137 Water Street North

Description

Media Type

Image

Item Type

Photographs

Description

This white brick villa was built in 1889 for local businessman John Bartlett. The house is situated on a hilltop, giving residents a view of the Thames River Valley. Bartlett owned a bakery and grocery business. He only temporarily lived at this address as he mainly used the property for rental income. A notable tenant was James Maxwell who lived in the house circa 1900. Maxwell was one of the partners in the D. Maxwell & Sons company, known for producing farming implements and household appliances. By 1915 the house was purchased by Leonard and Beatrice Harstone. Leonard worked as a local lawyer and town clerk. Leonard and Beatrice’s son Robert, mayor of St. Marys from 1933 to 1934, lived in the house with his widowed mother until 1957.

The home features an impressive veranda, wrapping around the west and south sides of the house. The veranda is decorated with ornate details on the fretwork. Other additional distinctive features of the home are the two-storey bay windows facing west. The bay window includes a gable above with lace-like bargeboard. Note the door on the second-storey atop the veranda; this is evidence of a prior balcony on the upper level. The house's features are those used by architect William Williams; however, there is no documented evidence that he built the home.

Hard copies of this image can be accessed at the St. Marys Museum & Archives.

Notes

Condition: Excellent - Image is very clear. Paper has begun to curl slightly. No damage.

Date of Original

1973

Dimensions

Width: 25.4 cm
Height: 19.8 cm

Image Dimensions

Image Width: 25.4cm
Image Height: 19.8cm

Subject(s)

Architecture
Dwellings
Historical Houses

Personal Name(s)

John Bartlett, James Maxwell, Leonard Harstone, Beatrice Harstone, Robert Harstone

Local identifier

LACAC52

Collection

St. Marys Museum Photo Collection

Language of Item

English

Geographic Coverage

St. Marys

Ontario, Canada

Latitude: 43.25009 Longitude: -81.13304

Donor

Stratford-Perth Archives

Copyright Statement

Protected by copyright: Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Copyright Holder

Photograph courtesy of the Stratford-Perth Archives.

Recommended Citation

"137 Water Street North", St. Marys Museum (Photograph Courtesy of Stratford-Perth Archives), LACAC52.

Location of Original

R. Lorne Eedy Archives

Terms of Use

Reproduction of digital objects is restricted to fair use for personal research or study; any other use must be done with permission of copyright holder.

Reproduction Notes