History on the first house - Built by a wealthy Neil Livingstone in 1891 for his bride. She rejected him because he drank too much and he ended up living in and dying in the Dominion Hotel in Bracebridge (still standing on the main street) and never actually occupying the house. The owner of the hotel received the farm in exchange for giving Livingstone his room, board and burial (though I cannot find the plot). It was sold to the Stephens family in 1906. They kept the farm and some great stories until 1960 when the farm was sold and began its decline. It was eventually abandoned in the late 1980's. Although the farm is now largely empty commercial land, two family members that grew up in the house are still living.

The reason for Livingstone's wealth, and consequently the fantastic architectural detail still evident in the house in spite of years of damage and neglect - is a rare and amazing one.