Water

Award Winning Renovation and Featured in Janette Higgins "The Best Places to Bed & Breakfast in Ontario" (Fifth Edition)

Tap into what the cognoscenti have known for several years, a little bit of insider information if you will - Port Hope and Cobourg is turning into a bedroom community of Toronto. 50 minutes of highway driving east of Toronto on HWY 401, Port Hope is one of (maybe a couple), towns in Ontario that has a proactive Heritage Conservatory that has prevented bulldozing of Century Homes for Parking Lots - "managed growth" is a term that comes to mind. Cobourg, just 10 minutes east of Port Hope, is the "sister" township that is one of Toronto's favourites. Then there is Grafton, just another wee bit east.

And it is a good thing. Steeped in history, the "triplets" were the playgrounds of the Rich and Famous since the early 1800's. That would explain all the majestic estates in the surrounding countryside.

Northumberland County, where the "triplets" lie, benefits from the growing trend of "city folk" moving out from the hustle and bustle in the "big smoke" to somewhere quieter and safer. With the Internet revolutionizing the way we do business and communicate, many have taken advantage of what telecommuting has to offer. When we placed the Director of Marketing for a major National Bookstore in Grafton 4 years back, he traded his home in North York for a 100 acre farm with a restored Century Home that once belonged to the Masseys for $550,000. I am sure it's worth a lot more now. A recent article in Toronto Star (July 1, 2002) mentioned that a developer from Peterborough is planning to develop a 4,800 people retirement community in Port Hope. He does have the vision and started accumulating land mass 10 years back.

Northumberland County is only part of this "managed growth" phenomenon , although, additionally, there seems to be a trend in Health Spas popping up the the area as well as the traditional Country Fare. Moving slightly eastward, we have the Big Apple in Colborne that opens year round attracting millions. And Brighton turning into a well received retirement community - great success in the development of Brighton-by-the-Bay by a REIT. Then Prince Edward County, with picturesque Picton, is turning into the other Wine Producing region. After selling The Hillcrest in Port Hope to an area Spa, I see a few more popping up that provide a variety of alternatives and choices. Another client from the U.K., now a good friend, is setting up another one in Brighton. I am sure this will be quite special - as influenced by her background as a hotelier in Africa and her son as an impresario in the entertainment/music industry in the U.K. and New York. Then there is Trenton and Belleville, led by one of the most dynamic Economic Development Boards in the person of Chris King; and Kingston, which is experiencing phenomenal growth.

From another point-of-view, with the reciprocal commerce between Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, Northumberland is the Gateway to Toronto from travelers in these regions. A good break after 4 - 5 hours of driving!

Built around 1896, Essex House is an all brick representative of the later Victorian style popular in the area at that time. I don't know the social status of the original owners, but, based on the size of the rooms, I would venture a guess that they are of a certain level of social prominence. In 1951, Dennis A. Bergins and his wife, Helen J. Bergins purchased the property and stayed there for some 50 years until the current owners. The Bergins owned and operated the area's IDA Store.

Pat Arato and Annette Young, originally from the U.K., a prominent pioneer and senior executive, respectively, in Toronto's Health Sector, fell in love with the place on first sight. In 1996, sparing no expenses, they gutted the entire building (all 3,650 sq.ft. and exterior) and modernized it to their exacting standards and personal styles. Being socially conscious, they want to make sure that the physically challenged individuals have access and built a ramp on the side porch and converted the Library into a double with an Ensuite that can accommodate them comfortably (oversize). They have also built a fire barrier wall on top of the stairs and dotted the whole property with emergency lighting.

Shortly after the renovation, Christine Stewart, the former Minister of the Environment, has christened the launch to a most auspicious start.

Charming corner lot just minutes (walking) from i) the main strip on King Street - you can see the Bell Tower on the Sun Room; ii) the Waterfront Park (Lake Ontario); and, a little longer walk, to the Via Train station. George Street has been designated Heritage Street but the building is "Heritage Free".

I think the price point is an excellent value with all the work done and being in a prime location.

My favourite is something that Annette has done - all the light switches in the house controls the upper socket in each room! Small detail but so convenient! I also like the lay-out vis-à-vis privacy for the occupants. I see the building in three comfortable zones. The Lower Back Zone is "self-contained" with a bedroom, 3 pc bathroom and access to the back yard and side entrance with patio. The wheel chair access ramp is an extension of this patio. There is also a trap door that opens up for the Full Basement here.

The Second Floor Back Zone comprises of the Bedroom with a 3 pc Ensuite (Shower) as well, with the Laundry Room next to it and the Back Stairwell and Linen Shelves.

The Second Floor "Sanctum Santorum" Zone comprises of an office which walks through to both a 4 pc Ensuite to the Bedroom and the Sun Room which runs the length of the side of the house. This is the prize.

The other Second Floor "Sanctum Santorum" Zone comprises of two separate bedrooms with individual Ensuite (4pc @) and a well lit sitting area with the mini-library (built-in shelves).

Finally, there is the front "mini" zone with the wheel chair equipped bedroom which was the library of the original house with the fireplace closed off.

Ground Floor ~ 9'5" Ceiling
Foyer - Centre Hall		Glass Panes crown the doorway.
Living Room	17' 6" x 16' 3"	Hardwood Floor Antique Decorative Fireplace with Carved Wood Mantel and Decorative Ceramic Tile Insert 2 x Picture Windows Centre Crown Moulding with electrical Single Door to Centre Hallway Double Pocket French Doors to Dining Room
Dining Room	17' 6" x 15' 9"	Hardwood Floor 2 x Large Windows Antique Decorative Fireplace with Carved Wood Mantel and Decorative Ceramic Tile Insert Server Window from Kitchen Single Door to Centre Hallway with magnetic holder Double Pocket French Doors to Dining Room Centre Crown Moulding with Chandelier (original)
Kitchen	20' x 0" x 8' 2"	2 x Windows Centre Island Built-in Shelves (may be closed off as floor-to-ceiling cabinet) Walk-out to side Porch through Double French Doors Linoleum Floors Double Stainless Steel Sinks Ceiling Fan
Back Suite Sitting Room Bedroom No.1 Bathroom	15' 3" x 7' 1½" 12' 7" x 14' 5"	Hardwood Floor Wall-to-Wall Windows and Entrance Door Walkout to Side Porch with Wheel Chair Ramp Walkout to Back Gardens Access to Full Basement 2 Windows Wall-to-wall carpet Irregular Shape 3 pc (Shower) Linoleum Floor
Bedroom No. 2 (Front Suite) Ensuite	13' 4" x 12' 5"	Wall-to-wall carpet 2 x Windows 3 pc Oversize shower to accommodate physically challenged individuals
Second Floor ~8' 10¾" Ceiling Fire Resistant Walls at Landing
Office / Bedroom No. 3 Ensuite Bath Room	11' 9" x 11' 2"	Hardwood Floor Window Double Door access to Sun Room Single Door access to Ensuite (4pc) Linoleum Floor
Sun Room	31' x 10'	Broadloom Wrap Around Windows
Bedroom No. 4 Ensuite Bath Room	13' 3"x 12' 7"	Hardwood Floor Window Single Door access to Sun Room Single Door access to Ensuite (4pc) - Shared with No. 3 Linoleum Floor
Bedroom No. 5 Ensuite Bath Room	13' 3" x 13' 6"	Wall-to-wall carpet Ceiling Fan 2 Windows Single Door access to Ensuite (4pc) Built-in Cabinetry Linoleum Floor
Bedroom No. 6 Ensuite Bath Room	15' 9" x 13' 1"	Wall-to-wall carpet Window 4 pc Antique Wall Paper Built-in Cabinetry Linoleum Floor
Bedroom No. 7 Ensuite Bath Room	13' 4" x 16' 9"	Wall-to-wall carpet 2 x Windows 3 pc (Shower Stall) Linoleum Floor
Laundry Room
Sitting Room Access to Back Stairs		Wall-to-wall carpet Window Linen Shelves

Garage		One-Car Detached

Information of Interests At-A-Glance
200 AMPS Tax 2002 = $3,921.12 Lot Size = 148' x 104' Smoke Detector Emergency Lighting Smoke Detector Two Porches Five Exits Unfinished Full Basement with Walk-up
Utilities Costs
	2002	2001	2000
Gas	$2,476.32	$1,818.09	$1,955.04
Hydro/Water	$1,375.50	$1,203.36	$1,310.36
Water Tanks	$392.48	$359.12	$341.23

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Foyer - Centre Hall

Living Room

17' 6" x 16' 3"

Hardwood Floor

Sun Room

31' x 10'

Broadloom

Wrap Around Windows

Bedroom No. 4

Ensuite Bath Room

13' 3"x 12' 7"

Bedroom No. 6

15' 9" x 13' 1"

Bedroom No. 7

13' 4" x 16' 9"

Laundry Room