Curwin Business Centre

Located beside Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Rothesay, The Grove was once one of the community’s most recognizable heritage homes. Built before Confederation in 1867, it stood for generations as a quiet witness to the growth of the Kennebecasis Valley. The house earned its name from the birch trees that once lined its front drive, creating a sheltered walkway that made an impression on visitors long before they reached the front door. In the early 1930s, The Grove became the residence of Lieutenant Governor Hugh Havelock McLean, a prominent New Brunswick lawyer, judge, and politician. McLean served as Speaker of the House of Commons and later as the province’s Lieutenant Governor. During his time in Rothesay, The Grove was not only a private residence but also a place where local political and social life occasionally intersected. People in town often remembered it as a landmark that quietly signaled the presence of provincial leadership, set just back from the road among trees and open lawn.

Architecturally, The Grove reflected the tradition of large maritime estate homes of the nineteenth century. Its stone construction, broad wrap-around porch, and distinctive windows gave it a sense of permanence and presence. The building carried a certain grace even in its later years, when the grounds had grown wilder and time had softened the original landscaping.

For many in Rothesay, The Grove held both historical and emotional meaning. It was part of the visual memory of the town. When the house was demolished in 2009, it marked the end of a quiet but enduring chapter. Today, it lives on mostly in stories, photographs, and the recollections of those who remember walking past it on warm summer evenings or catching sight of it while heading to Mass next door.

Thank you to the Rothesay Living Museum for preserving the history and images that help keep The Grove part of our shared local memory.