Tour WALKING PROUDLY MANAGED BY THE HOMER WATSON HOUSE FOUNDATION. Historical Walking Tour of Lower Doon in Kitchener, Ontario

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1 Tour WALKING PROUDLY MANAGED BY THE HOMER WATSON HOUSE FOUNDATION Historical Walking Tour of Lower Doon in Kitchener, Ontario

2 Historical Doon The First Europeans Probably the first Europeans to visit this district were two French missionary priests Brebuef and Chaumonot. In 1640 they sketched the Grand River and its tributaries. In 1784 Gov. Haldimand of Quebec granted the Six Nations natives a tract of land six miles wide on either side of the Grand. This grant was a reward and safe haven to the Iroquois for their support of the British Army during America s war for independence. Chief Theyendanega sold two blocks of this land, some 94,000 acres to Col. Richard Beasley in 1798 for 9794 British pounds. Beasley in turn, sold sections to the first settlers of the area. These transactions offer a fascinating tale of early land speculation and scandal. South of the border in Pennsylvania, the Mennonites were feeling the persecutions they had fled Europe to escape. Loading their possessions into Conestoga wagons, the Biehn, Bechtel, Kinzie and other families made an arduous journey from Bucks County, Pennsylvania to the Beasley Tract. On July 18, 1800 John Biehn purchased 3600 acres on the west bank of the Grand from Beasley, Bechtel buying 3150 acres on the eastern bank. Biehn selected this area because of the many brooks and rivers that would provide transit and power for a saw mill. The Ferries Doon owes its name to Adam Ferrie Jr., who came in 1834 to this section of the Grand River in search of a location to construct a mill. He found it at the confluence of Schneider s Creek and the Grand River. The area reminded Ferrie of Logh Done, a river and lake near Ayrshire, Scotland and he named it Doon. Ferrie came from a very industrious family of great resources. He bought 300 acres, clearing 100 and began to construct what must have seemed like an empire to the earlier settlers: a stone mill for flour, barley and oatmeal, a distillery, a store, a cooperage (a cask and barrel works) and several homes. Indeed the Ferrie companies became a major source of employment and prosperity for the growing community of Doon. By 1852 the Ferrie enterprises included the grist mill, a saw mill, tailor shop, blacksmith, shoemaker, wagonmaker, cooperage, tavern, farm, distillery, the Doon Inn, two stores and eleven houses for its workers and twenty lots sold to residents. The population of the entire community according to the 1851 census was 452. Robert Ferrie also established a Post office and served as the Postmaster. By 1855, when Watson was born, Lower Doon was still essentially a company town. Homer Watson Doon owes its creation to these earlier settlers, but it is Homer Watson s paintings that gives the best glimpse of pioneer life in Doon. His works reflect the life and circumstances of our earliest pioneers, the beauty of nature and man s imprint on it. He painted the trees and fields of Doon, because he knew them intimately in all weathers and seasons. Watson has been described as the man who first saw Canada as Canada. Watson felt the artist had to understand the pioneer stage of a country and its development. Not only to understand but to love and respect the manner in which we bind inanimate nature into serving our will. If Homer Watson was special, his inspiration, all his life was Doon. Take time now to walk Doon and its forests and see the beauty of Watson s Canada.

3 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N Homer Watson House & Gallery Cordwainer s Cottage Doon Presbyterian Church Doon Mills 39 Doon Valley Drive The Red Lion Inn Regency Cottage Wesleyan Methodist Church Allen (Kinzie) House Christadelphian Meeting House Lookout Point Pioneer Memorial Tower Homer Watson Park Cemetary

4 A Homer Watson House & Gallery 1754 Old Mill Road The Homer Watson House was built by Adam Ferrie Jr., son of the Hon. Adam Ferrie Sr., an affluent industrialist from Scotland. This substantial house, in the vertical style of Gothic Scotland is very different from the Georgian style favoured by Mennonite settlers of the early 1800 s. Adam Ferrie began construction of the house in 1834, the year he bought the land from John Biehn Jr. From its grandeur he had every intention of staying in Doon. Certainly there was nothing like this house in the area. In 1847, however, Adam was asked by his father to step down in place of his brother, and Robert Strang, a Clerk of Canada, moved into the house. In 1873, Jane Ewing bought the house from the Ferrie estate, and sold it to Henry Drake. Homer Watson had long admired the Ferrie house for its architecture and light. In the autumn of 1881 Watson moved into the house with his wife Roxanna, renting the third floor. The previous year Watson had achieved artistic success when Lord Lorne, the Governor General of Canada, had purchased his painting the Pioneer Mill for Queen Victoria, for the sum of $300. In 1882 the Queen requested another of Watson s works, The Last Day of the Drought and Lord Lorne also arranged to buy The Torrent. Watson now had confidence in his artistic career and the financial means necessary to purchase his dream home. In 1883 Watson secured the Ferrie house and the two and three quarters acres upon which it was situated. The house would remain Watson s home for the remainder of his life. By 1893 the painter had added a studio, which featured a frieze displaying the names of the artists he most admired and included a small painting in each artist s style. The year 1906 saw more changes to the house, when a gallery, designed with classical harmonic proportions, was added to display Watson s art. The gallery was intended to show Watson s works to the many patrons who visited his studio. Clerestory windows allowed natural light to enter the gallery while providing as much wall space as possible to hang his paintings. Watson continued to work in the house until his death on May 30, His sister, Phoebe, remained in the house until her death in The following year the estate was sold to Ross and Bess Hamilton. In 1948 the Hamiltons established the Doon School of Fine Arts. Instructors at the School included such notables as Fred Varley of the Group of Seven. The Doon School operated until The last private owners of the Watson house were Tom and Ruthe Cayley. For more information on the history of Homer Watson or the Gallery, please visit homerwatson.on.ca

5 B Cordwainer s Cottage 1755 Old Mill Road This Georgian brick over wood frame house was built in 1873 and is typical of a worker s cottage. Its first owner was John L. Beyer, a cordwainer. In 1876 it was sold to Joseph Firestine, a shoemaker from Galt. C Doon Presbyterian Church 35 Roos Street By 1853 the Presbyterian movement in Doon was large enough to warrant a church. Land was donated by Robert Ferrie and a committee formed to collect funds for its construction. Built in the traditional Gothic style, at a cost of approximately $ (the British pound was equal to about $4 in the 1850 s), 98,124 bricks were used in its construction. In 1857 worshippers were charged $2.50 for a single pew and $10.00 for a family pew. From the time of its first service, on December 31, Until 1992 (when a new addition was added), the Church remained virtually unchanged. D Doon Mills Next to 1782 Old Mill Road The Doon Mills were completed in Today, a corner of a stonewall; a date marker and the race (a channel used to direct a strong current of water to the mill s wheel) are all that remain. A dam was built ahead of the mill in order to fill the race, creating a small lake that took seventy hours to fill. The site of the lake is now a playground, which can be seen across the bridge. The lake, known as Willow Lake, was to become a favoured resort and weekend retreat operated by Lawrence Cluthe in the 1920 s and 30 s. Homer Watson refers to the millpond in his essay, A Landscape Painter s Day (1890): I had long nourished an intention of going to a pond that nestled among willow in the neighbourhood. The dell lingered in my thought as the most charming place in the vicinity. It combined pastoral peace and wildness, and an aroma of friendliness seemed to exhale from its luxuriant canopies. The water for this millpond was drawn from Schneider s Creek, named after an earlier settler. The mill was constructed out of hewn rubble at great cost and labour only to be washed away in The dam developed a quicksand bed and burst its wall. The mill pond emptied in ten minutes carrying away with it portions of the stone mill, distillery, trees, Ferrie rebuilt the dam and some years later his brother Robert took over the operations in Doon at the request of his father. Adam was certain Robert could not administer the affairs of the company: My brother will not be able to manage the business, it will go to ruin. My father has greatly wronged me, but I have obeyed him...

6 ...to the last. The property was transferred to Robert in 1847 for 400 pounds. Robert wrote to his brother in 1849 telling him not to bother giving him advice, as Adam was prone to do, as he was quite capable of running his own affairs. Adam Jr. died in 1848 at the age of 36. Robert was elected to Parliament in 1854, but his health was failing. He ventured into many concerns and was a leading member of the community, but never managed to make much of a profit. He was scandalized by an employee who falsified the mill accounts. Ferrie & Co. was operating under financial constraints by 1857 and after Robert s death in 1860 (he was 38) the estate lost the mill to the Gore Bank, which held a $25,000 mortgage. The mill exchanged hands several times after this. William Osborne operated the mill in It was bought by Thomas Stewart and George Patterson in 1869 and sold in 1874 to Jacob Z. Detweiler. It was purchased by James Webster in 1884, and to Jacob Cluthe in The dam was updated and became known as Cluthe dam. Fire destroyed much of the mill in It was roofed over and used as a shoddy mill with a cider and glue factory in the basement (quite a combination!). He also manufactured scissors for several years. Fire again broke out in 1921 or 1922, and destroyed the structure beyond repair. The smokestack and granary at the front rotted away and the walls crumbled. Pressure from flooding of the creek knocked over the west wall of the mill in Behind the mill, 150 feet along the trail and to the left, is what remains of a storehouse. Some plaster on the rubble work can still be seen. E 39 Doon Valley Drive This interesting stone building utilizes two construction materials, fieldstone and cutstone. Originally owned by Adam Ferrie Jr., the house changed hands five times before the turn of the century. The house was built around 1840 and sold to Samuel Schneider in 1869 by the Gore Bank along with 191 acres of land. Samuel Shantz took it over in 1873, and farmed the land until he sold it to Thomas Slee in The front porch and an addition to the back of the dwelling were added after Across the street stood the Ferrie cooperage. Doon was the inspiration for many of Homer Watson s paintings, such as this one. -Homer Watson, Untitled (Road at Doon), c. 1933, Oil on canvas board, 30 x 40 cm

7 F The Red Lion Inn 37 Pinnacle Drive Boasting a stable for 6 horses, 7 beds, cellar full, house well kept, the Red Lion Inn served the community of Doon from at least 1858 under two roofs. A frame building across the street was the original Inn. It was replaced by the present building in Nancy Jamieson was the proprietor. James Green bought the building in 1921 and converted it to a home. Room and board were still available to students of the Doon School of Fine Arts in the 1940 s at a rate of $32.50 per week. The Inn served the crew and passengers of the Grand Trunk Railway, which ran from Preston to Berlin (Kitchener) and provided freight and passenger service to Doon. In 1857 a flood washed out the rail ridge over the Grand River. A new line on the west bank was built to avoid the river in The Dutch Mail Run as it was known, stopped in Doon four times daily. The station was directly across the street from this building. G Regency Cottage 20 Pinnacle Drive The Ferrie Company sold plots of land to local residents in an effort to establish a community. Robert Ferrie complained in letters to his father, that Doon had no society I could live as a hermit here the sooner the lots are sold, the more the likelihood of a village starting up. Robert Strang, the manager of the company, redoubled these efforts as business began to fail in the late 1850 s. This regency style cottage was built by Xavier Pfieffer in He was a local carpenter who installed the floor and pews of the Doon Presbyterian Church. The style was popular in the early part of the 19th century. Pfieffer appears to have built the cottage as an investment, as he mortgaged the site three times in 1858 for a total of $800 and sold the property in 1859 to a John Fink. The veranda has been rebuilt, but the structure remains true to its functionality and charm. H Wesleyan Methodist Church Durham Street Adding to the diversity of religions, up on the hill stands the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Ascend the stairs to the foot of Durham Street, and the Church overlooks Doon and the Grand. Its light, which could be seen from across the river, summoned parishioners to evening services. The land was donated for a nominal 5 shillings by William Allen, one of Doon s earliest settlers. Wesleyan Methodists followed the teachings of John and Charles Wesley of England, the founders of Methodism. The Gothic style Church was completed in The cement buttresses were added later to support the weakening walls and the roof repaired in The elaborate windows and gable front are unfortunately boarded over.

8 I Allen (Kinzie) House 26 Durham Street Across the street from the Wesleyan Church is the home of William Allen ( ). Allen was a merchant dealing in dry goods, meats and produce. He purchased his lot from the Ferries in 1858 and had this Gothic stone house built in It appears to be two stories but is actually a storeyand-a-half. This was done for tax reasons as assessments were made according to the number of storeys. Allen paid taxes on a one storey house but had the benefit of two! A spring house in the backyard pumped water from the river, assuring a good supply and easing Allen s labour. Allen paid 72 pounds to the Ferrie Company for four lots. His granddaughters, Henrietta and Catherine Bowman (Bauman) took possession in 1928 and Earl Henry Kinzie bought the property in J Christadelphian Meeting House 843 Old Mill Road The religious flavour of Doon was abundant Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Mennonite, as well as an old sect called Christaldelphian, taken from the Greek Christou Adelphoi, meaning Brethren of Christ. The Christadelphians did not have churches or preachers but rather held meetings to discuss the scriptures. They erected a Meeting House for that purpose in 1889 overlooking the river on Old Mill Road. They leased land and property for 99 years at $1 per year. Unfortunately the building no longer exists. It is mentioned because Homer Watson was baptized a Christadelphian and some meetings were held at his home. But Homer s spiritualism lay elsewhere and he did not attend the meetings. He was a preacher in his own way, but nature was his church, and the easel his pulpit. Homer wrote, It is the spirit that paints, if only I knew enough to let it take control. That s when I make my best pictures, but the trouble is my carnal mind comes in and meddles too much. Then I make a mess of it, and that is what happens most of the time, I think. K Lookout Point Next to the Doon Mills Ruins Enjoy a beautiful view from Lookout Point over the Grand River. -Lookout Point after an ice storm

9 L Pioneer Memorial Tower Viewed from across the Grand River As we cross the bridge over Schneider s Creek we can see a tower across the Grand River. Pioneer Memorial Tower was built in 1925, and dedicated on August 26, 1926 to honour the first Mennonite settlers. Joseph Schoerg and Samuel Betzner moved from Franklin County, Pennsylvania and settled on the east bank of the Grand in According to land records, John Biehn and George Bechtel have the honour of being the first settlers in the county. Their purchase was registered on July 18, It was not until August 13, that Samuel Betzner and his son registered their land and Joseph Schoerg waited until September 5, The tower is built on Betzner s homestead and there is also a cemetery with family graves on the site. M Homer Watson Park Formerly Cressman Bush Watson was increasingly distressed by the demolition of the majestic virgin forest of Ontario and developed a scheme to preserve at least a small portion of it. In 1913 a tract of land known as Cressman Bush was to be auctioned and Watson feared it would go to a portable sawmill owner. A group of concerned parties formed the Waterloo County Grand River Park Limited and named Watson the president. They purchased the land with the intention of preserving it as a park forest. In 1976 the City of Kitchener designated this land as an ecologically significant open space area, and ensured its preservation. The park comprises 250 acres, supporting a wide variety of plants and wildlife. Pine, spruce, cedar thickets, hemlock and mixed swamp forest can be found in abundance. Dwarf Ginseng, fiddleheads and cancer root all attest to this diversity. Five species of butterfly make their home in the park as well as the rare Red-shouldered Hawk and Black-backed, three-toed Woodpecker. High steep wooded bluffs along the Grand River provide vantage points for impressive views of the river valley, including Bechtel s Ford. Walking trails and picnic areas are situated in the park. N Cemetary A short walk from Homer Watson House, along Mill Park Drive, The Doon Presbyterian Cemetery and the Kinzie-Biehn Cemetery occupy the corner of Christian Schneider s 19th Century farm. Here some of the earliest settlers and many prominent residents of Doon rest. The Doon Presbyterian Cemetery was donated by Robert Ferrie after he acquired Christian s land. The history of Doon is revealed through these headstones: A small plot on the edge of the Kinzie-Biehn Cemetery marks the graves of local natives. Homer Watson is buried here as is his wife, sister and other family members, Ross Hamilton, the Tilt family, William Allen, the Perines so many significant residents of the area.

10 OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST Homer Watson s Birthplace Doon Village Road and Tilt Drive This house was the birthplace of Homer Watson. The house was built circa 1844 by Homer Watson s grandfather, James Watson who was the first industrialist in Oregon (now Upper Doon). The house is a long low structure with sections of varying heights that is situated on a prominent corner lot. The apple trees, large maples, and outbuildings contribute to the rural character. It was the recipient of a Mike Wagner Heritage Award in Doon Twines Doon Village Road Return to Doon Village Road and continue to your right. When you reach 1221 you will be standing in front of the first building of the Doon Flax and Twine Mills, erected in 1853 by the Perine Brothers. The flax mill stood across the road, while the twine mill stood to the left of this building. When M.B. Perine and his brothers Joseph S. and William D. arrived in Waterloo County they began encouraging local farmers to grow flax from which they could produce twine. Doon Twines was one of the early large manufacturers of twine in Canada. Destructive fires spread through the complex in the late 1880 s, leaving only three buildings of what was a large factory employing 200 people. Because of these mills, this part of Doon was known as Tow Town. Doon Twines came under the ownership of the Krug family in the 1900 s, and its name was changed to Canada Cordage Inc., now located in Kitchener. Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 12:00pm - 4:30pm Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm For Inquiries: homerwatson.on.ca T F Homer Watson House & Gallery 1754 Old Mill Road Kitchener, ON N2P 1H7