History

A Brief History of Compton House

Spread out over 7000 square feet, Compton House is a late Victorian style home that was built in 1919 by the Cousens family. Ethelbert Cousens, proprietor of a cooperage on the Southside of St. John's, made application to build the house on July 17, 1919.

In the mid-1920's, the house was occupied by Ethelbert and Roy Cousens. The couple was said to have split the property down the middle so that each had a private residence. In 1926, a two-storey wing was added to the west side of the house to accomodate a second kitchen with a housekeeper's quarters upstairs. 

in 1945, the Cousen's family sold the house to Ches Pippy and his wife Edna. The Pippys extensively renovated the house and returned it to it's original status as a single family home.

Ches Pippy was a successful businessman who founded Newfoundland tractor in 1927. The company, which remained in the Pippy family until 1997, enjoyed immediate success in supplying equipment for road and other construction work which began in the 1920's. Years later, in the 1960's, Ches Pippy gave $1 million dollars to the provincial government to acquire land. This land was developed into a large park in the City of St. John's, The park, St. John's C.A Pippy Park is named in his honour.

Today, the house on 26 Waterford Bridge Road is owned by Bob and Cindy Holden. The Holden's bought the home in 1988 and underwent extensive renovations to convert the home to a Heritage Inn. Much of the old beauty and late Victorian charm lost over the years was restored with the refurbishment of the home. Compton House is now designated as a Heritage property by the City of St. John's.

Compton House is named after Compton Castle in Devon, England; A Pippy ancestral home.