Heritage Port Stanley

Art Grayling & The Evolution of Port Stanley’s Fishing Industry
2025-02-27 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Port Stanley Festival Theatre – Harbourview Room, 6-302 Bridge Street, Port Stanley, Ontario, N5L 1C3, Canada
In this engaging presentation, historian Mike Baker shared an interview by George Thorman with lifelong Port Stanley fisherman Art Grayling. Through rare photos and firsthand accounts, the audience was given a deep look into the local fishing industry, its challenges, and how Art and his family navigated decades of change on water and at the dock.
You can view the full interview here: https://www.elginhistoricalsociety.ca/node/74
Key Points from the Presentation:

Art began fishing as a young boy in small boats on Kettle Creek, later becoming a full-time professional fisherman.
Over the years, he owned a series of boats: starting with a handmade wooden boat, then larger wooden tugs, and eventually metal boats like the Noskca-J, Stanley Clipper, and LeeJay.
Gill nets were introduced after his father got a license. Nets evolved from cotton and linen to nylon and eventually microfilament, which didn’t rot when wet.
Ice cutting was a crucial winter task. Ice was taken from the harbour and stored beside the fish house before Art installed an ice machine in 1964.
In 1962, Art launched the Noskca-J by dragging it over the frozen harbour to reach open water, catching 12 tons of fish in three days.
Art opened the Grayling Fish Store at 174 Main Street in 1973. Initially, customers picked whole fish themselves, but preferences shifted to pre-filleted fish.
Fish were handled multiple times before sale, explaining the $3.00/lb price.
Art discussed the decline of whitefish and herring populations due to poor survival rates without hatchery support. Perch have better spawning conditions.
A mercury scare in 1970 devastated local fish sales, despite no actual contamination in the Great Lakes.
The high cost of fishing tugs and equipment was detailed—highlighting economic challenges.
Art’s daughter Heather and grandson Jason shared family stories and contributed many of the historic photos used in the presentation.

The Settlement of Orchard Beach: Cottages, Community & Legacy
2025-01-23 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Alma Villa, 201 Lakeview St, Port Stanley, Ontario, N5L 1A1, Canada
In January 2025, Mike Baker delivered a captivating presentation on the early settlement and cottage history of Orchard Beach, a treasured corner of Port Stanley. From the first peach orchard cottages to the families who shaped its growth, Mike’s talk brought to life the vibrant community and iconic architecture of this historic lakeside area.
Key Points from the Presentation:
The First Cottage (1883)

Built by Rev. J.W.P. Smith in a peach orchard.
Depicted in a painting by Susan McKay (now in the Port Stanley Library).
K.W. McKay and James A. Bell were involved in laying out the area formally.

Early Maps & Beach Development

Included photos and maps of the Drinkwater farm and original cottage, postcards (1910–1915) of beaches, federal groynes, and Edward Street cottages, as well as LE&DRR’s New Orchard Beach development diagrams.

Summerholme & the YWCA Legacy

Built in 1892 by the London YWCA as a girls’ summer camp in Orchard Beach.
Purchased by Don Anderson in 1950 after the camp closed.
The final YWCA invite was sent by Betty Bone of Alma College.
Current ownership: Katie (Anderson) Valentine.

Family Cottages & Notable Residents

Darch Cottage (linked to Craig Cole’s family) and Findley Cottage were featured.
John Darch’s widow operated a six-story store on Talbot Street, which was London’s tallest building at the time.

The Purdom Legacy

T.H. Purdom (ca. 1910):

Publisher of the London Advertizer
President of Savings and Loan Bank
Bought the Port–London Traction Line
Founded Northern Life Insurance
Key figure in both London business and cottage development in Orchard Beach

Alma Villa & Duffield Family

Built in 1916 by James Duffield (founder of Atlantic Petroleum).
Duffield also owned a mansion on Queen St., London; Duffield Block named after him.

The Hyman Cottage

Mr. Hyman: Ran a tannery, was an MP (1900–1907), and national tennis champion in the 1880s.
His London home is the Idlewild Inn on Grand Ave.

Pagoda Roof Cottage (1931)

Built by Florence Wood (widow of Francis Wood), inspired by a Japanese tea house and Butchart Gardens.
Later owned by John Sackville Labatt (1936) and Johnny Downs (1965).

Moore Family Connection

Shirley Wood (Florence’s daughter) married Jake (John) Moore, who became CEO of Labatt.
The Moore cottage was relocated to 165 Harrison Street.
Descendants Penny and Nancy Moore still live in Orchard Beach.

Final Reflection

Presentation concluded with a Savings and Loan Bank board photo, illustrating the deep social and economic ties among Orchard Beach’s cottage families.

Settlement of Hillcrest
2024-11-28 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Hillcrest Hilltop, Hill Street, just north of Orchard Beach, Port Stanley, Ontario, N5L 1H1, Canada
Join local historian Sally Martyn, with research support from Mike Baker, for an illuminating journey through the early development of Hillcrest—Port Stanley’s elevated district rich with pioneer stories, rare architecture, resort-era charm, and hidden histories. Through maps, rare photographs, and community lore, this talk traces the transformation of Hillcrest from 1804 land grants to the elegant Hillcrest Inn and beyond.
Key Points from the Presentation
Early Land Grant (1804)

Colonel John Bostwick received 600 acres (Concession 1 lots 1 and 2, and Concession 2 lot 1).

Historic Roads and Maps

1877 Atlas showed Prospect Street extending to the beach.
Hill Street stretched from Colborne Street up to East Road.

Bostwick House (1827)

Framed with square oak beams and filled with handmade strawberry bricks.
Rare “brick nogging” construction style, with only one other example in Ontario.

The Boulevard and Cornell Street

The Boulevard was the original road in front of the Bostwick House and other houses, but eroded over time.
Cornell Street was constructed in 1918, named after Nathan Cornell, reeve and warden.

Bishop’s House

After John Bostwick’s death in 1849, the house passed to Joseph Bostwick.
Later owned by Bishop John Walsh of London.

McQueen House

Early adobe house, rare for Ontario.
Later purchased by the Williamson family and covered in wood siding.

Cholera Hospital (1833–34)

Built by Middlesex County during the cholera epidemic.
Many victims buried on the hill; remains discovered in 1930.

Heights Auction (1875)

Thirty cottages and lots were sold on the Heights.
Streets included Observatory, Alma, Florence, and Zephyr.

Liberty Hill Club (1896)

Built by J.A. Robinson alongside the White House and rental cottages.
Included tennis courts, dining rooms, and beach access.

Meteorological Tower (around 1900)

Installed to track wind and weather patterns.
Records maintained by Manuel Payne.

Aqueduct and Mill

Aqueduct ran between the White House and Liberty Hill Club.
Supplied water to Bostwick Mill on Kettle Creek.

Hillcrest Inn Expansion (1931)

Carrie Rainier and Stan Ship expanded the Inn into a 35-room hotel.
Included dining areas and hosted notable guests.

Fire and Decline (1964)

The Inn was sold in 1950.
Destroyed by fire on December 9, 1964.

Viewpoints and Beach History

Photos showed early roads, orchards, and federal groynes improving Orchard Beach.

From Camp to Cottage: The Story of Summer Holme
2024-06-20 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Summer Holme (Valentine/Anderson Cottage), 302 Bridge S, Port Stanley, Ontario, N5L 1C3, Canada
In June, Katie Valentine shared the fascinating story of the Summer Holme cottage, a former YWCA summer camp turned cherished family home. Located in Orchard Beach, this historic structure has stood for over 130 years, evolving from a dorm-style retreat for young women into a warm, character-filled cottage lovingly preserved across generations.
Key Points from the Presentation
YWCA Origins (1891)

Built by the London YWCA as a summer camp for girls.
Constructed by John Ellison, likely linked to Christ Church.
Featured wraparound porches and rustic camp accommodations.
Operated as a camp for 60 years, until 1951.

Anderson Family Era

Purchased in 1951 by Don Anderson.
Renovated by architect George “Bud” Morley into a functional summer cottage.
Key changes included new bedrooms, a modern kitchen, and bathrooms.

Family Heritage

Furnished with antique décor and historic maps.
Kept in the Anderson family for 70 years.

Current Ownership

In 2021, ownership passed to Katie (Anderson) Valentine.
Cottage preservation was maintained per family trust instructions.
Only minor layout updates have been made for comfort.
