This Old House in Guelph: The Wood Cottage has only been owned by three families since 1852.
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| Title: | This Old House in Guelph: The Wood Cottage has only been owned by three families since 1852. |
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| Authors: | Joy Struthers |
| Source: | Guelph Mercury (ON). 07/05/2026. |
| Abstract: | Have you ever wondered about the beautiful log home on the corner of Stevenson Street and Palmer Street, a short walk from St. George's Park? It has been depicted by many local artists, and photographed and dreamed about by generations of neighbours and tourists alike. Just the facts280 Palmer St. is a house many people know and love. Known as Wood Cottage, the more than 170-year-old house has only been owned by three different families.Realtor.ca said this is a rare opportunity to become the next steward of this treasured piece of Guelph history. The home is listed at $1,800,000.The one-and-a-half storey log home was likely built between 1852 and 1862 (City of Guelph) in the Regency style with a central gable roof flanked by lean-to frame structures on either side.The basic form of Wood Cottage is similar to Guelph's first major log structure, the Priory, which was the original headquarters for the Canada Company agents in the late 1820s.The Priory was designed by John Galt, according to Guelph Museums, and functioned as living quarters, the first post office and civil chambers. It was named after Charles Prior, who supervised its construction.The Wood Cottage is on a nearly one-acre corner lot with mature trees and offers privacy as well as a great view.There are two main-floor bedrooms, and the half-story upstairs room which was once the children's bedroom. There is a formal dining room with large windows, a dining room that connects to the kitchen and breakfast nook, a three-piece bathroom and a main floor laundry room.It also has a secondary log house from the Luther Marsh area in northern Wellington County, moved there in 1966 to preserve it, which adds additional storage.The City of Guelph said it is the only remaining 19th-century home to display exposed walls of log construction, and it is a designated heritage property.Designation applies to the exterior shape and form of the log house and log outbuilding in their entirety, the windows and the size and locations of them, as well as the lot, trees, driveway location gate posts, rail fences and open clearing.On the inside, the living room fireplace, ceiling, walls and trim are designated, as well as the original front door, interior doors, floors, vaulted ceilings and trim in the east and west bedrooms, the kitchen ceiling and the stairway to the second floor.The house was built for, or by, Robert White, a store owner in Guelph's business section from the late 1830s. He may have lived on the property as early as 1840, though the City of Guelph said he acquired a deed from John McDonald in May of 1852. Eliza White, Robert's widow, and her family continued to live in the house until 1894.Next it was owned by John and Eliza Barber, who raised a family of 14 there. John died in 1922, but Eliza continued to live there until 1955.The Wood Cottage was lovingly restored and maintained by the last owners, Ron and Elizabeth (Bettie) Pequegnat, who had lived there since 1961. The Pequegnats were avid antique collectors, and Ron was a third-generation jewelry store owner in Guelph at J. Pequegnat & Son Ltd. Jewellers, opened by his grandfather, Joseph. He retired in 1997, according to Miller and Miller Auctions.The French-speaking Pequegnat family from Switzerland came to Berlin (Kitchener), Ont., in 1874, and brought with them the knowledge of Swiss watch and clockmaking. They opened 10 jewelry stores, and Guelph's first jewelry store was opened by son Joseph in 1892.Guelph Museums said the Guelph store was first opened on the west side of St. George's Square, then it was moved to Lower Wyndham Street in 1895. In 1911 it moved again to 41 Wyndham St., where it stayed for decades. The building was sold and the store became Guelph Jewellers in 1997.The original family's eldest son (of 15 living children), Arthur, had begun designing and manufacturing clocks, a skill learned from his father Ulysses. The clocks were sold all over the country, and more than 100 different models were made.Arthur named each model after cities, which made them collector's pieces from the start. The growing popularity of the winding wristwatch led to the end of the business, and the last Pequegnat clock was made in 1943. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] |
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| Abstract: | Have you ever wondered about the beautiful log home on the corner of Stevenson Street and Palmer Street, a short walk from St. George's Park? It has been depicted by many local artists, and photographed and dreamed about by generations of neighbours and tourists alike. Just the facts280 Palmer St. is a house many people know and love. Known as Wood Cottage, the more than 170-year-old house has only been owned by three different families.Realtor.ca said this is a rare opportunity to become the next steward of this treasured piece of Guelph history. The home is listed at $1,800,000.The one-and-a-half storey log home was likely built between 1852 and 1862 (City of Guelph) in the Regency style with a central gable roof flanked by lean-to frame structures on either side.The basic form of Wood Cottage is similar to Guelph's first major log structure, the Priory, which was the original headquarters for the Canada Company agents in the late 1820s.The Priory was designed by John Galt, according to Guelph Museums, and functioned as living quarters, the first post office and civil chambers. It was named after Charles Prior, who supervised its construction.The Wood Cottage is on a nearly one-acre corner lot with mature trees and offers privacy as well as a great view.There are two main-floor bedrooms, and the half-story upstairs room which was once the children's bedroom. There is a formal dining room with large windows, a dining room that connects to the kitchen and breakfast nook, a three-piece bathroom and a main floor laundry room.It also has a secondary log house from the Luther Marsh area in northern Wellington County, moved there in 1966 to preserve it, which adds additional storage.The City of Guelph said it is the only remaining 19th-century home to display exposed walls of log construction, and it is a designated heritage property.Designation applies to the exterior shape and form of the log house and log outbuilding in their entirety, the windows and the size and locations of them, as well as the lot, trees, driveway location gate posts, rail fences and open clearing.On the inside, the living room fireplace, ceiling, walls and trim are designated, as well as the original front door, interior doors, floors, vaulted ceilings and trim in the east and west bedrooms, the kitchen ceiling and the stairway to the second floor.The house was built for, or by, Robert White, a store owner in Guelph's business section from the late 1830s. He may have lived on the property as early as 1840, though the City of Guelph said he acquired a deed from John McDonald in May of 1852. Eliza White, Robert's widow, and her family continued to live in the house until 1894.Next it was owned by John and Eliza Barber, who raised a family of 14 there. John died in 1922, but Eliza continued to live there until 1955.The Wood Cottage was lovingly restored and maintained by the last owners, Ron and Elizabeth (Bettie) Pequegnat, who had lived there since 1961. The Pequegnats were avid antique collectors, and Ron was a third-generation jewelry store owner in Guelph at J. Pequegnat & Son Ltd. Jewellers, opened by his grandfather, Joseph. He retired in 1997, according to Miller and Miller Auctions.The French-speaking Pequegnat family from Switzerland came to Berlin (Kitchener), Ont., in 1874, and brought with them the knowledge of Swiss watch and clockmaking. They opened 10 jewelry stores, and Guelph's first jewelry store was opened by son Joseph in 1892.Guelph Museums said the Guelph store was first opened on the west side of St. George's Square, then it was moved to Lower Wyndham Street in 1895. In 1911 it moved again to 41 Wyndham St., where it stayed for decades. The building was sold and the store became Guelph Jewellers in 1997.The original family's eldest son (of 15 living children), Arthur, had begun designing and manufacturing clocks, a skill learned from his father Ulysses. The clocks were sold all over the country, and more than 100 different models were made.Arthur named each model after cities, which made them collector's pieces from the start. The growing popularity of the winding wristwatch led to the end of the business, and the last Pequegnat clock was made in 1943. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] |
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