Never before on the tour! This home was sold recently and the new owners are kicking it up a notch — in the very best way.
We discovered another homeowner who loves to decorate for Christmas and she has a creative streak, too! So we cannot wait to see what she does for Christmas in this historic house with this most enviable two-storey verandah!
We hope her studio is open for visits by the time the home tour rolls around. What will you see in her studio? Ahhh, we have to keep some secrets!
Theme: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Decorator: Homeowner.
Specialty Vendor #1: Coming soon.
Specialty Vendor #2: Coming soon.
House History
Michelle Landriault
30 Fraser Street
This street was opened in 1872 as Lisgar Street. Contractor & master carpenter David Archer Steele purchased three lots for $500. The lot for 30 Lisgar, today Fraser Street, was one of them. David Steele specialized in building houses, and he was responsible for building many of the larger brick homes in Vankleek Hill.
In 1882, he built this brick home using the distinctive Vankleek Hill red brick. At that time the cost was a penny per brick. These likely came from the brickyard of John Potter, who was a favoured source for local builders from amongst three operating brickyards at that time.
David constructed this home for his family: his wife Nancy Bertrand and their children: Maggie 18, James 16, Harriet 14, Lillie Jane 9.
Uniquely, David Steele built his home to face east, and not the street. Why? At the time he built it, there was a flourishing apple orchard in front of the house that covered acreage southward to the edge of the village. (Note that many of the homes nearby on High Street date to the 20thc.)
In 1902, David Archer Steele, widower, sold the property to James C. Mooney, Gentleman, for $2600 (about $95,000 today.)
Gingerbread Details
Few homes in Vankleek Hill have a full 2nd-storey balcony that runs the full front width of the house. Note the original Vankleek Hill gingerbread details on the top balcony. All these Victorian decorative features were milled at a local sawmill — intricate tri-corner brackets, thick balustrades. The builder ensured that the street-facing side of the house was a point of interest, with two bays: one for windows, and one with a service door.
A personal choice by David and Nancy Steele were the whimsical matching details attached to the balcony’s supporting beams – you can debate as to whether the design was meant to be a ‘ribbon,’ or a ‘heart;’or, your take on them.