House Summary

The Penman’s Workers Cottages were built by John Penman for workers at the Penman’s Mill, starting in 1916. The Cottages consist of both semi-attached and single detached homes along the Grand River on Willow Street. The four semi-attached homes were built first in 1916 followed by the single residences in 1918. The homes can be easily identified by their uniform, symmetrical construction, featuring redbrick, dormers, and verandahs.¹

Timeline

16 Willow Street¹

1916 – Constructed

19?? – Owned by John and Mary Gemmell

1973 – Purchased by Rona Beechey

198? – Purchased by David Madden

18 Willow Street²

1916 – Constructed

19?? – Owned by Penman’s Limited, Occupied by Elizabeth Brown

1980 – Sold to Douglas Wheeler by Dominion Textile

20 Willow Street³

1916 – Constructed

19?? – Rose and Alfred Hales Purchased the Home

1941 – Occupied by Rose Hales and son Harold Jarvis

22 Willow Street⁴

1916 – Constructed

1929 – Occupied by James and Bessie Heaney

1970 - Bessie I. Heaney sold the home to Douglas K. Parsons

24 Willow Street⁵

1916 – Constructed

1929 – Occupied by Helen and Kathleen Sewell

1961 – Occupied by Percival F. Parsons

1967 – Occupied by Joseph Derose

1968 – Occupied by Paul H.G. Bergen

1974 – Occupied by Paul and Marion E. Bergen

26 Willow Street⁶

1916 – Constructed

1924 – Occupied by Fred and Emmaline Parsons

1968 – Percival F. Parsons Purchased the Home From Penman's

28 Willow Street⁷

1916 – Constructed

19?? – Occupied by Jennie Stewart

30 Willow Street⁸

1916 – Constructed

19?? – Occupied by James France. Owned by Penman's Ltd

Summary of Inhabitants

Douglas Wheeler

Douglas Wheeler was active with the Royal Canadian Legion, was a District Commander, and worked at Penman’s for 47 years. In 1980, Douglas occupied 18 Willow Street.²

Rose Hales

Rose Hales (nee Jarvis) was born in Nottingham England. She married Alfred Hales in London Ontario in 1909. Alfred Hales was born on April 16, 1858 in Braintree England and lived on Willow Street since September of 1907. In 1911 the couple were living at line 44 lot 9 in Paris. Sometime after the Worker’s Cottages were built, Alfred and Rose occupied 20 Willow Street. Alfred died in 1941. Rose had a son named Harold Jarvis who lived with her at the home after Alfred’s passing.³

Architectural Features

The two storey Worker’s Cottages on Willow Street follow the same cottage style and are easily identified by their symmetrical, semi attached rectangular plan with multiple center doors, stretcher bond brick, and a center dormer with a bellcast hip roof and small square windows. The dormers also feature a prominent fascia. All four homes have verandahs supported by square, tapered columns. The trim of the verandahs feature a prominent frieze. The main windows have a flat structural opening shape with arch radiating flat voussiors and lugsills. The single chimneys are center side left and right, in keeping with the symmetrical layout. The Worker’s Cottages have concrete foundation, full basements, plaster walls, and pine trim. The roof is hipped, cottage style with deep overhanging eaves.

Notes

1. Paris Museum and Historical Society. Building Files – 16 Willow Street, retrieved June 2016.
2. Paris Museum and Historical Society. Building Files – 18 Willow Street, retrieved June 2016.
3. Paris Museum and Historical Society. Building Files – 20 Willow Street, retrieved June 2016.
4. Paris Museum and Historical Society. Building Files – 22 Willow Street, retrieved June 2016.
5. Paris Museum and Historical Society. Building Files – 24 Willow Street, retrieved June 2016.
6. Paris Museum and Historical Society. Building Files – 26 Willow Street, retrieved June 2016.
7. Paris Museum and Historical Society. Building Files – 28 Willow Street, retrieved June 2016.
8. Paris Museum and Historical Society. Building Files – 30 Willow Street, retrieved June 2016.

References

• Paris Museum and Historical Society.(Retrieved June 2016). Building Files – 16 Willow Street.
• Paris Museum and Historical Society.(Retrieved June 2016). Building Files – 18 Willow Street.
• Paris Museum and Historical Society.(Retrieved June 2016). Building Files – 20 Willow Street.
• Paris Museum and Historical Society.(Retrieved June 2016). Building Files – 22 Willow Street.
• Paris Museum and Historical Society.(Retrieved June 2016). Building Files – 24 Willow Street.
• Paris Museum and Historical Society.(Retrieved June 2016). Building Files – 26 Willow Street.
• Paris Museum and Historical Society.(Retrieved June 2016). Building Files – 28 Willow Street.
• Paris Museum and Historical Society.(Retrieved June 2016). Building Files – 30 Willow Street.

• Paris
  Ontario, Canada
  

  Latitude: 43.2 Longitude: -80.38333