53Weeks 007 of 371: The Cober Store

I have entitled this the Cober store, even though I have only ever known it as the Johnson store. (which in itself is a little odd since it stopped being a store about 10 years before I was born!)

To cite the "Gormley Heritage Conservation District Study", "A new general store was built by the Reverend Peter Cober near the railway station in 1912, replacing a temporary location at which he had enjoyed good business. History has not recorded its location. Perhaps it was another building that once stood on or near the same site. In addition to his mercantile business, Cober was a minister at the Gormley Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church. W. Birch and then J. T. and Mable (Snider) Johnson were successive owners of the store, which was passed on the ir son Whitney and his wife, Eva (Wideman) Johnson. ... In 1947, the building was damaged by a fire but was repaired and reopened until 1955, when it closed its doors after 43 years of business. The old storefront, with its gracefully arched windows, still remains and makes the building readily identifiable as a former commercial establishment."

Compare these two sets of photographs, one from today at the second for circa 1930. 


The Cober Store
217 Gormley Road West, Gormley, Ontario
28 mm f/5.6 1/400 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM


In this next photo you can clearly see "Daniel  H. Doner House" which I featured a few days ago.












This next image is really poor quality, but you can see the general idea (no pun intended). Note that the chimney has moved.

53Weeks 006 of 371: Samuel Baker Jr House

The Baker house was built circa 1858. Although Samuel was a distant relative (first cousin, four times removed), that is not why I picked this house, but for two other reasons. One my parents lived in this house of a while in the 1940s and also because I have some pictures of this house being moved to make room for the 404 bypass.

 I thought I had pictures from the 1940s, but cant find them :-(.

The Town of Richmond Hill says:

"Frame; aluminum siding; 1 ½ stories; c1858(V); Mennonite double house; gable roof with return eaves; shed-roofed dormers; transomed entry; bellcast verandah on turned posts; Samuel Baker Jr., farmer. Originally had doddy house, with 2nd front door; side addition; relocated, same property, 1978 for road bypass."

Samuel Baker Jr House
32 Gormley Court,Gormley, Ontario
24 mm f/5.6 1/1600 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM



Ready to go.
It is on the house moving rig, but not far from its original position. 
circa 1979.





Getting ready to slide onto the new foundation
circa 1979. 

53Weeks 005 of 371: S. N. Doner Store

Unlike the buildings so far this week, this one is not a designated heritage building. However, I happen to have in my archives images of the location that are quite old. It is interesting to see the changes that have occurred over the years.

The original building was built in the 1800s and burnt down about 1935. I remember it when it still operated as a general store and Post Office, Evelyn Milsted was the postmaster.

 I had a nice chat with the current owner. He showed my around inside, and let me take some pictures of the old post office safe.


S. N. Doner Store 2013
2243 Stouffville Road,Gormley,Ontario
24 mm f/8 1/160 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM



Old Fashioned Security
2243 Stouffville Road,Gormley,Ontario
28 mm f/4 1/8 ISO 1600
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM



Inside the Safe
2243 Stouffville Road,Gormley,Ontario
24 mm f/4 1/10 ISO 1600
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM



Before the fire
2243 Stouffville Road,Gormley,Ontario





Circa 1940, Sam Doner on the right.
2243 Stouffville Road,Gormley,Ontario



Before the fire.
2243 Stouffville Road,Gormley,Ontario

53Weeks 004 of 371: Daniel H Doner House

Old man winter didn't let any light through his heavy winter blanket for today's subject. But there were big flakes of snow in the air which adds a nice touch, I think. Daniel H. Doner was my great-grandfather, I never really knew this house existed until I started this weeks project. I really like this house; the Christmas decorations added some appeal to me, so I have included a few of them as well.

The Town of Richmond Hill has this to say about the house:

"Frame clapboard; 2 stories; c1906(v); Foursquare; hip roof with pedimented gable-roofed front dormer with Palladian window; 3-bay front on both Gormley road west and Station road; transomed window; amber glass; pedimented gable-roofed porch on Tuscan columns on concrete pedestals; hip-roofed side verandah; Daniel H. Doner, farmer. Rear addition. Stucco."

Daniel H Doner House - looking south
195 Gormley Road West,Gormley,Ontario
10 mm f/7.1 1/500 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM 



Daniel H Doner House - looking south-west
195 Gormley Road West,Gormley,Ontario
21 mm f/7.1 1/400 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM 



Mail - the old fashioned way
195 Gormley Road West,Gormley,Ontario
22 mm f/7.1 1/250 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM 



Lady in the Snow
195 Gormley Road West,Gormley,Ontario
185 mm f/7.1 1/200 ISO 640
Canon EOS 40D EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM 



Bells
195 Gormley Road West,Gormley,Ontario
195 mm f/7.1 1/320 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM 



Poinsettia
195 Gormley Road West,Gormley,Ontario
200 mm f/7.1 1/200 ISO 800
Canon EOS 40D EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM 



Friendly snow family
195 Gormley Road West,Gormley,Ontario
110 mm f/7.1 1/160 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM 



Purple
195 Gormley Road West,Gormley,Ontario
70 mm f/7.1 1/200 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

53Weeks 003 of 371: William Wonch House

I kept an eye to the sky all day hoping the old man winter would give me a break and give me some decent light. As the light began to fade altogether I made the trip out in the dull overcast sky with snow flying. As I started to walk around my subject for the day, the clouds opened a crack and light through some warm evening light. Thank you.

The Wonch house is still undergoing renovation. I know the owners, and as they have told me their stories of their efforts, I gives me great appreciation for the investment hertiage home owners make.

This is what the Town of Markham has to say about this house.

The William Wonch House is a substantially proportioned 1 ½ storey brick residence with a three bay façade, built in Gothic Revival style, c. 1850-1880 by one of Markham's longest established families. The property at Lot 21 Concession 4 was originally settled by John George Wunsch (Wonch) and his wife Mary, who came to Markham in 1794 with William Berczy. The house sits on a stone foundation, and at one time likely had chimneys on the gable ends, and a wood roof. The William Wonch House is of contextual significance as an excellent example of a 19th century farmstead, with historical connections to the community of Victoria Square. 

William Wonch House
43 Castleview Cres,Markham,Ontario
24 mm f/7.1 1/320 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM


William Wonch House
43 Castleview Cres,Markham,Ontario
47 mm f/7.1 1/250 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM


William Wonch House
43 Castleview Cres,Markham,Ontario
105 mm f/7.1 1/250 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM


William Wonch House
43 Castleview Cres,Markham,Ontario
105 mm f/7.1 1/400 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

53Weeks 002 of 371: Hatton-Baker House

Just up the street from "The Ottaway" is this house which I haven't paid much attention too until lately. I have Baker ancestors on my father's side - I wonder if I am related to Jacob?

This is what the text on the plaque reads:

"The Hatton-Bake House was constructed by William Hatton, the first leader of the local Primitive Methodist congregation, whose first house built in the 1830s still stands across the road at 10754 Woodbine Avenue. The simple, Symmetrical form for the house at 10761 Woodbine Avenue is representative of the vernacular Georgian architectural tradition. Constructed c. 1850, it is one of the oldest remaining buildings in Victoria Square. Modest in scale and simple in detail, the house is a good example of a worker's cottage designed to meet the housing needs of a village tradesman and his family.

Jacob Baker, a carpenter and member of an early Pennsylvania-German family, updated the house c. 1880 with patterned polychrome brickwork, a veranda decorated with fretwork, and the reworking of the original 6/6 windows to 2/2 glazing. From 1938 to 2005, the Mortson family were significant later owners. Gord Mortson operated a bus line from the property in the mid-20th Century, using a converted bard behind the house as a garage. In 2011, the house was restored by the Cesaroni Holdings Limited to form part of a new commercial development.

The Hatton-Baker House has contextual value as one of number of heritage buildings comprising the crossroads community of Victoria Square and is the only remaining 19th century building on the east side of Woodbine Avenue, north of Elgin Mills Road. The house is an important reminder of the early historical development of this street corner, which once contained another early house and a hotel that served travellers (sic) on the Markham and Elgin Mills plank road."

Hatton-Baker House
10761 Woodbine Avenue,Markham,Ontario
3 Image HDR via HDR Efex Pro
24 mm f/7.1 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM 



Hatton-Baker House
10761 Woodbine Avenue,Markham,Ontario
24 mm f/7.1 1/1000 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM 



Hatton-Baker House
10761 Woodbine Avenue,Markham,Ontario
105 mm f/7.1 1/250 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM 



Hatton-Baker House
10761 Woodbine Avenue,Markham,Ontario
105 mm f/7.1 1/1250 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM 



Hatton-Baker House
10761 Woodbine Avenue,Markham,Ontario
84 mm f/7.1 1/1600 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM 



Hatton-Baker House
10761 Woodbine Avenue,Markham,Ontario
24 mm f/7.1 1/500 ISO 400
Canon EOS 40D EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM