HomeMy WebLinkAbout582"Article copied from Kindred Spirits, May 1989.
THOSE WERE THE DAYS
Old Kingston Road has a colorful history which weaves from town to town throughout southern
Ontario. One of its most colourful stories links both yesterday and today. This is the story of
the late Harriet Jatiouk, who arm wrestled the powerful Ontario Government over the planned
expropriation and destruction of her beloved ‘Liverpool House’.
The Liverpool House was once a grand old Highway inn. It was built in 1827,
by Robert Chacker of Merseyside, Liverpool, England. He hired immigrant tradesmen
who would labour long 12 hour days for a princely sum of $.50. Its walls were built of Ontario
bricks which were laid four deep. Its phantom memories were many. It had lodged many a
pioneer settler on his journey to York to register his land claim. It was an important stop along
the old Kingston Road Stagecoach route. Sir John A. MacDonald, Canada's first Prime
Minister, was said to have been a frequent visitor. It is believed to have provided many a
room and meal for both crews and passengers from the Great Lakes ships which harboured
down in Frenchman's Bay along the shore of nearby Lake Ontario. Later, during the time of
prohibition in 20th century Ontario, it was said that a drink of bootleg whiskey could be had at
the old hotel. As time passed it later became a ticket office for bus lines and eventually its
twenty two rooms became homes for people who laboured in local factories.
But the passage of time took a devastating toll upon its once grand appearance.
The paint eventually faded and changed into a nondescript, weathered gray:
the heating system became antiquated, and the roof needed to be replaced.
In 1958, the Ontario Government offered Mrs. Jatiouk, $14,500 to take it off her hands.
Highway Two needed to be expanded to suit transportation needs of a growing area.
To their surprise, they never anticipated the amount of resistance they would find in its
widowed owner.
""They tried to wear me down, because they knew I was alone,"" Mrs. Jatiouk was reported to
have said. But she, better than most was very much aware of the priceless heritage of her
beloved hotel. She took a firm grasp on the side of the table, raised her tired arm and
challenged the Ontario Government to an arm wrestling match. The stakes were high-the
survival of the Liverpool Arms. The government's first thrust took place when it raised its ante
to $40,000, but the issue had nothing to do with money.
Growing public support gathered around Mrs. Jatiouk's side of the table.
Eventually a compromise was reached. The government could have the land they needed,
but the hotel was to be moved by professional movers to the back of the property.
Today it sits in elegance on a finely manicured piece of land. Its present owners, Maria and
Jim Skeventzos, honoured a sacred trust of Harriet Jatiouk, and they took two years to plan
and refurbish the grand old house. Today it has returned to its hounoured tradition of
serving meals with distinction to the public.
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