Mallard Cottage facts for kids
.jpg)
Mallard Cottage is a very old and special building. It is found in Quidi Vidi Village, which is part of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. This cottage has one and a half floors. It also has a unique roof shape called a hipped roof. A chimney sits right in the middle.
The cottage shows an early 1800s building style. This style is called vernacular architecture. It looks like the old thatched-roof cottages from Ireland. Experts think Mallard Cottage was built between 1820 and 1840. This makes it one of the oldest homes in St. John's. Two other buildings, Anderson House and Martin McNamara House, share a similar style. These three buildings are great examples of very old architecture in St. John's.
The Story of Mallard Cottage
Mallard Cottage was built by the Mallard Family. This family came from Ireland. They were fishers and farmers. The Mallard family lived in the cottage for a long time. They stayed there from when it was built until the early 1980s. We don't know the exact building date. But old records from 1803 show a William Mallard, a fisherman, trading items.
Saving a Historic Building
In 1985, a person named Peg Magnone bought the cottage. At that time, the cottage was very old-fashioned. It did not have electricity or running water. It also had no indoor bathroom. The new owner worked hard to fix it up. They wanted to keep its history safe. But they also made it modern enough to use.
The cottage became an antique shop. It was a successful shop for many years. Then, in 2011, it was sold again. The new owners wanted to turn it into a restaurant. They added a small extension to the back. This made more space for dining. The cottage also needed big repairs. Some parts were very worn out. The owners did an amazing job. They made the cottage look as close to its original state as possible. Because of their hard work, they won the Southcott Award in 2013.
Mallard Cottage is very important. It has been recognized as a special place. In 1983, Parks Canada called it a National Historic Site. In 1986, it became a Registered Heritage Structure. The City of St. John's also named it a Heritage Building in 2006.
Mallard Cottage Today
Since November 2013, Mallard Cottage has been a popular restaurant. Chefs Todd Perrin and Kim Doyle, along with Sommelier Stephen Lee, run it. They are known for using fresh, local ingredients. Their food is inspired by the area. The restaurant has won many awards. In 2018, it was even ranked the 22nd best restaurant in Canada!
