The following information was taken from the Ontario Heritage Trust web-site.
The Bethune-Thompson House in Williamstown owes its name to two prominent owners – the Reverend John Bethune and explorer David Thompson. But it was Peter Ferguson, an early settler, who first built a house on this site in 1784. Its walls were constructed using the French-Canadian "poteaux sur sol" technique, which placed logs in vertical rows held together top and bottom by horizontal plates. Reverend John Bethune (1751-1815), the minister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Williamstown and the first Presbyterian minister in Upper Canada, acquired the property in 1804. He built a larger house which incorporated Ferguson's home as its kitchen wing. In 1815, the house was acquired by David Thompson (1770-1857), the famous North West Company explorer who mapped much of what is now western Canada.
The Bethune-Thompson House is the oldest residence owned by the Trust. The house, a National Historic Site, is open year-round to the public, free of charge, after 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Group tours are available by appointment.
What a beautiful looking house, so nice that it is being maintained. What a fascinating history too - did you visit inside it? I have to say that lawn is immaculate!
@paul10@susale@stephanies
Thank you for your comments.
I have been in this museum of a house many times since the family who lives in it is also the local historian and caretaker of all the artifacts stored there.
It is as neat inside as out.
Thank you for your comments.
I have been in this museum of a house many times since the family who lives in it is also the local historian and caretaker of all the artifacts stored there.
It is as neat inside as out.