HomeMy WebLinkAbout801"Article from the files of Ajax Lacac, Ajax Municpal Office, Ajax, Ont. circa 1974.
The Frost Farm
On December 26th, 1832 (#13209), William Hartrick senior, a magistrate, purchased
200 acres in Pickering from John Haight. In 1843, he and his wife Phoebe (nee Haight),
built their stone house in the Village of Duffins Creek. This building is designated under
the Ontario Heritage Act and is located on Linton Street. It is currently the home of Godiva
Antiques.
Mr. Hartrick took a mortgage out against his house twice, once in January 1845
(#23925) for 50 Pounds and again in July 1852 (#45273) for 205 pounds.
We believe that he mortgaged his house in order to build other houses on his land for
his children. The Frost house is the home built for his son William Tetes Hartrick.
We do not believe any other of his children's homes, built on his original 200 acres,
remain.
William Hartrick senior died in 1874. His will describes very clearly how the remainder
of his original 200 acres will be divided among his children after his wife's death.
He states that his son William Tetes Hartrick will receive the rear sixty-five acres of
lot #15 in concession #2 with the exception of 1/2 acre which had been sold to L. Haight
at an earlier date. Phoebe Hartrick did not die until 1882. However, since the divisions of
land are reflected in the 1877 County of Ontario Atlas, she must have released these
lands to her children prior to her death.
The location of the Frost house reflects the vastness of the original 200 acres owned by
William Hartrick. It must remain in its location to serve as a historical link between the
proposed new housing and the older residential development in Pickering Village.
Further, links with the original Hartrick homestead do not end with the Frost farm,
as Linton Street was named after one of William Sr.'s children, Lydia Linton. Lydia was
very active in the formation of the subdivision just north of the Hartrick stone house.
In addition to the historical significance of this property, it is an excellent example of rural
Ontario vernacular as it contains elements of Classic Revival and Ontario Gothic styles.
It is a 1 1/2 storey clapboard dwelling with a single storey rear kitchen wing of board and
batten. The roof pitch is low with a gable or ridge roof line and a bellcast roof on the
kitchen wing. There is a single central gable with delicate and modest bargeboard.
The original 6/6 double hung windows remain with simple classic architrave.
The simple classic theme is repeated in the cornice moulding and in the tracery
of the side and transom lights. The front door is recessed with inset gouge moulded
panels and original side and transom light glass.
From: files of Ajax LACAC
Ajax Municipal Office
Ajax, Ont."