"Historical Chiefswood Built in 1835"

'Chiefswood," the only Indian mansion of historical significance in Canada still standing from pre-confederation days is located on the north bank of the Grand River, overlooking the Six Nations Reserve. It was erected in 1853 by Chief G.H.M. Johnson, a distinguished leader of the Six Nations, as a wedding gift for his English bride, Emily S. Howells.

Emily Susanna Howells came to Canada from Bristol, Eng. in 1845. She was of pure English parentage, and a member of a family that possessed distinct literary tendencies. Her cousin, William Dean Howells, the American poet and essayist, is perhaps the best known.

She settled with her sister, Eliza and her husband Adam Elliot, who was missionary of the New England Company to the Six Nations. They lived near the Village of Middleport. George Henry Martin Johnson resided with the Elliots and acted as an interpreter for the missionary.

Upon proposing marriage to Emily, George decided he would build the best home he could possibly provide for his well deserving fiancee. With a substantial sum of money from a fortunate investment combined with his savings, he purchased 200 acres of land between the Grand River and the road to Brantford, about one mile from Middleport.

On Aug. 27, 1853, George and Emily were joined in marriage. Toward the end of 1856 they moved into their new home with their two-year-old son Allen and a baby girl Helen Evelyn, born in September. Their youngest child, E. Pauline Johnson, born on March 10, 1861 went on to become a world famous poetess and theatrical performer. No book of poetry by a Canadian has outsold her collected verse, "Flint and Feather".

The new house which was called Chiefswood, earned George Johnson the Indian name Onwanonyshon, which means, "he who has the great mansion." It was considered the capital of Indian Canada. The home faced two directions. One door faced the Grand River for their Indian friends, and one door faced the roadway for their white friends. This was to show that all were welcome.

Chiefswood hosted many of Canada's leaders of the day and other prominent figures including Edward, Prince of Wales (Edward VII), and Arthur, Duke of Connaught (Governor General of Canada). Alexander Graham Bell was a frequent guest of Chiefswood, and it was from here that one of the first telephone messages was sent.

Miss Evelyn H.C. Johnson, the last surviving member of the family, bequeathed the entire Chiefswood Estate to the Six Nations Indians in 1926. The Six Nations Council began the restoration of Chiefswood in 1960. The project was continued by succeeding Councils and Chiefswood committees. The restoration was completed in 1963, the official opening taking place on June 8.

At present, Chiefswood Museum is closed to the public and is currently under a restoration project. The Chiefswood Restoration Committee was initiated in 1986 and was reactivated in April, 1988 under the direction of Wellington Staats, who is the volunteer chairman for the committee. They are hoping to raise $300,000 for the actual restoration of the mansion and an additional $200,000 that will go towards perpetual care and maintenance. The target date for the completion of the restoration is 1990 and the committee is hoping to have enough money raised by this fall to begin work on the foundation and the roof.