This house, at 770 Young Avenue, was built in 1898 for John McInnis Esq. to the designs of J.C. Dumaresq at a cost of over $6,000. John McInnis was part owner of builder/contractor firm of John McInnis and Son. He was no doubt aware of Dumaresq’s work, having built several of his designs. The original blueprints call it a "cottage."

 

The house was constructed as a rental property, and was moved in 1916 due to its proximity to the railway cutting. The mansion was relocated across the street (on the western side) next to the Mrs. Martin Smith home which had also moved a few hundred feet north from where it first stood (again due to its proximity to the railway cut). The CNR used it for its regional superintendents between 1924 to 1940, and it was acquired by the Royal Canadian Armed Forces in 1941 as part of the expansion of operations of the Eastern Air Command.

 

The exterior of this large wood house has been considerably altered from when it was originally built for John McInnis as a "cottage" by Dumaresq. Originally called Pine Grove, it was a good example of a house designed in the conservative regional Maritime interpretation of the Queen Anne Revival style as evidenced by the rectangular composition and being nearly symmetrical. There is a centrally placed entry, symmetrical double-height bay windows, gable roof with dormers of dissimilar design, and the asymmetrical wrap-around north bay window. Adapted after its move to a more classical design in the Colonial Revival style which was the prevailing fashion at the time and quite possibly due to the tower being damaged in the move.

The original plan for Pine Grove was in the Queen Anne Revival style. The estimated cost of original construction was over $6,000. The basement had two rooms for hard and soft coal, boiler room, store room, wash room (for laundry), a large open area, and rear servants' stairs. The ground floor consisted of a large front verandah extending the full width of the house, front entrance with vestibule, main hall, main staircase, coat room, parlour, sitting room with tower area, den, dining room, pantry, a large kitchen, and rear servants' stairs. The second floor had six bedrooms (one with a front balcony, and another with a tower room), landing and main stairway, side/rear balcony, bath room, water closet, linen room, and rear servants' stairs. The attic was accessed by the servants' stairs, and was one large room with tower area

The building's newer features included the simplified but prominent two-storey verandah across the main façade and more recent - the addition of vinyl siding which conceals the decorative aspects and original wooden clapboard. However, classically oriented features such as the gable roof, gable dormers and sash windows are characteristic of both styles. The classic interior plan of the residence is essentially unchanged, although many architectural details have been removed.

 

The mansion was inspired by principles of the early City Beautiful Movement in Canada and was one of the first built on Young Avenue. The Admiral's House is a Federal Heritage Building and listed in Canada's Historic Places. The house is still in use as a private residence and has been restored inside and out.