Water

Tap into what the cognoscenti have known for several years, a little bit of insider information if you will - Port Hope 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.

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

Northumberland County, wherein lies Port Hope, 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 phenomenon of "managed growth", although Port Hope, being the closest, has positioned itself to be a gateway of sort. Port Hope, indeed, is unique with it's water frontage, Yacht, Golf and Country Clubs, developed cultural events and mildly eccentric denizens. 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, Port Hope is the Gateway to Toronto from travelers in these regions. A good break after 4 - 5 hours of driving!

In June of 1852 Almon Harris, listed on the deed as a gentleman of Port Hope, bought a sizeable section of land on the south side of Walton Street from Port Hope carpenter William Brogdin. The land purchased by Harris for Ł150 lay between the dwelling house of a Mrs. Martha Mitchell and one owned by Brogdin himself and occupied by Robert Wallace. Presumably, Harris built the house almost immediately for it is shown on the 1853 Wall and Forrest map of Port Hope. In 1868, John Campbell, the Hope Township yeoman, purchased it for Ł1800.

In 1878, Dr. Lafontaine Baldwin Powers, a prominent Port Hope physician, purchased it for $2,000. In 1889 Dr. Powers bought the narrow strip of land to the west of his house from Richard and Susannah Clarke for $1,300 and, in 1891, from David Fisher and Peter Robertson, executors of William Brogdin's estate, the land to the east of his house for $1,100. By 1900 Dr. Powers had a considerable holding on Walton Street,. In 1905 Dr. Powers sold a fraction of an acre to the trustees of the First Presbyterian Church (Clark, Dingwall, and Long) for $1.00 and the present St. Paul's Presbyterian Churn was built to the west of Dr. Powers' house around 1904.

The house remained in the Powers family until 1930 when Robina J. Powers, Dr. Powers' daughter, sold the land and premises to E. Belle Mitchell for $4,250.

Dr. Lafontaine Baldwin Powers was a respected and popular physician in Port Hope. He was very active on the local board of education and the public school on Ward Street is named after him. The Dodds Directory of 1880 listed Dr. Powers as a member of the Board of Education which supervised the Department of Public Institutions. He was also the medical superintendent of Trinity College School.

The architect is unknown. An 1878 photograph of upper Walton Street, in the Clayton collection, reveals the two and a half storey Powers House with the main facade with three bays on the first and second storeys; and the extension to the east housing the medical office. The roof was parapet gabled, similar to numerous other Port Hope dwellings of the townhouse type. The current raised roof is now of moderate pitch, and a hipped roofed, three storey brick tower was added on the west wall at some point. Windows on the Walton Street facade have been extensively altered and one can see clearly the bricked-in area of the former doorway visible in the 1878 photograph. The windows on the east wall have also been enlarged and a new gable, lit by a pair of windows, has been added. The rectangular wing to the south remains virtually unaltered from the 1878 photograph.

I would venture to say that architecturally, it was initially Georgian influenced, as was popular in the period, and evolved towards a Victorian flavour in subsequent years.

Brent Bayley was originally from Toronto and lived in different parts of Ontario prior to settling down in Port Hope. Jennifer Wetherall was originally from England and has been in Canada for a couple of decades. Brent would like to focus on antique clock restoration - his first love, and miniatures.

In the four years since they have taken over the business, they have leveraged two decades of good will, and prominent location on the main strip in Port Hope, to double digit growth for the Tea Room operation. In April 2001, they also launched a successful Bed and Breakfast operation for two rooms. The growing demand prompted him to add an additional room as well as consider converting the third level for their living quarters. Upon which they will release their current private suite to create a total of four suites for the B&B operation. This will undoubtedly leave him no time for the clock restoration and miniatures. As such, he prefers selling the successful and expanding hospitality operation to someone who is passionate to take it even further while he attends to HIS passion - antique clock restoration and miniatures. ~ Financial Statements since inception are available upon request.~

Ground Floor ~ 2,321 sq.ft.

Entrance

Separate Entrances for Tea Room - both indoor area and outdoor terrace, as well as the B & B operation.

Parking Lots: 2 car tandem parking at the front and 5 car parking at the back.

Garage - oversize one car, attached.

Entrance Hall to B & B

Vestibule

18' x 8' 11"

7' x 7'

Vestibule

Single Door: wood and glass

Wainscoting/Inlaid Solid Wood Panel

Oak Floor graduating to maple in the Hallway

Wallpaper: Warm Colouring and Design

Inset Solid Wood Paneling

Restored original Tin Ceiling rising 10' 2" high

Access to three contiguous room currently housing antique operation. Ideal for expanding the tearoom operation or launching an additional fine dining area¹.

Access to Kitchen

Inset Solid Wood Paneling along stairway to Second Floor

Wood Railing

(Dining) Room I

18' 4" x 17'

Ornate Concentric Squares 10' 2" Ceiling with 14' Cornice Tin Ceiling (c 1878 beautifully restored)

Walk out to porch

Double 7' High French Doors to Hall

Double 7' High Pocket Doors to (Dining) Room II

Original Oak Floors/Custom Cut Carpet

Coffin Window 8' 10" x 3'

(Dining) Room II

16' x 13'6"

10' 2" Ceiling with plaster moulding

Brick Enclosed Fireplace with Glass Doors and Carved Oak Mantle

Double 7' High Pocket Doors to (Dining) Room I

2 x Outset Windows 3' x 6'3" each

Original Oak Floors/Custom Cut Carpets

(Dining) Room III

19' x 15' 9"

8' 8" Ceiling

Walk out from "Turret" 7' Door plus original Storm Door

2 Windows: i)32" x 5' 10" ; ii)28" x 5' 10"

Original Oak Border/Maple Centre Floors (Ballroom Dancing anyone?)/Custom Cut Carpets

11" Baseboard

His/Hers Bathrooms

2 2-Piece Bathrooms

Back Storage Room

5'11" x 4'10"

Kitchen

19' 1" x 8' 1"

Renovated 1998

1 Double Stainless Sink & 1 Single Stainless Sink

Built in Commercial Dishwasher (leased to own)

Built in Pa8inted White Pine Cupboards

Walk-out to Family Room (or Dining Room IV)

Family Room/or Dining Room IV

Suitable to accommodate a kitchen expansion as deemed appropriate

18' 2" x 15' 10"

Stairs to Second Level

Broadloom [2.5" x 1" unfinished hardwood (oak?) floor underneath]

Wallpapered

Paneled Wainscoting 3'

Built-in Secretary/Bar

Enclosed Chimney

Gas Fireplace with Additional Chimney; Brick Platform

Inset Display Shelves

Access to Hallway immediate to His/Hers Bathrooms

Access to Sun Room

Sun Room

For expanding Staff?

12' 6" x 9' 2"

Broadloom

2 Skylights/Sloped Ceiling 9' 3"

Overlooks English Gardens and Pond

Walk-out to porch

Back Porch

18' 2" x 5'

Overlooks English Gardens and Pond

English Gardens

Concrete Bench

Concrete Pathways

Variety of floras with Mature Trees

Access to side access to Garage, Back & Front Parking Lots

Tea Room - 21 Seats (Licensed)

21' 5" x 11'6"

2 Walk-0uts to Entrance Porch & Licensed Patio

Restored original tin ceiling

Patio - 21 Seats (Licensed)

22' x 12' 3"

Walk-out to back gardens and street

Second Floor ~ 2008 sq.ft

(6" wide tongue & groove original pine floor)

Bedroom No. 1

(The Powers Suite)

24' 2" x 13' 7"

9' Ceiling

Broadloom with matching Wall paper

Overlooks Walton Street

Ensuite Bath Room

French Door to 4 pc Ensuite (completed 2001)

Top quality tile patterned linoleum floor

Bedroom No. 2

(The Trinity Suite)

12' 2" x 12'

Broadloom

9' Ceiling

Ensuite Bath Room

French Door to 3 pc Ensuite

Top quality tile patterned linoleum floor

Bedroom No. 3

(The Bayley Suite)

16' 9" x 12'

Self Contained with ensuite sitting room & galley kitchen

Restored original Tin Ceiling (8' 2" rise)

Ensuite Bath Room

French Door to 4 pc Ensuite

Antique restored clawed bathtub

Period faux Antique dresser for basin

Top quality tile patterned linoleum floor

Ensuite Sitting Room

18' 2" x 8'

Broadloom

Accessed by both Front and Back Stairs

Ensuite Galley Kitchen

9' 9" x 7' 6"

Linoleum floor

Fridge, Stove and Double Stainless Steel sink

Melamine Counter Top

Not updated

Ensuite Balcony

8' x 5'6"

Overlooks English Gardens and Pond

Bedroom No. 4

(The Port Hope Suite)

18' 2" x 10' 9"

New (2002)

Paneled

Broadloom over wood (likely pine)

9' Ceiling

Ensuite Bath Room

French Door to 4 pc Ensuite

Office/Bedroom No. 5?

(The Northumberland Suite?)

7'7" x 15' 3"

Broadloom

Overlooking back of property

Additional sitting area

Maybe configured to include the Galley Kitchen & Family Room downstairs with the Sun Room and walk-out to Porch and Gardens

Third Floor - 748 sq.ft. Roughed-in: Plumbing, cable, telephone & Wiring

Inn Keeper's Suite - Sitting Room

18' 8" x 10' 11"

Unfinished

Central Air

Ceiling may be raised another 6 - 8" by lowering false floor.

Bedroom

11' 10" x 17'

Unfinished

Central Air

Kitchen

8' 8" x 18' 8"

Unfinished

Central Air

Bathroom

16' 6" x 8' 8"

Unfinished

Central Air

Basement - 2,000 sq.ft.

Full but unfinished

Garage

1 Car Oversize

Double Sliding Doors to Garden

1 Overhead Garage Door to Rear Parking Lot

¹Application to appropriate regulatory departments required to amend existing authorizations.

OutSide Structures
Garden Shed	8' x 8'