Some of you will recognize this gorgeous house as the subject of much debate in Southwestern Ontario over this past year. Vacant since 2006, heritage advocates tried in vain to save the Wilson Farmhouse, and in all fairness, the City of Guelph did give the community a chance to come up with acceptable proposals to repurpose it.

After many attempts to preserve this unique location, including hosting two Open Houses for prospective investors to peruse the interior, it was sadly demolished this past August by order of city council.

I took these photos at one of the Open Houses back in February on one of the coldest days! During my visit, a disgruntled neighbor also came by to grumble (at anyone who would listen) about how much of an eyesore the house was for him.

Additional photos anyone might have are more than welcome to be added to this thread.

http://www.guelphm...rmhouse-torn-down/


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Nice spot! Too bad it couldn't be saved. I really like the fire place shot #10.

I was always impressed with the lights strung throughout the house with wiring. Good on the City of Guelph for giving it a good, concerted effort to save the building through resale before eventually deciding to demolish it. Living in Niagara Fall, this is unheard of! - any such building around here is another potential parcel of land for another hotel developer or $18 parking lot.

I like the fire place with the high ceilings.

What the towns & cities have to start doing is make the rezoning conditional on the restoration of historic homes. With the house fully restored, the city itself may be willing to use the property or maybe an investor would be more willing to buy it without the fear of having to fix up a historical home.

Thanks guys! This house had a bit more of a chance due to the Mitchell Farmhouse clusterfuck of 2005, also in Guelph. That house was demolished with little fanfare and a lot of people were pissed about it. There's a shiny new Costco where it used to be.

Post by superss ...What the towns & cities have to start doing is make the rezoning conditional on the restoration of historic homes...

Superss one can dream...hopefully someday that will be the norm. It's so depressing driving through seas of blah houses in this Province...especially Burlington area.

Post by Ground State ...any such building around here is another potential parcel of land for another hotel developer or $18 parking lot.

GS I'm still sad about Maple Leaf Village being replaced by that casino

BTW if anyone here has photos of the Mitchell house (was on Paisley Road), I would love love to see them. I haven't found anything but front exteriors online. 2005 is going back a ways so I'm not holding my breath.

That's a lot of sponge paint! I hated doing a bedroom (years ago) let alone that much space. Nice place though. I quite like that front door shot.

What is going on in UEWilson9? That whole grey section is out of place.

Post by L'Ali What is going on in UEWilson9? That whole grey section is out of place.

Not too sure, it sort of looks like someone started painting it and stopped, maybe a botched color match repair? I know they salvaged some of the house and stored it away in some dark corner.