and share in the refreshments provided.

The old Hazen house so erected on the 17th November, 1773, is still standing at the corner of Simonds and Brook streets, having withstood the ravages of time and escaped the numerous conflagrations that have occurred in the vicinity. The house has, however, been largely remodelled by the present owner Mr. John Stewart. The foundation is all new except the stone wall on Brook street which is part of the original wall. The roof formerly pitched four ways running up to a peak, this has been replaced by a flat roof. Some of the old studs, which were cut out where new windows have been put in, were found to be merely round sticks flattened on two sides with an axe, and the boards were roughly sawn. The sheathing of the house has all been renewed, and the ell that used to extend up Simonds street has been removed. The lower flat is now used as a grocery, the upper as a Presbyterian Mission Hall and Sunday School room in connection with St. David's Church. In olden times and for many years Mr. Hazen's garden and grounds extended to the water. Mr. Hazen seems to have personally superintended the construction of his house and as soon as it was ready for occupancy began once