The exact year and builder of Herber John Abbott's house at Bailey's Cove, Bonavista, remain unknown. The dwelling was built on land granted in 1889 to a local Bonavista fisherman, James Way. The architectural style suggests it may have been built between 1840 and 1860. It was not uncommon for nineteenth-century Newfoundlanders to build on land obtaining the proper grants.

© 1998 Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (25Kb)

The structure's four-sided pitched roof, known as a hipped or cottage roof, and fully-studded walls, made with vertical logs placed side by side, make it an excellent example of the tilt construction method. The tilt design is one of the earliest forms of Newfoundland home construction. The pronounced drip molding is a common architectural feature found in Bonavista. The dual chimney in each gable is an unusual feature not commonly used in the region.

In the mid 1990s the Linthorne family of Bonavista purchased the home and continue to use it as a dwelling. Curtis Linthorne has completed renovations on the exterior of the building and plans to begin work on the structure's interior.

The Heritage Foundation declared the Herber John Abbott House a Registered Heritage Structure in September 1995.