Summary

A two storey red brick house built in Queen Anne style with a steep hipped metal roof. It was built by William A. Douglas and has remained in the Douglas family for four generations. The home has Italianate elements such as buff brick hoods above the windows. The two storey bay window has a roof gable above.

Timeline

1854 – The Crown grants land to William Downey

On the 4th of April seventy-two acres of land in the county of Onondaga is granted to William Downey¹

1857 – Indian Land Grant to William Downey

On the 29th of May seventy-two acres of land is purchased by William Downey for 99 pounds³

1886 – William Douglas purchases and mortgages 72 acres

On the 8th of January the land was sold to William Douglas by William Downey for $3222; William Douglas took out a mortgage from John Duffy for $1700¹

1886 – William Douglas is released from mortgage

On October 3rd the mortgage corresponding to the $1700 mortgage Douglas took out from John Duffy is released¹

1899 – Farm is leased to William A. Douglas

On March 1st fifty acres of the farm is leased to William A. Douglas from Harriet Douglas for a down payment of $175 with $50 biannually³

1899 – Agreement between Richard Draper and William A. Douglas to build house

On the 4th of March Richard Draper was contracted by William A. Douglas to build a house by the 13th of August³

c. 1902 – Current barn is built²

1919 – Farm is leased to William A. Douglas

On March 1st fifty acres of the farm is leased to William A. Douglas from Harriet Douglas for $200 biannually³

c. 1930s – Open side porch is closed²

c. 1945 – Back porch, bar and entertainment area added²

1949 – Property is included in the probate of Alexander Douglas

On May 11th the house and lands belonging to Alexander Douglas is included in probate and granted to Roswell Douglas and Bernice Harriet Banner¹

1955 – Estate of Alexander Douglas

On August 17th the house and lands are included in the estate of Alexander Douglas¹

1959 – Through bylaw, land is subdivided¹

1961 – [Robert?] [Hastor?] & Son Co. Ltd. lease 72 acres of property

On February 9th [Robert?] [Hastor?] & Son Co. Ltd. lease 72 acres from R. Wilson and May C. Douglas¹

1970 – Donald G. Douglas is granted 0.63 acres

On June 11th Donald G. Douglas is granted 0.63 acres by Roswell Douglas¹

1975 – New windows are added²

1996 – First floor wall interior wall is removed²

Architectural Features

The William A. Douglas Farm was built in 1899 and has Queen Anne Revival features, including an asymmetrical silhouette and similarly asymmetrical plan. It’s a two storey building with front and side wings constructed from red header bond brick. It features decorative rectangular patches of checkerboard red and brown brick found between first and second storey. There is a single storey white clapboard side addition built circa 1930. The roof is a metal offset gable with eaves projecting and no rafters exposed. Below the gable on the front façade are white decorative cornices. The main door is centered on the gable façade with a flat opening and no surround. The porch possesses white ornamental brackets with frieze and decorative cornices. The building has Italianate features such as windows decorated with buff arched radiating voussoirs. The posterior arched voussoirs constructed in red brick. The windows themselves were newly installed in 1975 and are single hung with original stone aprons. The attic gable has a single picture window.

The barn was built in 1902 and resembles a corn crib. It is constructed from vertical planks with painted natural stone foundation. The roof is metal gambrel and the barn has four over four glass block windows.

Notes

1. Land Registry Office, August 2018.
2. Douglas, Don & Lois. Personal interview, June 2018.
3. Original Documentation, provided by Don & Lois Douglas, retrieved August 2018.

References

• Land Registry Office. (August 2018.)
• Douglas, Don & Lois. (June 2018.) Personal Interview.
• Original Deeds & other documents. Provided by Douglas, Don & Lois. Retrieved August 2018.