What’s so special about Shakesides?
The Shakesides saga is a long one, so we have prepared a historical Timeline.
Shakesides was built by Mack Laing in 1949, after he sold Baybrook house and its land, including the fruit and nut orchard he and his late wife Ethel had planted. He used the house plans from the original Aladdin kit from 1922, used to build Baybrook, but aligned the long side parallel to the shore to have a larger balcony, larger front windows and a front door on that side.
Shakesides is not only a heritage structure of significance, as determined by heritage consultants (see link to report below), but is also a structure worthy of preservation because of how well it was built by its owner.
A proposal has been made to the Town of Comox to move Shakesides to Merville, which has other heritage buildings on the site of the Big Yellow Hall. Funds have been raised to do so.
Below is a photo gallery showing some of the aspects of Shakesides that make it well worth the effort to preserve. Photos and descriptions by Craig Freeman, Merville Community Association.
The rear side of Shakesides looking towards the Newsom property, now owned by the Town of Comox.
Shakesides could be moved a few feet to the Newsom yard, then up the existing road access to Balmoral Road. No barge needed. No demolition waste in the landfill, no damage to historic middens or foreshore.
Rear of Shakesides, showing windows with frames removed by the Town of Comox, plus shingles removed to the tar paper. Also revealed is the very good condition of the underlying wood structure.
The roof was made leakproof by Lacasse, under contract to the Town of Comox.
The edge of the exterior front deck showing solid 3 x 8 inch tongue and groove floor decking. This solid wood deck runs under the whole first floor. There is no support post under the corner of the deck. The strength of this construction means it isn’t needed.
the underside of the solid 3 x 8 inch tongue and groove decking that runs under the whole first floor. Massive amount of wood in this sub floor is such that it can be cleanly ripped along a joint, if the building has to be split in two to move.
The inside of the main room with fir tongue and groove flooring over the 3 x 8 inch solid decking which runs under the whole first floor. Note that the walls are straight and there is no water damage to the ceiling. The building is dry and shows no rot.
The finished tongue and groove 3 /4 inch flooring that was laid on top of the 3 x 8 inch solid fir sub floor. It just has to be sanded and urethaned and it will look beautiful.
The tight fitted exterior deck with the solid 3 x 8 inch tongue and groove floor decking, which runs under the whole first floor. There is no support post under the corner of the deck and there is no distortion.
Heritage Assessment Reports
