Sketch of Keeler House, Colborne

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Port Hope Evening Guide, Saturday, March 2, 2002

The Keeler House, Colborne
Sketch and text by Barry King

"To those familiar with the Barnum House Museum, located on County Road 2 in Grafton, Keeler House on Church Street East in Colborne would appear to be its twin. Built about the same time (c.1820) with the same neo-classic trim, the formal façade mimics the ancient Greek temple.

Flanking the two-storey central portion, which contained the hall, living room and three bedrooms upstairs, are the two single-storey wings with sitting room and library. The kitchen and dining room were at the rear.

Balance was paramount even to the placement of the chimneys. As at Barnum House, only the entrance is placed off-centre.

In 1812, Keeler purchased the land from the original landowner, George Palmer, who had obtained the 200-acre Crown grant as early as 1803. In 1824, Keeler divided it into village lots thus creating the Colborne neighbourhood of today.

Joseph Abbott Keeler lived from 1788 to 1855 and is credited with the founding of both Castleton and Colborne. During his life, he was postmaster, merchant, Newcastle District’s justice of the peace and Member of Parliament for East Northumberland. His father, also Joseph Keeler, a Loyalist from Vermont, died in this home in 1834 at the age of 77. Perhaps it is the historic home’s location, amongst its neighbours, on a village street, or it may be its long and continued use as a family residence, but the Keeler House emanates a warmth that Barnum House seems to have lost."

Cramahe Archives does not hold the original item in its archives, but has a digital image.

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