HomeMy WebLinkAbout814"Typewritten article; 4 pages; 21.7 x 28 cm; compiled by Joe Nighswander
Lot 32, South Half; Concession 9, Pickering Twp.
100 Acres, Known for Many Years as the
""Johnson Farm""
This farm as of 1998 is but a memory in so far as the buildings are concerned.
Following its expropriation in 1973 by the Government of Canada for the North
Pickering International Airport, the buildings deteriorated rapidly, until by 1996 the
debris of the two barns was bulldozed into a pit and covered with earth.
The house was partially burned in the early 1990's as the final scene of a movie being
produced at the time. Later it too was bulldozed and the site covered over.
Thus ended rather ignominiously some of the better farm buildings of the North Pickering
area.
While the laneway to this farm was off of Pickering Sideline #32, the entire farm was
highly visible from the 9th Concession road; (County Road 5).
From the point of view of this historian, the apparent neglect by the Federal Government
Airport Project managers in not maintaining these (and other) fine buildings, is an
unanswered mystery.
It is a fact that at the same time these buildings were in the process of deterioration and
eventual destruction, other less valuable farm buildings in the airport area, were being
maintained, and are still in use by their tenants.
According to Ontario Land Registry office records at Whitby, Ontario, the ""Patent grant""
from the Crown for this farm property at Lot 32 was made on March 31, 1810 for a 200
acre parcel, to Alem Marr of Aldershot, Ontario. Transactions of the south 100 acres of
Lot 32, are listed as follows:
March 31, 1810, Crown patent grant to Alem Marr 200 acres
April 6, 1813, Alem Marr (by his attorney) to Philip Cramer South 100
acres, Lot 32
May 22, 1815, Philip Cramer to John Udell South 100 acres, Lot 32
Oct. 14, 1845, John Udell to Matthew Udell South 100 acres, Lot 32
May 5, 1846, Matthew Udell to Fred Johnson South 100 acres, Lot 32 July 3, 1894,
Mary Ann Johnson (estate of Fred
Johnson) to Michael Johnson South 100 acres
Jan. 23, 1900, Michael Johnson to Frederick Johnson South 100 acres
"
"May 1, 1937, Frederick Johnson estate to
Jennie Johnson South 100 acres
Nov. 1, 1937, Jennie Johnson to David Nighswander South 100 acres Nov. 4, 1949,
David Nighswander to
Joseph Nighswander South 100 acres
Oct. 29, 1970, Joseph Nighswander to Chris Loukras South 100 acres Jan. 30, 1973,
Chris Loukras to Her Majesty the Queen by the process of expropriation for the Pickering
airport project
It is interesting to note this farm was in the possession of the Johnson family from 1846
to 1937.
The two barns and several smaller sheds were built, it would seem, fairly early in the
history of this farm, because both barns were constructed with a cantilevered upper
storey, commonly called an ""overshoot"", which was popular in the 1800's.
The west barn was extensively renovated in 1938 by David Nighswander and his sons
and hired help. The upper part of the barn was rebuilt; with a hip roof added to increase
the loft storage space. Also a new concrete wall was added to the south side to add to
the livestock stable space. Large windows in this wall brought lots of light into this
previously dark stable. During this time the old sheds were torn down, and a new
machine shed and a garage were built.
From 1938 to 1948 Norman and Annie Neal; Don and Edna Hall; and Frank and Isabelle
Bielby were employed for various lengths of time and lived in the house on this farm.
In 1948 Joseph, son of David, and his wife Elsie purchased the farm and lived there until
1970. During these years further improvements were made to both the house and the
barns; two silos were added, as well as a milk house and equipment for a dairy operation.
The nine room L shaped patterned brick residence on this farm was built in the early
1870's by the Johnson family. It was an exceptionally well built house with attractive
exterior trim, curved top windows, 3"" X 5"" wall studding and nine foot ceilings;
and a verandah on two sides.
A brick clad summer kitchen with a walkout basement projected from the northeast
corner.
The land on this farm is well drained, fairly heavy clay loam, all arable with the exception
of an 18 acre hardwood ""bush"" along the north end of the farm.
This wood lot is a valuable and attractive feature.
"
"This historian and my wife, Elsie, spent twenty-two satisfying years on this farm,
raising out four children who were all born during those years.
Since the expropriation of 1973 the land has been rented by the Federal Government
Airport Authority to area farmers who operate large case crop agribusinesses.
J.M. Nighswander
April, 1998
"
"BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Ontario Land Registry Records; Whitby Office.
2. Property deeds from the various transactions, beginning with the Crown patent
grant.
3. Personal diaries and family records.
4. Interview with an individual who has personal recollections back to 1914.
5. Architectural Evaluation, The North Pickering Pr9oject and the Toronto Area
Airports Project Sites; Project Planning Associates, Ltd.; G.M. Yost Associates Ltd.,
June 1974.
"