HomeMy WebLinkAbout458"Article copied from the NEWS ADVERTISER, JUNE 1, 1994, page 3.
TOM THOMPSON BIRTHPLACE ESCAPES MAJOR FIRE DAMAGE.
PICKERING - A historic Pickering building that was the birthplace of Group of Seven
painter Tom Thomson escaped serious damage in a fire last week.
The building is part of a house that caught fire Thursday morning on a multi-million
dollar property on the 9th Concession east of Claremont.
Pickering firefighters were called to the scene around 9 a.m., and were eventually
joined by brigades from other municipalities. At one point, says Pickering chief Rick
Pearsall, about 65 firefighter and nine trucks were used to fight the blaze.
One firefighter sustained minor injuries.
""We managed to cut the fire off before it did any damage to the older part of the
building "" so the historic portion sustained only smoke damage.
The damaged house was one of several building on a 150 acre property called
Westwind, named after one of Mr. Thomson's paintings. It was unoccupied when the
blaze broke out.
The historic stone cottage was built by Mr. Thomson's parents, Thomas and Elizabeth,
in the mid 19th century. The artist was born there two months before his parents
moved to a farm near Owen Sound.
The fire caused an estimated $300,000 in damage. It appears to have started in the
roof or attic, probably as a result of a lightning strike.
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