The House
O'Reilly House is an excellent example of Victorian
architecture. The exterior boasts corbels, brackets and panels. The bay
window treatments are distinctive to the structure giving the house a look
of its own. The interior reflects the wealth of the owners. From the master
bedroom to the maid's quarters - luxury is evident throughout the elaborate
home.
The foyer features stained glass, intricate moldings
and a period doorbell. The parlour exhibits eight-foot pocket doors, plaster
medallions and moldings that are original to the house. Four fireplaces,
ten-foot ceilings and stained glass windows add to the house's beauty.
From the kitchen you are drawn up the narrow maid's
stairway to the second floor. At this level there are more period rooms
and other rooms featuring aspects of Placentia's rich past.
The bailiff's tipstaff which was preserved at the
court house and later held at the Town Hall is on public display. The staff
was given to Placentia by King George III. It was later used by his son,
Prince William, Duke of York, Captain of HMS Pegasus, while stationed at
Placentia in 1786. The Prince, later King William IV of England, was appointed
judge surrogate of Placentia during his stay. The staff bears several markings
including a coat of arms, the date 1772 and the town's name, "Placentia".
A silver tea set, used to serve the Prince is also
on display. The museum is furnished with many period pieces, including
a parlour set from the 1900's, a sexton owned by the Kemp family of Placentia
and many other artifacts.
