Low Down Articles
Echoes from the Past
Article 29 of 111
This article first appeared in the "Echoes from the Past" column of the The Low Down to Hull and Back News.
Reprinted with permission. Search complete list of Low Down Articles.
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Hanratty-Reynolds House
Hanratty is the first name associated with this house which faces Scott Road not far from the corner where it meets the Old Chelsea Road. John Hanratty, it is believed, built the front part using logs. It is not known who completed it or when, but it was apparently in place in 1875 when West Hull was incorporated as a municipality.
John Hanratty may be identified as the son of Patrick Hanratty (1820-1874), a shoemaker, and his wife Sarah Lynott (1832-1897). The Lynotts lived at Cantley - both are buried in St. Stephen's Cemetery. The 1861 census indicates the family as living in a 1-1/2 story frame house on 1-1/4 acres of land. John Jr. is listed in the 1875 Collection Roll as a farmer.
In the 1890s, Jack Reynolds came into possession of the place, receiving it from his younger brother, Tom, who had bought it but died comparatively young, with no family. Jack and his wife, Bridget O'Meara, sister of Tom Padden's wife, Julia, undertook major renovations, raising the existing building from its log foundation and constructing a cellar underneath. The back section was probably added at this time.
Bridget O'Meara's parents were William O'Meara and Ellen Bradley. It is possible that the O'Mearas lived in the house prior to the Reynolds family.
Joe Reynolds, the youngest of five children occupied the building with his wife, Lena Larch, of Duclos, from 1940-1971. During this period clapboard siding was installed to cover the former plaster finish. The colour of the house remained the same - white.
In 1973 Joe's widow sold the property to Delmour Trueau and his wife Patricia Hogan - who also own the place next door, Jerry (Murphy) and Isobel (Benny).
A group of local artists acquired the building as a gallery in the spring of 1990. It came alive with colour the year long.