Never before on the tour!
Here is a new take on an older home, sold recently to new owners. This one is a refresh from top to bottom, on one of our town’s oldest streets.
Where everything old is new again! Come visit this transformed family home! Photo coming soon!
Heritage Home Partner: Coming soon.
Decorator: Pink Bow Tie (Rebecca Bradley)
Specialty Vendor #1: Coming soon.
Specialty Vendor #2: Coming soon.
House History
Michelle Landriault
29 Hamil Street
The story of 29 Hamil Street – is in the street itself.
When Simon Vankleek’s widow, Cecilia, passed at age 94 in 1839, her grandsons Peter and Barnabus were free to subdivide the family farm. The township purchased land from Barnabus which allowed for the development of Hamil Street. Main Street had long been in service; however, this was the first official side street in Vankleek Hill. As house lots populated Hamil, the servicing and naming of many other laneways began in earnest.
It has been suggested that the presence of an early home, owned by a Mr. Hamil, initiated the official street name.
‘Pig Street’ was the nickname for the street. In those early years, homeowners kept livestock in their yards, and pigs were quite common in town.
The house, 29 Hamil, sits at the corner of Kirk Lane. In the early years, the lane led from Main Street to the horse sheds at Knox Presbyterian Church. Parishioners parked their horse & buggy in the horse sheds during services. Today, the one-way Kirk Lane continues to lead from Main Street to Knox Presbyterian Church.
29 Hamil Street, built c1900.
As with the other brick homes on the tour, the red brick came from local brickyards. Vankleek Hill brick was very popular and sought after, for its durability and its distinctive colour.
Balanced symmetry is evident in the placement of the front door and the 5 windows. Note the slight curve in the vertical bricks above the three deepset upstairs windows. This provided added strength.
The roof overhang ensured that the brick had some protection from rain.
While the house has received modern changes, the overall Victorian appearance endures.