Never before on the tour! Christmas-card perfect! Enjoy this tastefully restored home decorated in a style in keeping with the age of this home.
We love the large mud-room at the side. And at the rear of the home, overlooking the farm fields, is the coziest sunroom with a wood stove to keep you warm.
From the kitchen through to the dining room and living room, and then on to an upstairs that goes on forever, we know you will leave with some Christmas spirit and that feeling you have when you are home.
These folks are into vintage items. Mixed in with the homeowners’ creative personality, this one will be a wow! If only there were a sleigh ride to sweep us off into winter wonderland. (Hmmmm, we’re thinking about it!)
Heritage Home Partner: Arcana Windows
Decorator: This homeowner is crazy about Christmas! She will be working with experienced home tour decorator Donna Doucette to pull out all the stops!
Specialty Vendor #1: Dale Garvin returns with his popular fruit cakes. A portion of sales is donated to Hawkesbury and District General Hospital.
Specialty Vendor #2: Dunrobin Distilleries. Enjoy some samples, then visit their location at 10 Terry Fox Drive in Vankleek Hill.
House History
2850 Cassburn
The original deed of sale from King’s College to James Garland for Lot 15 Concession 5 was registered on title in 1855 and consisted of 50 acres. The original house was a timber-sided log structure of 1.5 storeys.
The 1891 census indicates there was a 2-story brick house with 11 rooms. Subtle differences indicate that the current structure may have been built in two phases, and it is obvious that there has been numerous changes and additions on the insides. The mention of a brick house is a reminder that the brick yards outside of Vankleek Hill were at their most active during this time period. As brick was viewed as a fire retardant, bricking over timber frame houses was common. The sawmills in Vankleek Hill, such as the Vankleek Hill Manufacturing Company on Mill Street, were busy supplying turned posts and varieties of gingerbread styles to enhance home exteriors.
No other verifiable information is available about this residence.
The current property consists of 4 acres residential, and 18 acres agricultural. The Allens at Elmlane Farm take hay from most of it and our son and daughter-in-law are active organic-practice vegetable farmers (Parachute Farm) whose produce is available every Saturday at the Farmers’ Market in town.
(The research on our property was unearthed by Michelle Landriault whose writing is included here. Further edited and expanded by Ian Griffiths.)