An Seann Taigh

A History of the Old Glebe House at Pipers Cove

by Rochelle MacQueen, M. G. Mader

Book Cover: An Seann Taigh
Editions:Paperback - Black and White Compact Paper
ISBN: 9781763556973
Size: 4.00 x 6.00 in
Pages: 141

The story of a community, through the history of one house.

Discover the rich history of the Old Glebe House at Pipers Cove and the Grand Narrows community through the story of a single dwelling. Written by M. G. Mader, author of The End of an Era and The Local Electric Light Utility, and featuring detailed photography by Rochelle MacQueen, this book captures the timeline of European settlement in Cape Breton, from Scottish pioneers to today.

Once the home of a parish priest, the Old Glebe House is one of the oldest buildings in the Grand Narrows district. The narrative recounts its remarkable relocation to Pipers Cove by horse team and dives into the local culture, revealing tales of fairies, superstitions, and even an exorcism!

An Seann Taigh (Scottish Gaelic for 'the old house') offers a journey from the early 1800s to the present, providing a clear exploration of the Grand Narrows area's history through one house, while capturing the enduring spirit of a bygone era.

Published:
Publisher: Eloise Editions
Genres:

This compact paperback edition published August 2026 by Eloise Editions. Originally published February 2024 by Downingfield Press in hardback and paperback.

About the Authors

Rochelle MacQueen

Rochelle MacQueen is a Canadian photographer. She uses photography as a creative outlet to appreciate beauty in all the little things. An old  decoration on a wall or aged wallpaper, peeling up to reveal the previous  layers underneath, can tell a story. Rochelle enjoys finding those details and  capturing them in a moment in time. She believes that pictures can help us keep precious memories in our hearts when our minds may forget the details. Decorations may be replaced, wallpaper may be removed or covered up, but photographs help us to remember the beauty of what once was long after it is gone.



Other Books By Rochelle MacQueen

M. G. Mader

M. G. Mader is a Canadian-Australian writer, town planner, and the managing director of Downingfield Press. With a career spanning writing, publishing, and town planning, he brings a wealth of expertise to his endeavours and is deeply passionate about history, local governance, and town planning.

An alumnus of Cape Breton University and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Mader has authored three books and regularly contributes to public discourse through his letters to the editor. He was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal (Canadian version) in recognition of his volunteerism.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Mader is a devoted father and husband, an avid film photographer, analogue enthusiast, and keen explorer of politics, vexillology, and modern history.



Other Books By M. G. Mader