Tag Archives: St. Andrews Road

Farewell to St. Andrew’s Storage

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Society to the Rescue
When word spread that the abandoned former sexton’s house was going to be demolished by St. Andrew’s Church, the Scarborough Historical Society took a lease on the former sexton’s house and former Centennial Memorial Library in 1980.

Members to the Rescue
While there was no rental income from the old library building, it did allow us to store materials salvaged from demolished buildings such as doors accumulated by the Society and stored at the museum, in members’ basements and our old Archives location at Golf Road school. When St. Andrew’s church did not offer to renew the lease on the two buildings, we had restored and maintained for over 30 years, we were forced to move everything our of the building.

Society and Board members came to the rescue during the summer and moved everything out but now we need to find a new home for some of the items. A few items were sold earlier, some building materials donated to Society members for their recycling projects and some materials moved the the basement of the Archives.

Items For Sale

 

Antique Saw Suitcase
31” x 11” x 7”
wooden with one pullout drawer
at the top.

 

 


Antique Saw Suitcase
33”x16”x7”
wooden with two pullout drawers
at the top

 

These antique saw cases would be great items for a tool or antique collector. A few saws are also available but sold separately. Make any reasonable offer and they’re yours.

 

Two of five meat choppers in various conditions. Any donation and you can pick one up.

Old fashion wash stand…
Can be used as a flower stand or whatever suits your unique interests

 

 

Antique dresser with dove-tail drawer construction. This dresser is in very good condition and great for anyone wanting quality furniture.
(not made by IKEA)

 

 

Office or den Chair
Solid oak frame Upholstry in good condition 26” x 26” x 31” high.

All items are available for your reasonable donation to the Society & must be picked up at the Archives.

In the news: “Springfield Jimmie” Thomson house restored

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The renovated "Springfield Jimmie" Thomson house, Bendale. Photo: Rick Schofield.

The renovated “Springfield Jimmie” Thomson house, Bendale.     Photo: Rick Schofield.

*Excerpt from the Scarborough Mirror, Dec. 26, 2012.

“‘Springfield Jimmie’s’ house restoration breathes new life into home
Looking Back: Rick Schofield

While much has been written about the Thomson Settlement, we are indeed fortunate that several of the most historic buildings have been saved from demolition.

“Springfield Jimmie” Thomson’s lovely, bank farmhouse at 146 St. Andrew’s Road, is one of the oldest brick buildings in Scarborough and stands as a tribute to not only the Thomson family, but also to all our pioneers. The beautifully detailed verendah faces south and is quite visible to the public. It reflects the pride our early builders took in the construction of their permanent homes.

The bank style also shows the builders’ respect and understanding of the environment. “Springfield” is built into the side of the bank of Highland Creek. While appearing as a two-and-a-half storey house on one side, it is one and a half storeys high on the opposite side. Only one level of this bank-style house was exposed to the cold north and west winds.

The lower sections on the north and west sides of the building are beneath the ground. However, the warmer south side of the building has large windows which allowed the morning sun to brighten and warm the house during an era when electricity and central heating were visions of the future. Adjacent to the house stands a unique fieldstone cold cellar, also built into the side of the hill.

Several years ago, the bank took possession and after a short period on the market it was sold to a contractor whose goal was to restore the exterior to its former glory, yet renovate the interior as a modern, high-end dwelling. Mission accomplished.

INTERIOR GUTTED

While retaining and restoring the heritage aspects of the exterior, including the rebuilding of the verendah; the interior was gutted, a modern addition added to the rear and the large, surrounding property professionally landscaped. What the general public sees now would certainly have pleased “Jimmie” but he would never recognize its 21st century interior.

Restoring the entire house would have been preferred but not likely to generate a sale due to the high cost of renovation. This is a compromise that should guarantee that the 160 year old house will still be around 100 years from now.

It’s now for sale to the right buyer, with a price of $1.7 million.”

*To see more historical images of houses in Bendale, click here to visit the SHS website’s Bendale photo Gallery.