99 Grout Street


This home has been lovingly restored by its current owners, relative newcomers to town.

A special treat: The homeowner, also a musician, will be playing the piano and offering some vocal renditions during the afternoon. 

Decorator: Homeowner


Specialty Vendor: Les jardins de Gabrielle will be selling beautiful handmade dried floral wreaths and fresh cedar wreaths for Christmas. They are made with locally-grown and dried flowers as well as local fresh cedar.ย See some of Gabrielle’s work on Facebook.

Gabrielle vous offre de belle couronnes de fleurs sรฉcher ainsi que des couronnes de cรจdres frais pour Noรซl. Toutes les fleurs sont cultiver localement et le cรจdres frais est local aussi. 


House History

The Jamieson House built in 1893.
This location was part of the large farm owned by Thomas Higginson who, alongside his sons, was considered a visionary of industry and town development. He was also a published poet.
The Methodist Church purchased this section of land with the goal to build their church here. However, in 1888, they changed their minds and decided to erect their church on High Street, where it remains in service as the United Church today.
In the 1890s, Solomon Grout purchased the land from the church trustees, and his brother Silas Grout, who owned a sawmill, then built this house.
At that time, there was a building-boom in Vankleek Hill, with red brick homes sprouting on every street. Many home exteriors were detailed with the local millwork we refer to as gingerbread.
With the construction of this home, what was a pathway officially became Grout Street.
In earlier times, this house was referred to as the Jamieson House. The first owner was Dougall T. Jamieson, a wealthy merchant who had general stores in Vankleek Hill and the village of St. Eugene to the east. In 1899, Dougall Jamieson progressively supported the installation of electric street lighting, especially at the Derby Street corner of this new street.


This 1893 home is in recovery.
For decades it was owned by a property business. It was broken down into profitable small apartments, and given multiple points of access. The couple who first purchased it from the property company took on the onerous task of eradicating the apartments. Their goal was to return the building to the stature of being a home. With the apartments gone, they found very little original material to work with.
The ongoing restoration is now receiving more attention from new owners. For example, few homes in Vankleek Hill have a second storey balcony, and this one was restored to family use. With a lack of original details to work from, salvaged materials were brought in โ€“ such as the attractive double doors with glazing โ€“ that now lead to the new butlerโ€™s pantry. Work is ongoing.
The exterior dates to the 1893 construction. The large brackets under the soffits were milled by Silas Grout. He complemented the brackets with decorative angled tongue-in-groove boards. Note the upright bricks at the top of each window โ€“ soldier bricks โ€“ as a decorative detail.