Spence Inn, Spence, 1878
This temperance (alcohol-free) boarding house, on the Settlement Road between Rosseau and Nipissing, was a stagecoach stop for travellers, tourists, salesmen and mail carriers. By 1890, the owner of the property Donald MacEachern assumed control of the inn and constructed an addition to the side off the dining room, from which to run his bar.
Fun fact: The cost for a bath at the inn at its height was $0.25 – using the same water as everyone before you. Hence the saying “Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater” because the babies were usually last bathed and the water would be quite grimy by then!
E.W. Hay’s General Store, Falkenburg, 1878
This building was built in 1878 and used as a general store until 1953, in Falkenburg, near Bracebridge. Local farmers bartered butter, cheese, eggs and port for hardware, china, sugar and flour. Ned Hay sold everything from horse harnesses, corsets, and maple syrup to coal oil for lamps, as well as serving the Post Master and Jailor for the village.
Maw House, Novar, c. 1890
The original site of the house was deeded to the Mills family in 1890 and, by the provisions of the Free Land Act, the house would have been built sooner. It passed through many hands until it was bought by the Maws in 1932. During the season, this is where you have the opportunity to make hand-dipped candles and taste test fresh baked scones and butter!
Bray House, Huntsville, 1870s
Hand-hewn square log settler’s cabin discovered during a home renovation. With the Bray family growing quickly, the original log portion of the house was soon enveloped in an expanded house in the Ontario Gothic Vernacular style, very similar to that of the Hill House.
Watson’s Workshop, Huntsville, c. 1870s-1880s
This building was built between 1876 and 1886. It was moved from another part of what was Julius Shay’s land grant, the settler owner of the property on which MHP was built. Its original name is the Watson Workshop as it was donated by the Watson family who sold the Village property to the Town of Huntsville.