Join the Club

I love this building, one of downtown Kingston's well-bred limestone presences. At the corner of King and William Streets, it was built in 1845 for the Bank of Montreal. In a custom which seems strange today, the second floor housed the bank manager and his family, the top floor the male bank tellers, required to live on site.

The bank outgrew its quarters and moved in 1906 nearer the City Hall and Market Square, and this lovely ashlar with its pilasters, window surrounds, masterful cornice and pedimented doorway was sold to the post Frontenac Club.

William Street entrance

King Street entrance

In 1908, the impressive building was reopened as a gentleman's club, where hobnobbed "leading Kingstonians, garrison officers, faculty of Queen's University and the Royal Military College, along with members of the 14th Battalion (Princess of Wales Own Regiment) Officer's Club." *

Incidentally, I just found a YouTube clip posted by Brian Judge,  of Lady Diana visiting POWOR in 1991 - begins at about 2:00 minutes.

The club added space south of the original bank building for entertainment rooms in around 1900, achieving a union with a third building along William Street. Despite all its attractions, the club succumbed to the Depression, and closed in the early 1930's.

In 1935, the Vosper family purchased the building, beginning a 60 year ownership which saw it converted to apartments housing students and arts and culture figures such as Michael Ondaatje, singer Colleen Peterson.

After renovations, the building was reopened in 2000 by Beare Weatherup and Susan Shaw, as Kingston's historic Frontenac Club Inn. How perfectly lovely.

ivy ageing gracefully

* from the Frontenac Club Inn website, History page

Lucky 14

 Recently, after a visit to Farmtown Park (about which I intend to enthuse in a post very soon) I asked my fellow traveller if he could stop safely on Sunday-drive busy County Road 14, to capture these three historic houses, which I have long admired.

On a hill just east of Stirling, holding its head proudly above the slow encroachment of car washes and industrial retail spots, is this fine home. Its wrap-around verandah with delicate trim appeals, as does the prim green and white treatment.






The ubiquitous Gothic gable window completes the Ontario farmhouse stying, which never looked better than on this well-treed hillside setting.

A few minutes east along Highway 14 is this other lovely green and white treasure sheltering amidst trees and gardens.A photo of the house appears in A Decade of Sundays - Quinte Walking Tours Volume 1, published by ACO Quinte Region in 1994.

The book explains that the kitchen tail (barely visible to the side) was likely built by a Peter Davidson in 1818-19. The place was bought by James Vanderwater in 1820 and willed to his son Peter. The original part of the house is said to be framed with 6"x 8"timbers.

As of the publication date, the house was still in the same family. So well-kept. Love the wrap-around verandah with its curved roof, and the two storey projecting vestibule.

Directly to the east is a tiny yellow frame cottage. In the notes for a 1990 ACO bus tour of Sidney Township (which I obtained years ago from old-house friend Lois) it is described as Vanderwater House #2, built in 1860 as a temporary family home while the main house addition was built.

For years it was called 'the little brown house', despite appearances to the contrary. Turns out, there was brown-painted tongue and groove under subsequent cladding; the mystery was solved by a clapboard malfunction in 1989.

Now, it only someone could tell me about the house at the top of this post!

The Heat Goes On

Some time ago I put up a post about my old house mentor/friend Shannon Kyles, and her mission to save heritage wooden windows, by demonstrating their cost-efficiency. Their aesthetic and historical appeal is unassailable, but folks do cave in before the vinyl salesman's promises, and the daunting prospect of the not inconsiderable work involved with repairing or even rebuilding wooden windows. Shannon has made several instructional videos and there are more to come; here's a link to Shannon's YouTube video In Praise of Older Windows, demonstrating that "restored wooden windows are every bit as efficient as replacement windows" (S.Kyles)

 Shannon uses an infrared camera to do thermal mass readings to help owners make informed decisions about energy conservation issues in old home restorations. Yesterday, on a brilliantly sunny minus 20 degree day, I revisited Alex Fida's new old house in Picton, and got to watch Shannon and Alex survey the Regency wooden windows, and the Gothic Revival front door, the wide entry doorcase, with an infrared camera

The yellow part of the infrared image of a window shows the warmest, the blue areas indicate coolest, providing accurate information about heat loss, and what needs doing to prevent it.

Outside, we shuddered in the cold, still gobsmacked at the beautiful distinctive architectural elements, while Alex and Shannon evaluated areas of good heat retention and heat leak. Data? You bet. An informed and aware homeowner? Ditto.

The more we looked, the more we saw. The beautiful rippled effect of the early window glass with the snow sparkling outside, was a stunner. One pane of glass bore a swoosh like a spoon mark on cake batter - the final flourish of the glass pourer onto the sheet of cooling poured glass?

How could anyone toss that kind of beauty and history into architectural salvage - or the dump?

Update:
Shannon has sent links to three more videos in the series In Praise of Older Windows, which she is creating with the assistance of Andrew Skuce. Shannon demonstrates the relative thermal efficiency of old wooden windows over modern vinyl replacements, and argues forcibly for retention of original windows to preserve the heritage character of older homes.

The second video features a visit to an Edwardian gable-front house with its high-performing 110 windows.
In the third video of the series, period window expert Alan Stacey explains the parts of wooden sash windows, and how to maintain them (or replicate them) to meet or exceed the thermal efficiency of modern replacements.
The fourth video talks about the heat that can be maintained by simply installing curtains.

Knocking on Heaven's Door

As I prowled through my photo files recently, I realized that I have accumulated a large number of images of cemeteries, most especially the gates. A decorative gate to a cemetery is rife with symbolism, isn't it?

the stone angel, Neepawa Manitoba

I am rather fond of cemeteries. Probably arises as much from my history habit and my sniffing after resonance, as from the picturesque appeal of many of the well-designed cemeteries following Victorian garden cemetery aesthetic.

Glenwood Chapel, Picton

Some of my favourite cemeteries are Picton's Glenwood Cemetery, the  Cataraqui Cemetery west of Kingston and the Toronto Necropolis. Years ago, I spent hours in the Old Burying Ground in the eye of the hurricane which is downtown Halifax, and long to revisit that picturesque and moody place, for stories it tells - stories that ended there as early as 1749.

rural Frontenac county

three Victorian stones from the Necropolis

"to honour and record the dead...

..and to elevate the prestige of the living."
~McKendry

It's difficult to wander among beautifully crafted old gravestones, with their quaint memorial inscriptions, and not survey birth and death dates looking for family stories. Hard also, not to want the stones to tell those stories.

Kingston based architectural historian Jennifer McKendry wrote an outstanding book which I have recently borrowed from the library. Into the Silent Land  is considered among reviewers as the definitive book on Ontario cemeteries by the Ontario Historical Society.

fancy in Toronto - gateway to the Necropolis

and plain in Trenton - Al Purdy's parents lie here

I am enthralled, and will post again, as McKendry's book opens my eyes to cemetery design, garden cemeteries, mausoleums and dead houses, furnishings like iron fence enclosures, ornamental benches, urns and statues, the art of lawns, trees, and plantings, shapes and styles of memorials (basically classical or medieval in inspiration), the huge significance of imagery, cemetery adornments and the like.

next 5 images from Belleville cemetery

The social history of cemeteries and funerals is fascinating.
I'm already planning my next wanders - waiting for spring, to sit on a sunbaked old stone and listen to the ancestors.

Celtic cross

Susanna and her husband

McKendry raises and answers so many interesting questions. For instance, why are willow trees so popular on gravestones? Because they regenerate when cut down. A hopeful sign when staring mortality in the face.

Angels represent resurrection. Ditto.

But what does the  tree stump signify?
Stay tuned.

Fidality

sunny days return to One Walton 

the arched front door exiting the Gothic portico

If you live in Prince Edward County, or link via social media with one Alex Fida, you are getting regular updates on a bright new chapter in the life of the historic Downes house on Walton Street in Picton. I posted about the house recently, but was coy about the new owner's name for, after all, it was his news to share. And happy news it is too. Alex (like me) has loved the house since he was a child, and is excited to be saving it from what many worried might be oblivion, neglected as it was amidst encroaching commercial development. And he loves old houses, and will be faithful to the architectural legacy of this unique and beautiful place.

the astonishingly wide doorcase in the wide welcoming hall

As anyone who follows Alex's Facebook updates with Johnny CY Lam's evocative photos knows, the place is regaining its former elegance by the day, its beauty arising from the clutter and neglect of recent years. Restoration and reuse plans are underway, and the gracious home is already hosting happy social events.

the west bay window

Last Wednesday, I spent the morning in the house, delighting in Alex's delight, and pinching myself at being inside a house I have long admired.

one of four fireplaces - two marble Victorians

dado panels below French windows

Alex

house only looks small from outside

one of the four principal rooms on main floor

not your everyday kitchen window view

the oriel window waiting for Johnny Lam
to do it photographic justice

Looking out of the windows onto the snowy lawn, I was aware, not of the activity of the town, but of the calmness of the property, a feeling of refuge.

stunning simplicity of landing, gable-hugging window

There is lots to be done, but many gifted and sensitive craftsmen to assist, among them Kip Brisley of the well-known heritage preservation family.

interior window looking out onto the former verandah

Alex has many ideas and plans for the house, but I'll leave it to him to share them. Watch this spot.

built in fireplace cupboard

Alex contemplating the window mouldings

luscious ceiling mouldings

no Home Depot light fixture needed for this plaster medallion