The Shank Homestead

Shank Homestead circa early 1960’s

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This incredible piece of history comes from one of our members, Gordon Shank. Although he currently resides in San Francisco, Gordon has his roots right here in Keswick Ridge.

Captain Walter Shank (1818-1900)

They lived on what Gordon’s family referred to as the Shank homestead, which stood adjacent to the Duplessis Farm on what is now Mactaquac Heights. Captain Shanks originally paid $1500 (in gold coins) to Asa VanWart for 200 acres of land in Mactaquac, including the house, barns and outhouses, and another $750 to Benjamin Sloat Jr. for the adjacent 200 acres. The house was originally built by Charles James Coburn before 1880, and overlooked the Saint John River and Snowshoe Islands.

Elizabeth Shanks died in 1894, and Captain Shanks died in 1900. They are both buried in the Pickard-Merrithew Cemetery. In 1901, the home and properties were sold at auction to James Lemuel Grant for $2245. In 1904 he then transferred it to his son, also a James Lemuel Grant, and his wife Ida May Jewett, neighbors of the Duplessis family.

Sadly, the homestead no longer stands. In the early 1960’s it was burned to the ground during the Mactaquac Dam build.

Gordon's grandfather Alfred Myles Shank, born on the property in 1893. This photo was taken when he returned in the early 1960's to visit. Believed to be Ida May Jewett on the porch in the background.