Summary

With construction beginning in 1842, the Charles Mitchell House is one of the renowned cobblestone buildings in Paris constructed by Levi Boughton. The house is a great example of Greek Revival-style architecture. Numerous people have lived in the house after Mr. Mitchell moved to his farm in Blenheim Township in the late 1850s, including former president of the Ontario Medical Association, William Burt, and renowned local painter, Frederic Stinson Evans.

Timeline

1842 – Construction Begins

Built by Levi Boughton.¹

1858 – Charles Mitchell Moves to Farm

Mitchell moved to his farm in Blenheim Township in the spring of 1858, where he remained for 15 years and cleared about 100 acres of bush land.¹

1860 – House Bought by Thomas and Susannah Hill

On November 1st the Hill family bought part of Lot 8 and all of Lot 9 from the Charles Mitchell, taking out a $1200 mortgage from him.¹

1865 – Hill Family Pays off Mortgage

On October 2, Thomas Hill paid off his mortgage to Charles Mitchell.¹

1867 – Thomas Hill Expands Property

Thomas Hill bought 55 square perches from Norman Hamilton.¹

1868 – House Bought by Joseph and Mary Steele

1876 – House Bought by Dr. William Burt & Family

William Burt paid $400 and mortgaged another $2600 from Joseph Steele.¹

1879 – William Burt Pays off Mortgage

On September 3, William Burt paid off his mortgage to Joseph Steele.¹

1880 – William Burt Marries Janet MacHoull Ballingall

1882 – Abigail Florence Burt Born

The eldest daughter of William and Janet was born on July 5.¹

1884 – Annie Blanche Burt Born

The middle daughter of William and Janet was born on April 17.¹

1885 – Catharine (Kathleen?) Elizabeth Burt Born; North Cobblestone Wing Built

The youngest daughter of William and Janet was born on December 29.¹

The north cobblestone wing addition was built on the wishes of Dr. Burt. The work was contracted to Mr. John Carnie, who had Mr. George Tate construct the wing.²

1890 – William Burt Takes Out Mortgage from Arthur Qua

William Burt took out a $1300 mortgage from Arthur Qua on September 5.¹

1893 – William Burt Pays Off Mortgage

On September 4, William Burt paid off his mortgage to Arthur Qua.¹

1896 – Catharine Elizabeth Burt Dies

The youngest daughter of William and Janet dies on August 6, at age 10.¹

1904 – Janet Burt Dies

The wife of William dies on May 9, at age 56.¹

1906 – Abigail Florence Burt Dies

The oldest daughter of William and Janet(deceased) dies on November 22, at age 23.¹

1917 – William Burt Takes Out Mortgage from John W. Fasken

William Burt took out a $800 mortgage from John W. Fasken.¹

1918 – William Burt Discharges Mortgage

On January 9, William Burt paid off his mortgage to John W. Fasken.¹

1919 – William Burt Dies

William Burt dies on March 14, ten days before his 70th birthday.¹

1921 – House Bought by Frederic Stinson Evans & Ellen Butler

On January 24, Annie Blanche Bird nee Burt, the sole devisee and executor of William Burt's estate sold the Burt residence and lands to Frederic Stinson Evans for $1500.¹

1921 – Evans Family Takes Out Mortgage from Wickson Family

On February 22, the Evanses take out a $1500 mortgage from Paul G. Wickson and Elizabeth Sarah Wickson.¹

1919 – Frederic Stinson Evans Dies

On September 12th, Frederic Stinson Evans died at the age of 56, as a result of falling 20 feet while replacing broken windows in the agricultural building.¹

1922 – House Bought by Monteith Family

On October 14, Grant-Bertha S. Evans, the administrator of the buildings of the estate, sold the property to Andrew H. Monteith and Hannah H. Monteith for $5000.¹

1925 – Andrew H. Monteith Elected Mayor of Paris¹

1925 – Andrew H. Monteith's Term as Mayor Expires¹

1928 – Andrew H. Monteith Pays Off Mortgage

On March 1, Andrew H. Monteith paid off his mortgage to the Elizabeth S. Wickson (Paul G. Wickson having died in 1922).¹

1928 – Monteith Family Takes out Mortgage from Ernst Kenney

On March 1, Andrew H. Monteith and Hannah H. Monteith took out a mortgage of $1500 from Ernest Kenney.¹

1928 – Andrew H. Monteith Pays Off Mortgage

On March 1, Andrew H. Monteith paid off his mortgage to Elizabeth S. Wickson (Paul G. Wickson having died in 1922).¹

1945 – Hannah M. Monteith Pays Off Mortgage

On October 27, Hannah Maria Monteith paid off their mortgage to Ernest Kenney.¹

1948 – House Occupied by Dr. E. M. & Marie Poland

At this time the house was still owned by Hannah D. Monteith, it is unclear if the Poland family was renting it or some other arrangement had been made.¹

1967 – House Transferred to Herbert D. Monteith

On July 24, the executors of the estate of Hannah M. Monteith (Jean Maus, and Frances R. McEwing) transfer ownership of the house to Herbert D. Monteith for $1.00.¹

1967 – Monteith Family Takes out Mortgage from Arthur M. Sowden

On July 24, Herbert D. Monteith and his wife took out a mortgage of $3000 from Arthur M. Sowden, executor of the estate or Arthur E. Sowden who was in turn the surviving executor for the estate of George S. Sowden.¹

On April 25, Herbert D. Monteith paid off his mortgage to the estate of George S. Sowden. (Paul G. Wickson having died in 1922).¹

1969 – House Bought by William and Patricia Gerbrandt

William and Patricia Gerbrandt bought the house and lands on March 28.¹

1977 – House Offered for Sale

The house was first offered for sale by A. E. LePage Realty on June 30.¹

1980 – House Offered for Sale

The house was first offered for sale by Thaler Realty on March 28--a listing which expired. Then another offer for sale was made in the Paris Star on September 25 by Karmiris Realty.¹

1981 – House Bought by Norman and Pauline Derrick

Norman and Pauline Derrick bought the house on May 1.¹

1986 – House Designated Under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act

On April 15, the house was officially designated as a historical property.¹

2003 – Mary Alice Derrick Dies

Mary Alice Derrick (nee Van Horn) dies on June 2, at age 78.¹

Summary of Inhabitants

Charles Mitchell

Charles Mitchell was born in Sullivan County, near Chitenango village, in the State of New York on August 1 of 1806. There he spent his childhood and took up the carriage and wagon trade. He worked in Le Roy, Tennessee for a number of years in partnership with Mr. Thomas Ladd. In 1832 he came to Canada and carried on business in Hamilton until 1836. He was married to Miss B. E. Drake of Le Roy, N.Y., on October 1st 1833. In 1838 he moved to Paris and from that time to 1858, carried on business in this town as a blacksmith, wagon, and carriage maker. He also carried on the fanning mill business for a number of years. In the spring of 1859 he moved on to his farm in Blenheim Township, three miles west of Paris, remaining there for over 15 years, clearing up about 100 acres of bush land. He moved back to Paris in the fall of 1873 was been involved in the buying and selling of houses². He had six children, 3 sons and 3 daughters, the sons survive him. His wife died on August 25th of 1875. Charles Mitchell died on November 24, 1881. ¹

William Burt

William Burt was born on March 24, 1849 at Branchton. He was the son of Robert Burt and Abigail Cornell. He attended elementary schools in Harrisburg and Scotland and Dr. Tassie's Grammar School in Galt. He received a scholarship and went to Toronto University Medical College from 1866 to 1870, except for the summer of 1869 when he studied in New York. In 1870 at age 21 he graduated as a silver medalist and joined staff of Brooklyn General hospital for his internship from August 1870 to August 1871. From August 1871 to February 1872 he was an Acting Assistant Surgeon in the U.S. Army in Texas under General Merritt. He returned to Paris in June of 1872 and married Janet McHoull Ballingan on June 16, 1880. He was an examiner for the Toronto University Medical School and for the Ontario Medical School and in 1905 he was president of the Ontario Medical Association. In Paris he was the chairman of the Board of Education and was also president of the Children's Aid Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Paris Cricket Club and the Paris Lawn Bowling Club. William passed away on March 14, 1919. ¹

Frederic Stinson Evans

Frederic Evans was born in Paris, ON, the eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Evans. He had two brothers and five sisters: Harry of Paris, Percy of Edmonton, AB; Mrs. Davidson of Canduff, SK; Mrs. Myers of Echo Place, Brantford; Mrs. James Logan and Miss Edna at home at the time of Fred's death in 1921. He married miss Elaine Butler in 1886 and had three chidlren: Wilfred Evans, Ottawa; the Misses Birdie and Marion Evans at home. Frederic Evans was a well known painter and paperchanger. ¹

Architectural Features

The house is one and a half stories, a practice popular at the time of its construction due to the increased taxation on two story houses. The cobblestones are lake-washed or water rounded, with oval stones predominating over round ones. Instead of quoins, the corners are instead made with cut-stone piers with molded capital and bases which support a heavy three member Greek Revival entablature. Window openings have cut stone sills and lintels. The small wing projecting from the right side is a later addition built in 1885 for use as a doctor's office. ¹

Charles Mitchell house can be considered a textbook example of the Greek Revival style of 1825-1860. Houses in this style were in fact prevalent in New York State at the time--though rather rare in Ontario. A 'temple building' with a symbolic approach to architecture, it is a great example of the American interpretation of the Greek Revival style and the fixed rules used in the design of such buildings.¹

The nearly square floor plan is set upon a high foundation and topped with a flat hip roof and lantern which results in a cube like profile of the house. The front door is set to one side of the house, allowing for a side hall with a drawing room at the front of the house and a dining room in the back. The porch features Doric columns and the front door is two panelled, heavily mounded and set in a rectangular frame. High ceilings and bold interior moldings complete the look.¹

Light to the second storey rooms was originally provided only by floor height 'stomacher' windows (so named after the fact that they rose to stomach height)², set in the deep cornice under the roof and covered with a cast iron grille. A second light source came from small windows set into the lantern. Unfortunately, practical consideration such as lighting, ventilation, and division of space were subordinate to questions of style in this Greek Revival house, and dormers were added later to alleviate the lack of light and ventilation.¹

References

1. Paris Museum. Building Files - 16 Broadway St. W.. Retrieved July 2015
2. Deans, Marg; Pinkett, Steve. Charles Mitchell PLace, Personal interview. September 1, 2015.

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  Ontario, Canada
  

  Latitude: 43.116667 Longitude: -80.366667