The History
Leaside Manor is a prominent heritage property located a few minutes drive, or a short 20-minute walk, from the convention centre and the harbour in downtown St. John's. It was built in 1921 by one of Newfoundland's most prominent merchant families - the Parkers of Parker and Monroe.

	Elaine Hann, the current owner, purchased Leaside from the Parker family in 1995.
In 1996, she opened her doors for business with three rooms and two bathrooms.

Today, Leaside has seven luxurious rooms, all with private baths, four on-site luxury  apartments,
as well as popular small conference facilities.

The Family
	Long before Leaside was built, in 1880, James F. Parker and Daniel Monroe, two St. John’s entrepreneurs, combined their resources to purchase a store on Water Street West to open a footwear operation. In 1899, a second store was added at Water Street East.
By 1909, Monroe had left the business, and James F. Parker had expanded the enterprise to include a factory on Alexander Street where he manufactured boots and shoes. Parker and Monroe continued to manufacture footwear until 1948, when they closed their factory on Alexander Street, converting it into a central warehouse operation for what had become a predominantly wholesale and retail business. The next four decades were to see Parker and Monroe flourish, with retail stores all across the province. These shoe stores, particularly the ones in St. John’s, were for Elaine and many of her around-the-bay peers, part of the annual pilgrimage to St. John's from outport Newfoundland to purchase school clothing and footwear. Those were the days! The fishery was vibrant, and the Portuguese White Fleet, among the others of many nations, was often tied up in the harbour. Crews from ships from all over the world frequented the streets of downtown St. John’s. And it wasn’t just for school shoes - for fishermen like Elaine’s father and grandfather, the Parker enterprise meant "rubbers" that would see them through "mosey" capelin weather.

By 1921, the year the Lea was built, John J. Parker, son of the James F., was the President of the company. Back from his honeymoon in Europe, John J. and his bride Flora (Frew) had their family home built, naming it “The Lea” or “meadow”. He and Flora raised three children in the Parker home: Mary, James (Jay) and John - all of whom are deceased.

A look at the Parker family reflects some of the colourful and interesting nature of Newfoundland’s own history. When Jay was born, in 1923, Newfoundland was one of England’s oldest colonies. At age 10, he went to England and attended school at Ampleforth Abbey in Yorkshire. This was followed by one year of high school at Loyola College in Montreal. He then went to MacDonald College but interrupted his studies to spend two years in the RCAF, where he received his wings, and was a commissioned an air bomber. He later returned to MacDonald College where he studied and received a B.Sc. in Agriculture.
Jay entered the family business in 1947. He went on to run the operation, and to become a very prominent St. John’s businessman. He was president of the St. John’s Rotary Club, and the St. John’s Board of Trade. He spent 12 years on the city’s planning commission. He served many positions – among them the Board of Governors of St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital, and the Newfoundland Advisory Board of the Royal Trust Co.
Jay died in 2000. He is survived by his wife, Geraldine (Jill), and their seven children.

The House
	The Lea was built and completed in June 1921 for John Joseph (John J.) and Flora (Frew) Parker,
following their return from a six-month honeymoon in England.

John had commissioned renowned architect, McCarter, to build a home that is even today unique to the city and to the province.

John J. had grown up in a traditional Queen Anne structure, the original Parker house, located on the corner of Queens Road and Garrison Hill. Flora had spent many years in Scotland, and ultimately, it was that Scottish connection which was to have the strongest impact on the house style of construction.

Prior to her marriage, Flora had lived in Kilmacolm, just outside of Glasgow, from 1911 to 1920, with her uncle, Dr. Campbell Syme. There she was to meet members of the Doulton family, of Royal Doulton fame. At the turn of the century, the Doultons were one of the families who took advantage of Glasgow’s rail expansion into its rural perimeters. That Kilmacolm-built family home so inspired Flora that she had the gracious, cottage-like style replicated in her new home -- the Lea.

Today, in many ways, the Lea is as it was constructed. At its exterior: Tudor styling; sedar siding;
unique stylized roof lines; colonial columns; lead-lined windows; double, beveled, plate glass doors at the entranceway; expansive lot with sweeping walkway; heavily treed lot; wrought iron fencing and double-gated drive.

	At its interior, Leaside is Arts and Craft in its design with beamed ceilings, paneled walls,
parquet wood floor, light sconces, ornate fireplaces, and inlaid wood flooring. The original structure was added to, at the rear of the property, in 1939.

House History -- Fiction or Fact
In 1999, Elaine traveled to Kilmacolm, Scotland, to seek out that Scottish architectural ancestor. And find it she did! "Alton Dyke" is a charming precursor to our St. John's Lea. Ask Elaine to tell you the story sometime.