The Cottages at Erchless - Historic Places Days

The Cottages at Erchless

Oakville, Ontario
Type
Museum/Gallery
Address
110 King Street, Oakville, ON, Canada
Get directions
Hours
Tues & Thurs 1:00-4:30
Phone
905-844-2695

These Cottages on the north side of the Erchless grounds were designed by sisters Hazel Mathews and Dr. Juliet Chisholm, great-granddaughters of Oakville’s founder William Chisholm. Juliet Chisholm was an artist and pediatrician, Hazel an author and historian. In 1953 the two women moved into the newly-built cottages, leaving the Customs House occupied by Hazel’s son Monty Hart and his family. Juliet lived at 108, Hazel in 110.

Number 108 was conceived by Juliet as a Normandy cottage with stone floors, inspired by the years she had spent in France. The pinkish tint of the floor tiles is a characteristic of the Credit Valley stone used in their construction. Hazel’s residence at Number 110 was in a more contemporary style. The differences in design went as far as the heating systems; 108 (Juliet’s) was heated using forced air, whereas 110 (Hazel’s) had radiators installed for a hot water heating system. There was a great deal of second-hand material used in the construction of these two homes, possibly due to the shortages brought about by World War ll.

By the mid-70s, both the Erchless Family Home and the Cottages were occupied by tenants. The Town of Oakville purchased Erchless Estate in 1977 and continued renting the properties for some time. The Customs House was restored and opened to the public in 1983, while the Erchless Family Home did not open to the public until 1991.

In 1992 the Oakville Historical Society reached an agreement with the Town of Oakville whereby the Society was granted possession of the Cottage at 110 King Street. Juliet’s Cottage at 108 King continued to be occupied by its tenant, Commodore Robertson. Eventually, the Society took over the second cottage also and commenced a three-year renovation project. Vintage materials were used to maintain an authentic appearance.

Working every day for eight months, the Oakville Historical Society volunteers completely restored both cottages, joining the two buildings into one. They replaced walls, roofs, rafters, several ceilings, 80% of the existing windows, and added a skylight. They installed baseboards, trim, and fire exits. The kitchens were rebuilt and updated, as were the wiring, heating and. plumbing throughput. The buildings were painted, inside and out, and drapes made and hung. Outside, the grounds were freshly landscaped and two new patios constructed.

The renovated cottages contain the Society’s archives, as well as a Historical and a Marine Library.

Amenities

  • Family-Friendly

Location

110 King Street, Oakville, ON, Canada
Get directions

Nearby Places

Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate

Oakville, Ontario
Join us for guided tours and exhibits that tell the fascinating stories of our town.
View Place | Get Directions

The Thomas House

Oakville, Ontario
The 1829 original pioneer home of The Thomas Family
View Place | Get Directions

Oakville’s First Post Office

Oakville, Ontario
Oakville’s first post office (c. 1835) was moved to Lakeside Park in 1952.
View Place | Get Directions

The Charles Sovereign/Mazo de la Roche Heritage Display Centre

Oakville, Ontario
The historic Sovereign House is a heritage display centre that is open to the public.
View Place | Get Directions

Register A Place

Create an account to add your historic place.

Make a VisitList

Welcome! To get started on a VisitList, you’ll need to have an account with #HistoricPlacesDays.


Already have an account? to sign in.
We use your contact information to process your registration and correspond with you about the National Trust and its programs. You can unsubscribe at any time. We care about your privacy. Read our privacy statement.

Sign In

Sites that participate in #HistoricPlacesDays need to have an account.

Welcome! To get started on a new VisitList or to edit an existing one, you’ll need to have an account with #HistoricPlacesDays. Sign in below!


Not registered? Click here to create an account.

Forgot Password

Enter your email address to request a password reset.


to sign in.

Get the latest scoop on everything #HistoricPlacesDays – join our e-newsletter and never miss a beat.