Monday 7 July 2014

Walk Back Into Time

Today I had the honour and  pleasure of being taken through a Wiarton Home which has raised much interest since the beginning of its restoration last Summer.  There was also an article written by Builder/Restorer, Dave McCown, also of Wiarton, which you can read by going HERE.

Paul Deacon, who is the President of the Wiarton District Chamber of Commerce, who I am also a Director, was kind enough to contact owners Jorn and Elsie Christensen on my behalf to ask if they would take time out of their busy schedules to allow me an inside tour of their majestic Victorian Home which is now being restored.

I contacted the Christensens this morning, and much to my surprise they were able to meet up with me at 1 pm today.  What a pleasure to meet both these very kind and knowledgeable persons it was.  The time I spent over a coffee with them both in a bit of chit chat was most comfortable and knowledgeable far beyond the home they had purchased some 40 years ago within the Town of Wiarton, better known as 330 Berford Street.

I am a daydreamer myself, and once stepping into the doors of this magnificent home, my mind went immediately to imagine what and who its walls once held.  The History, the livelihoods and even the dreams of those who resided there in Years long past right from its beginning .... so much to ponder and to imagine.

One of the questions I had asked was if they had known how long it had taken to build the house.  I was told 2 years.  That in itself is amazing, is it not? the time, workmanship and money back in the 1800's ... the materials being brought in by the waterways, and then possibly wagons and oxen?  My imagination has no  boundaries.

Here are bits and pieces of its glory and wonder, that I was to see this day ....

This is the beauty that has so many who live in, have visited or passed through Wiarton, interested.  Truly can you blame them for their interest now you see what I speak of ?  she is magnificent and beautiful regardless of how tired she has gotten over the past Years.  New breath has been given to her and again one day she will live in a stateliness she well deserves.


In we went through the front door, then as I looked back ....


We went directly up to the 3rd floor, where the roof was first repaired last Year.  The view is breathtaking, need I say more?  The 3rd floor will be the first of the home to be restored which has already begun.


Back down the stairs we went to the 2nd floor.  I was impressed at how wide the steps were, as most older homes I had thought to be quite narrow.


The original woodwork I captured back on the 1st floor was as breathtaking as the view from the 3rd floor.  One can only imagine the workmanship and talent the person(s) possessed who created such beauty to last so many years now gone by.  The Kitchen at the back of the house will be renovated and stay as the kitchen, a washroom behind it will be turned back into a Kitchen Pantry.  I would LOVE a huge kitchen pantry.


The main floor also had two fireplaces.  One at the front of the home, which might have been a parlour at one time, and the 2nd in the middle of the home which might have been a common room.  The 2nd had to been put in many years later after the home was built, as it was plain, made of brickwork and quite unattractive short of saying ugly, in comparison to the one in the front room.


Back outside I looked up towards the Oriel Window, something new I learned today, the word "oriel".  The chimney top will be replaced as well with a much more ornate one eventually.
All the brick work was in amazing good repair considering the age of the home.


The front porch is also being worked on at present, and should be finished within the next Month I believe if I recall correctly.  I will be back to take another photo when I see that has been done.


Respecting the owner's time and privacy I hope I did not linger on too long.  I could have stayed put the whole day long entranced in my own daydreams of what I thought it could have been in days long gone, and what it will be again in days to still come.

Many many thanks to owner's Jorn and Elsie for allowing me to share their dreams and also allowing me to walk back into time.  I am very grateful for the experience.

This was the highlight of my day, and I am sure the highlight for many days ahead.  Nothing else I have done this day could outshine this experience.

I am certain I will be daydreaming about 330 Berford Street many times in my mind, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

23 comments:

  1. Even as a work in progress, you can see it's well worth preserving and saving. Beautiful!

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  2. I love homes with a history and I admire them for all their hard work.

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  4. What a wonderful old house - look forward to more photos as it progresses. Thank you.

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  5. tell the owners im moving in with them!! lol I have always loved that house and soo glad its being fixed up!! :D

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    1. Wish I could move into this Old House, would love to live there.

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  6. Please keep me in touch this is one of my favorite houses in Wairton , I was so sad to see it go the way it had gone as I drove to my cottage . Now to see it being cared for is very heart warming I love to this I wish I could have purchased it and redone it back to the original your close to it . Jwright19@bell.net

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  7. Kudos for your effort and inspiration. You will influence others to appreciate the charm and quality, the pride and character of the buildings and builders of the past. I look forward to admiring this house each time we visit . Dianne McKenzie


    Wiarton, as we have been since 1965.

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  8. My husband and I are from Hanover, and drive past every weekend to go to Miller Lake. We have been watching the progress, and are excited for the owners! Thanks for sharing inside photos! I hope you can take more in the future, and when it is complete. It would be amazing to see the inside when finished.

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  9. I admire this old house every time I come to Wiarton!!! It's great to see an improvement every time I am in Wiarton....A beautiful sight!!!

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  10. This is my Dream house!!!! Thxs for doing such beautiful work on restoring it!! Let me know when completed so I can move in!!!!!

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  11. Wow, such a beautiful old home! You're a lucky girl to get in for such a tour, and thanks for sharing. I often wonder what these old beauties look like on the inside!

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  12. Wiarton was my home for 40 years and this house has always been my favourite. I've walked past her for many years and have always spent a little time wondering about her past, even now she is splendid...so happy that she will be restored.

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  13. Thanks so much for sharing your pictures and update on this substantial project. It must be such a labour of love for the owners! I drive by the house on the way to the cottage(Cameron Lake) and was so excited to see the work on the roof get underway last year.

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  14. I noticed when we were up last weekend that the restoration on this house seemed to be going very slowly. I wondered if more was going on than meets the eye. I also noticed it seems to be going from top to bottom. Thanks to the owners for letting us inside through your lens, Cindy. Alice

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    1. The Roof was repaired last year, which was quite extensive & time labourous, now protecting the renos that will be going forward as time allows.

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  15. Carol Williamson8 July 2014 at 20:39

    Thanks to you I got to see inside this beautiful home which I might not have otherwise ever had the privilege to see. It certainly has an historic look to it. It made me think of Scarlett O'Hara! LOL Thanks for sharing!!!!

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  16. I have always been curious about this home, thank you for sharing.

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  17. I don't think I was ever so happy to see that being redone! I stopped one day and walked across the street and yelled Hello because the person renovating was way up top! He said hello and I just had to tell him how happy I was that the house found him...because you coud tell he was giving her all the TLC she derserved! Totallt Amazing!!

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  18. Wow Cindy - What a great blog you did about this wonderful home. We drive by it every Friday night on our way to the cottage and just admire the progress of the renovation to bring this home back to it glorious state! You really captured this home with your fantastic pics and commentary. It will be a beautiful place when the reno is complete...

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  19. As friends of Elsie and Jorn, my husband Walter and I (Sharon) are especially happy to see their dream of restoring the glorious old home taking flight and I hope when the reno's are completed they'll give a personal tour to friends. Wonderful to watch it all take shape.
    Sharon

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  20. It would make a great tour to raise money for a charity as I'm sure hundreds of people would pay for the chance to tour but I'm sure the owner would have his doubts about people touring.

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  21. I remember when this house was 3 apartments, my friend lived in each one. It was beautiful then which was about 34 years ago and its beautiful now! So happy to seeing it restored. Please keep us updated on the progress.
    Grew up in Wiarton, on the hill, and back again!

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How nice of you to drop around to have a wee visit with me to see what I have been up to from time to time. I look forward to your comments as they add much brightness to my each and every day to know there are such wonderful people out there.

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