From the collection of Joan Roberts Neptune.
The Brunswick House- previously known as the Robison Hotel.
Thomas Robison built the Robison Hotel in 1905. Tom was a contractor and built several buildings in the Village of Harvey, including the St. James Church (presently the Baptist Church). He was the first elected member of the Provincial Parliament from Harvey representing the conservatives.
The hotel originally consisted of 26 rooms. Sometime before 1910, Thomas built an addition onto the back of the hotel, increasing the number of rooms to 48.
Thomas died 5 Mar 1911 in Harvey after an illness of nine days. His wife, Frances (Elkington) Robison carried on operating the Robison Hotel from the time of his death until 1918 when she sold the property to her brother-in-law, Stephen ‘Allan’ Robison.
Allan Robison graduated from Kerr’s Business College in Saint John then went to Boston, Mass. Unable to find clerical work he settled for construction and for several years he worked in Lynn, Chelsea and other cities near Boston. In 1899 he was married and stayed on until 1905 when he decided to return to Harvey with a wife and two daughters. In 1918 he purchased the Robison House at Harvey Station, changing the name to Brunswick House. Allan died on 3 Feb 1922 in Harvey Station after an illness of some months from cancerous tumor of the stomach. His wife Catherine (McCallum) Robison continued as proprietress until the hotel was destroyed by fire in 1926.
Posted by Janet Swan Watson