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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2002-06-19, Page 1You are invited to attend these area. churches News Architectural gems protected Memories remain within walls and grounds of Lorne Villa mansion By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff The following is the third in a continuing series of stories this summer about heritage homes and places of architectural interest in Huron East. "Old Mrs. Crouch's" mansion, from whose yard neighbour kids used to dare each other to retrieve their balls and pucks, is the new home of the Huron -Perth branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. And, Susan Anstett, former president of the local CMHA board and one of those Seaforth neighbpur kids, couldn't be more excited. "I was thrilled when we entered negotiations for that building. It's a perfect spot visibility -wise for the CMHA. And, I grew up two doors down from it," she says. Anstett remembers playing with the Doig children next door and being tantalized by the large dollhouse in the backyard, where none of the neighbour children were welcome. "You couldn't her yard. She was very old school," she says of Mabel Grace McFaul Crouch, the last McFaul to own the family home, which she renovated into the Lorne V i 1 1 a apartments. Built for her grandfather Leonard McFaul between 1886 and 1890, the mansion was designated as historically significant in 1978 by the Seaforth Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) as an example of a residence of the well-to-do in the late Victorian era. It was built by local carpenter Philip Sparling in the Victorian Vernacular style, a collection of influences from other styles combined into one structure including the exposed woodwork, gables, multi- storey projected bay windows and general freedom in design. The original interior of the house contained two large formal parlors, a library, dining room and in the back and basement, there were kitchens and workspace. A wide grand staircase climbed to a second floor where there were at least three bedrooms and an indoor bath with running water, an expensive luxury in 1890. The attic was unfinished and later a coach house was added. McFaul was the son of an Empire Loyalist who was paymaster for the roads in Huron County and later principal of Seaforth Public School. The house was called Lorne Villa because it was built during the time that the Marquis of Lorne was run around A'i •o "..' ' lli'!Iii `�, Governor General of Canada. McFaul's two children John and Grace both became opera singers. Grace married James Mullen, who became manager of the Seaforth Bank of Commerce when the two moved into the house in 1916. Mullen died in 1956, leaving Grace to live alone in the big house until she died in 1964. Huron East's Heritage Homes Quoted 'I loved the place and would boastfully tell my playmates in Toronto, 'My Grandpa lives in the biggest and best house in Seaforth;-- Mabel Grace; McFaul Crouch in 1973 article for The Expositor Mabel Grace McFaul. Crouch was John McFaul's daughter, who lived in Lorne Villa during the 70s. In an article she wrote for The Huron- Expositor's special edition for the 1975 Seaforth Centennial, Crouch reminisces about her childhood visits to the house. "I had many train trips as a little girl from Toronto to Seaforth in holiday time and enjoyed my grandparents and Auntie Grace very much. When reaching the station I would get into the round yellow bus, horse drawn and with my trunk was on my way to the big mansion." "I loved the place and would boastfully tell my playmates in Toronto, 'My Grandpa lives in the biggest and best house in Seaforth.," says the article. She remembers, in her article, making quilts with her grandmother while sitting on a blanket in the yard and picking raspberries in a huge patch behind the stables. "I can see grandma yet, in her red wrapper, sun hat and gloves with no fingers picking berries and myself with a basket tied round my waist helping," she writes. And, she remembers her "Auntie Grace" doing so well looking after the house alone, "suffering as she did for so long with arthritis." "The day came when she had to go to the hospital. She died in Kilbarchen Lodge in 1964. She accepted her illness so graciously, cheering many in the lodge with singing, using her voice in praise to our dear Lord," she writes. Crouch's husband Stuart died in 1973, leaving her to live in Apartment 5 after the house was renovated to hold five apartments. Mary Doig remembers visiting Crouch, whom she describes as a "tiny but spry little lady. She let you know what she liked and didn't like." Doig remembers visiting a dark front room with a' blue velvet chesterfield, a couple of chairs and a baby grand piano. "She didn't mix a lot but she talked to the kids. I remember they had to sit and behave themselves," she says. And, she recalls a beautiful flowering Japanese tree at the front of the house that people used to stop in front of the house to see. "When she died it died and I used to think how funny it was that the tree died at the same time she did," says Doig. John Robertson, executive director of the Huron -Perth branch of the CMHA, says he's interested in finding any living relatives of Mabel Grace McFaul and is currently planning how the CMHA will renovate the building for its uses. Along with providing access for the disabled, the renovations will create a board room in one main floor apartment and a library/resource centre in another. Offices will be located in each of the three second floor apartments. Both Robertson and board member Randal Hulley, who is in charge of redecorating the house, are impressed by the way the original interior woodwork, window shutters and pocket doors have all been preserved. "We plan to keep the integrity of the age of the house," says Hulley, who raves about the condition of such features as the bowed curtain rods in the bay window. "The shutters are all intact, even the knobs on the shutters are there. It's amazing considering all the years this place was in apartments that no one took a screwdriver to them. And, the mouldings and woodwork are in phenomenal shape," he says. Walter Armes. LACAC advisor to Huron East council. says the house is in "amazing condition" with "several amazing fireplaces that are not terribly elegant but are original." "It's a house that's been very kindly dealt with over the years," says Armes. Hulley is having a great time going through his paint chips looking for the right historical colours and contacting antique dealers looking for period pieces from the 1870s. such as a huge coach Tamp for the front porch. And, Robertson says that while the offices will he established over the summer. he thinks it could take over a year to complete the renovations and decoration of the house. "I think it's going to he a very warm place where people can come in and feel right at home," says Anstett. Correction An article in last week's Huron Expositor incorrectly dates changes that will take effect in minor hockey. An age -bumping system will take effect for the 2002-2003 season, not the 2001- 2002 season as was reported last week. MI HURON 8X!081'7011. Jews 27, 2001-i SEAFORTH INSURANCE BROKER LTD. 527-1610 m. al 'Auto • Farm • Out of Province Travel Insurance 41 Main St, S Salerlh Chnsta Leonhardt, Lynn Pletsch, Ken Cardno, Barb Wad and Joanne Williamson ONTARIO SIRES STAKES 2 -YEAR-OLD FILLY PACERS over $150,000 IN PURSE MONEY Sunday, July 1 Post Time 1:30 Clinton'aceway , THE HEART OF HARNESS RACING Clinton Community Centre - Beech St. (519) 482-5270 i St. Thomas Anglican ,Church Jarvis St. Seaforth 482-7861 Rev. Tim Connor Sunday Service at 9:30 am. Parish Assistance Call 522-0929 or 345-2023 First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W. Seaforth Rev. Vandermey WORSHIP SUNDAY 11:15 AM Sunday School during Worship Catholic Church Saturday - 5:15 pm St. James Parish, Seaforth Saturday - 7:15 pm St. Joseph's Parish, Clinton Sunday - 9:00 am St. Michael's Parish, Blyth Sunday - 11:00 am St. James Parish, Seaforth rather Dino Salvador 7,',77 Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth Sunday Worship Hour 11 am Adventure Club for Kids & Youth Groups Wednesdays 7 p.m. Egmondville United Church Rev. Judith Springett SUNDAY SCHOOL During Worship WORSHIP 10 a.m. NORTHSIDE - CAVAN UNITED CHURCHES ' Rev. Sheila Macgregor - Minister 9:30 a.m. Cavan 11:00 a.m. Northside Winthrop 54 Goderich St. W. 527-2635 or 527-1449 Month of July Northside and Cavan Worship with First Presbyterian You're not going to "Sea us" on Monday, July 2 THE DEADLINE FOR ALL AI)VERTISINCI & EDITORIAL FOR JULY 4 ISSUE WILL BE FRIDAY, JUNE 29 AT 1:00 P.M. John Robertson, executive director of the Huron -Perth branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association stands before one of the many fireplaces preserved in the Lorne Villa building.