Ashton House Heritage Site
The eldest son of Ashton and Lily Cassell built the Ashton House in 1952 in Little Harbour Deep. A family of fifteen at one time or another cradled these walls. Their roots will be forever planted deep within the crevices of the walls.
On May 27, 1965, the thirteen-year-old house was uprooted and floated on a raft to Hooping Harbour during Little Harbour Deep’s resettlement program.
Four years had passed then came the resettlement of Hooping Harbour.
On June 20, 1969 after a four year resting state, the house being no stranger to the sea was once again uprooted and floated from Hooping Harbour to Bide Arm.
This being the first house resettled out, we feel this is our civic duty to restore and maintain such an historical landmark.
Winter 2008
The house, which once was, remained desolate until a local businessman bought it and used it as a storage area. Then the opportunity arose to restore came on the table. After some dedication and hard work, the idea is finally becoming a reality.
Restoration in progress
For a couple of years, locals have been working on plans to open The Ashton House. The museum will be in operation for the summer’s main event, Bide Arm’s 2009 Come Home Year Celebrations.
A replica of the Ashton House is now being made to float from Hooping Harbour to Bide Arm in the 2009 CHY celebrations.
The Ashton House will be a place for the down to heart to reflect on days gone by, to get in touch once again with your roots and establish ground.
It will be a place where everyone who’s anyone could enjoy a nice chat with the locals, and to indulge in a culture, which thought, was long hidden but not forgotten.
The Ashton House identifies with one of many resettled families, the hardships they endured and struggles of a lifetime.
“Isn’t that something”, will be uttered as people come to realize just how things were and how they have changed. The artifacts and pictures that will be hung and placed at the museum will also bring back memories of how hard living was, and “if we only had that back then, things would have been a lot easier”, will be said aloud for the younger generation to hear.
The museum will be a place of remembering and reflecting.
Keep a look out for our updates on the restoration of our little town’s landmark.