[1] The well-preserved example of an Italianate house[2] today serves as a museum and community centre owned by the non profit corporation Hantsport Memorial Community Centre.

The Churchills were the owners of Hantsport, Nova Scotia's largest shipbuilding company, which built some of the largest ships in Nova Scotia, including the barque Hamburg, the largest three masted sailing barque ever built in Canada.

Ezra and his wife Ann had 11 children, two of which were sons who both worked for their father in the shipbuilding industry.

The house was built about the same time as the Churchills' shipbuilding business in Hantsport took off and gained prominence.

John Churchill lived here with his wife Mary and two daughters, Violet and Laura, until his death.