Three Families of Limeville

Limeville is an iconic property in the Battery of St. John's, easily recognized for its crosshatch fence and array of flowers across the lawn. With a threat of redevelopment, we wanted to record its history, so we compiled a chronology of the property and three of the families who lived there: the Scores, the Moores, and the Walshes. These families all had local businesses that thrived, but also faced many hardships, including the untimely deaths of loved ones. We hope this chronology gives answers to some of the questions the public has about Limeville and sheds light on the lives of those who lived there.

Limeville in the care of the Allderdice's (Eden on the Hill 2011)

1870s	John Score, a carpenter, was married to Harriet Lucas sometime before 1877. The dwelling at Limeville was likely built by John around this time. Their first three children, William, Frederick, and Robert, were born in 1877, 1878, and 1880, respectively.
	In 1879, the Daily News reported that John was actively tending to the gardens at Limeville, and that the premises had a nursery, greenhouses, and “over 20,000 pots of flowers” (Daily News, 1879-04-28).
1880s	In 1881, Maude (daughter of John and Harriet Score) was born and passed away within the year.
	By the early 1880s, John had a lime business operating.
	Augustus and Charles Score (sons of John and Harriet Score) were born in 1884 and 1885, respectively.
	In July of 1885, we see that John has an office located at 329 Duckworth Street, and a kiln at the foot of ‘Casey’s Lane’, or 34 Dreelan’s Well Road (Evening Telegram, 1885-07-03). This is near where Casey Street ends today.  Casey Lane and Dreelan's Well Road from the 1889 St. John's Insurance Map By August of that same year, Score had a kiln in Topsail, showing the business was growing (Evening Telegram, 1885-09-29).
	In November of 1886, Charles Score died, and in February of 1887, Augustus Score died.
	In 1889, Ralph Score was born. In April of 1889, records show that John provided lime for repairs at Government House (Colonist, 1889-04-17).
1890s	In 1890, we can see John Score listed in Might and Co.’s Directory as a ‘Contractor and Builder and Lime Burner’ (Might and Co.'s Directory, St. John's, Harbour Grace and Carbonear, Newfoundland 1890). We also see Philip F. Moore listed in business with William H. Gough as ‘Plumbers and Gas-fitters’, with an office at 176 Duckworth Street (Might and Co.'s Directory, St. John's, Harbour Grace and Carbonear, Newfoundland 1890).
	In May of 1890, Reverend Dr. Macdonald, the Bishop of Harbour Grace, received twenty barrels of lime from John Score for the Harbour Grace Cathedral (Colonist, 1890-05-30).
	Between 1891 and 1892, John and Harriet Score are recorded to have had another child, although the name and year were ripped from the record (Birth Register 1891/1892).
	In 1892, John moved his office associated with his lime business from 329 Duckworth Street to Limeville on Battery Road (Evening Telegram, 1892-04-28), while George W. Udle moved into the previous office (Evening Herald, 1892-05-31).
	Herbert Score (son of John and Harriet Score) was born in 1892.
	The opening of Score's nursery (Daily News, 1895-06-07) In 1895, John Score announced that he was opening his nursery at Limeville and would be taking orders in the coming weeks (Daily News, 1895-06-07). The nursery was well respected, with newspapers saying:  To those who say that Newfoundland cannot compete with other countries in the raising of fruit trees, flowers, and vegetables, we would simply refer to the residence of Mr. John Score, at Limevile… A few years ago this place was a patch of barren land, but to-day, it stands unsurpassed for its beautiful and highly cultivated garden and grounds (Evening Herald, 1895-06-08).
	Stanislaus Walsh and Johanna Ryan were married on July 15th 1895.
	A number of newspaper articles praise John for his products, such as excellent cabbage and “palms” used at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist’s Christmas service in 1895 (Evening Telegram, 1895-08-13; Evening Telegram, 1895-12-26).  Both his floral and lime business were flourishing in the 1890s—in a council meeting, John was criticized for “again blocking up the cove” with “about 100 tons of limestone,” (Daily News, 1896-03-20).
	In April of 1896, John opened a new florist store on 200 Duckworth Street, and the Evening Telegram said it would "surpass anything of its kind ever attempted in St. John’s” (Evening Telegram, 1896-04-10; Evening Telegram, 1896-04-11).
	John Aloysius Walsh (son of Stanislaus and Johanna Walsh) was born on July 24th 1896.
	The 1898 McAlpline Newfoundland Directory lists John, along with Robert and William Score (his sons) participating in the family florist business (McAlpine's Newfoundland directory, 1898).  This directory also lists Philip F. Moore as an independent plumbing business, with an office at 122 Duckworth Street (McAlpine's Newfoundland directory, 1898).
	Harold Anthony Walsh (son of Stanislaus and Johanna Walsh) was born in 1898.
	The partnership between Philip and Stanislaus Walsh possibly began in October of 1899, when Stanislaus managed Philips business during an absence (Daily News, 1899-10-06).  Partnership between Stanislaus "Stan" Walsh and Philip F. Moore Daily News, 1899-10-06).
1900s	Robert Score died by drowning in June 1900 (Harbour Grace Standard, 1900-06-29).
	Stan Jr. Walsh (son of Stanislaus and Johanna Walsh) was born in 1901
	John Score died on April 6th 1901 of heart failure, and the funeral was hosted at Limeville (Evening Telegram, 1901-04-09).
	It seems that Harriet tried to continue the florist business at least in the immediate months after John’s death, but it’s not clear how long that lasted (Evening Telegram, 1901-05-16).  Mrs. Harriet Score selling flowers (Evening Telegram, 1901-05-16)
	Alice Walsh (daughter of Stanislaus and Johanna Walsh) was born December 13th 1903.
	The 1904 McAlpine Newfoundland Directory shows John and Harriet’s son, Frederick, was a lime manufacturer, evidently continuing the business (McAlpine's Newfoundland Directory, 1904).  This directory also shows Philip F. Moore’s business, now called Moore and Co, is still located at 122 Duckworth Street. (McAlpine's Newfoundland Directory, 1904).
	Moore and Co. proved a successful business even outside of St. John’s, having installed hot water systems in the home of A. G. Munn and the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Harbour Grace (Evening Herald, 1905-12-26).
	Gertrude Walsh (daughter of Stanislaus and Johanna Walsh) is born 1906.
	Unnamed Walsh son is born December 1907.
	In 1907, Stanislaus Walsh faced four tragedies: the death of his mother, the death of his wife, Johanna, on the night of his mother's funeral, the death of an unnamed daughter, and the death of an unnamed infant son who was only seven days old upon Johanna’s death (Dyer 2011; Evening Chronicle, 1907-12-28). According to Stanislaus’ granddaughter, Patricia Marden Dole, Stanislaus had built a large house on Rennie's Mill Road, but was “overwhelmed by the tragedy and didn’t want to go close to the house,” (Dyer 2011).
1910s	In January of 1913, a fire broke out at Limeville, which left the house “gutted and the furniture almost totally destroyed. The loss to the owner, who carried no insurance, is heavy,” (Evening Telegram, 1913-01-30). It is unclear how much of a role the fire played, but by the beginning of April 1913, the house was foreclosed on against Harriet.  On April 23rd, Harriet Score is recorded on a ship manifest immigrating to the US to live with her son William (Manifest April 1913). At this time, she only had three surviving children: William in Massachusetts, and Frederick and Hubert in St. John’s.
	By June of 1913, Limeville was for sale, and remained for sale until at least January of 1914. An advertisement lists the house as: Two Dwelling Houses situated in the East End, known as “Limeville". The houses have just been renovated and put in good order and condition. Immediate possession will be given (Evening Telegram, 1913-12-01).
	At some point before 1913, Moore and Co. moved from 122 Duckworth to 128 Duckworth Street, and Philip F. Moore is listed as living at 63 Cochrane Street (St. John's Newfoundland Directory 1913).
	In January of 1914, the eldest son of Stanislaus and Johanna, John (known as Jack) enlisted for WWI (The Rooms Military Service Files, no. 693).
	Philip F. Moore owned Limeville by at least 1915. Moore is listed as “h Upper Battery Road” (h - indicating homeownership) and “Stanley” Walsh is listed as “bds Upper Battery Road” (bds - indicating boarding) (McAlpline’s St. John’s City Directory 1915).  Moore and Walsh families at Upper Battery (Limeville)  Philip F. and Mary Moore host a garden party fundraiser at Limeville for the erection of a new St. Joseph’s Church in August of 1916 (St. John’s Daily Star, 1916-08-24).
	Stanislaus’s second son, Harold, enlisted in the war on September 1st, 1916 (The Rooms Military Service Files, no. 3050).
	Herbert Score (the son of John and Mary) died after being lost on rough seas (St. John's Daily Star, 1917-01-16).  On January 18th 1917, John Walsh was discharged from service due to injuries he had sustained in battle (The Rooms Military Service Files, no. 693).
	In April of 1918, Harold Walsh was badly wounded at the Battle of the Somme. John Walsh, who was living in France at that time, visited his brother in the hospital (The Rooms Military Service Files, no. 3050). Harold spent 16 months in the hospital.  While he was still away, his brother, Stan Jr., died in a train accident at age 18 (St. John's Daily Star, 1919-07-25).
	Frederick Score followed his mother and last remaining sibling to the United States in March of 1919 (St. John's Daily Star, 1919-03-12).  Fred Score immigrated to U.S.A in 1919.
1920s - 1930s	The Moores and Walshes continued living together until around 1921. In a city census, the Walshes are recorded at Limeville, but the Moores are not. The next record of the Moores appears in 1924, listing them as living at 63 Military Road (St. John’s Census 1921; St. John's city directory 1924).
	The 1928 Newfoundland Directory lists Moore and Co. at 156 Duckworth Street, which they stayed at until 1936 (Newfoundland Directory 1928).
	Moore & Co. operating at 156 Duckworth Street (Newfoundland Directory 1928).  Philip F. Moore died November 15th 1936.
	Stanislaus was 73 in 1936, so it is not clear if or for how long he maintained the company, but the 1936 entry is the last listing in a directory, and no newspaper advertisements for the company after this point.
1940s  - 1970s	Gertrude Walsh married Kenneth Marsden in October of 1940 (Daily News, 1940-10-22).  The Walshes remained at Limeville. And Stanislaus died in 1955. Harold continued living at Limeville until 1973 when he sold the property to Penney and Bill Allderdice. They paid homage to the property by maintaining the gardens, raising their family there along with goats and chickens (Dyer 2011).

To learn more and access sources, check out: Limeville History + Families