Wow, posted this last night and certainly didn't expect this much interest... thanks a lot folks.
Icemaster: The house was gutted about 15 years ago, reinsulated, new windows, wiring & plumbing. Plaster walls were replaced with gyproc. Unfortunately, the house also lost beautiful coffered ceilings, douglas fir panelling in the sunporch, wainscotting etc..
oldE: The house is in Rothesay NB. The story, when we bought the house, was that it was build at the same time as the house next door by two brothers. However, theneighbor's house does not have the same features discussed here (hand-hewn beams, square nails etc..) Nor is it of the same design... my house is typical of farmhouses built in lower NB.
A couple more interesting pics:
well in the basement
Foundation wall towards back of house:
