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John Rodway Senior Residence (Baine Harbour) The John Rodway Senior Residence consists of a steeply pitched gable roof house, a shed and a forge located at the mouth of the harbour on Rodway's Point in Baine Harbour, Placentia Bay. It is believed to be the oldest cluster of buildings in the area, constructed sometime in the 1890s.
Situated on a point of land known locally as "Rodway's Point" the property is found at the sea entrance of Baine Harbour. This is significant because the primary economy was fisheries based, so all trade, export, import and other commercial activities were based from the waterfront. The Rodway family operated a very successful dry goods and fish buying business that served the entire region of Placentia Bay for several decades. The Rodway's key location enabled them first access to the incoming ships. They had a complete view of the harbour and of approaching sea traffic, and were highly visible from the road leading into the community. This strategic location separated the Rodway business from others further inland and so reduced competition. The residence symbolizes the key commercial impact the Rodway's had on the area. The remaining house, shed and forge are all that is left of the once thriving Placentia Bay economy, lead largely by the Rodway's. Since its heritage designation in 2002, the homeowners have conducted extensive restorations on the house. The house has a steeply pitched gable roof with a small linhay at the rear; a later extension on the house. The simplicity of the house, with narrow wooden clapboard, and plain, flat window trim, is punctuated by the decorative eaves brackets and column ornaments at the top of the wide corner boards. The single hung, 2/2 windows are typical of the style and age of the house. The front door is inset, lined with wooden panels and flanked by fluted pilasters. The nearby shed and forge are strictly utilitarian and each structure is primarily unadorned. They have mid pitched gable roofs and are sheathed in narrow wooden clapboard. The John Rodway Senior Residence was designated a Registered Heritage Structure on April 13, 2002.
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