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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250123T133000
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UID:100932-1737639000-1737644400@heritageportstanley.ca
SUMMARY:The Settlement of Orchard Beach: Cottages\, Community & Legacy
DESCRIPTION: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. \nKey Points from the Presentation:\nThe First Cottage (1883)\n\nBuilt by Rev. J.W.P. Smith in a peach orchard.\nDepicted in a painting by Susan McKay (now in the Port Stanley Library).\nK.W. McKay and James A. Bell were involved in laying out the area formally.\n\nEarly Maps & Beach Development\n\nIncluded 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.\n\nSummerholme & the YWCA Legacy\n\nBuilt in 1892 by the London YWCA as a girls’ summer camp in Orchard Beach.\nPurchased by Don Anderson in 1950 after the camp closed.\nThe final YWCA invite was sent by Betty Bone of Alma College.\nCurrent ownership: Katie (Anderson) Valentine.\n\nFamily Cottages & Notable Residents \n\nDarch Cottage (linked to Craig Cole’s family) and Findley Cottage were featured.\nJohn Darch’s widow operated a six-story store on Talbot Street\, which was London’s tallest building at the time.\n\nThe Purdom Legacy\n\nT.H. Purdom (ca. 1910):\n\nPublisher of the London Advertizer\nPresident of Savings and Loan Bank\nBought the Port–London Traction Line\nFounded Northern Life Insurance\nKey figure in both London business and cottage development in Orchard Beach\n\n\n\nAlma Villa & Duffield Family\n\nBuilt in 1916 by James Duffield (founder of Atlantic Petroleum).\nDuffield also owned a mansion on Queen St.\, London; Duffield Block named after him.\n\nThe Hyman Cottage\n\nMr. Hyman: Ran a tannery\, was an MP (1900–1907)\, and national tennis champion in the 1880s.\nHis London home is the Idlewild Inn on Grand Ave.\n\nPagoda Roof Cottage (1931)\n\nBuilt by Florence Wood (widow of Francis Wood)\, inspired by a Japanese tea house and Butchart Gardens.\nLater owned by John Sackville Labatt (1936) and Johnny Downs (1965).\n\nMoore Family Connection\n\nShirley Wood (Florence’s daughter) married Jake (John) Moore\, who became CEO of Labatt.\nThe Moore cottage was relocated to 165 Harrison Street.\nDescendants Penny and Nancy Moore still live in Orchard Beach.\n\nFinal Reflection\n\nPresentation concluded with a Savings and Loan Bank board photo\, illustrating the deep social and economic ties among Orchard Beach’s cottage families.
URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/the-settlement-of-orchard-beach-cottages-community-legacy/
LOCATION:Alma Villa\, 201 Lakeview St\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1A1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/orchard-beach.jpg
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