http://www.fepl.ca/localhistory/files/original/5949065bb8fd5d18c40251222760bf65.pdf b0d2a47126c93cdbb61e7673852f3334 PDF Text Text The Edward Lee Home �t the young age of seventeen, Edward Lee through his sincerity and honesty was able to establish himself as a prominent citizen Marshville. in Lee became active in both the pi;:>litical and cultural aspects of Wainfleet, and through his efforts helped in the development \'lainfleet. The Lee homestead is a monument of his social standing, and through this home ·we may learn why Edward Lee was and still is fondly called, 11The Father of \'Iainfleet.11 Historical Biography Edvrard Lee Edward Lee was born in at the age of fifteen, Ireland in the year lgl2, emigrated to Canada. original Welland Canal v.ras being dug, to the canal, McFarlane, a store keeper. of character, In the year and young - between Due to Lee's honesty and uprightness he was allowed to collect and keep all the unsettled acquainted with John G�aybiel; In the year 1832, Lee became together they established a general store at Marshville under the name Lee and Graybiel. became the proprieter \ the Lee acquired employment with Duncan accounts when the store closed. Canal, 1827, Lee came straight in the neighbourhood of the 11deep-cut11 Port Robinson and �llanburg. and in 1827, Lee later of the property on both sides of the Feeder which he continued to hold till the time of his death. �Lee was also very active in politics. -:-'reeve of Wainfleet, He was elected and held the posit.ion for twenty-five years. During that time he ·was five times Vlarden of the County. Lee also held the honoured position of Post Master for forty-five years, and for lengthy periods was Clerk of the Division Court and Treasurer of the Township. ments, A.long ·with Lee's many local accomplish­ he was also elected a Conservative representative in the Provincial Legislature. �Lee's obituary which appeared in the A.pril the nwelland Telegraph11, 15, 1887 issue of is worth quoting: The funeral of the late Edward Lee Esquire on last Saturday last was very largely attended. There were represent- atives present from every part of the County, and the procession when it moved from the deceased's late residence was fully one mile in length, thus sho wi ng the high esteem to which the deceased was held, not only in the neighbourhood where he resided, but in every part of the County. The pall bearers were: D. Wm. D'Deverada, Brovm, Scholfield, A.tkins, Espo, Esq., Esq., Esq., J. A.. Orchard, James McGlashan, Reeve of Wainfleet, Port C olborne, Dunnville, Esq., Esq., A.. K. and W. J. The body was interred in Morgan's burying ground, at the lake. \ \ �The Edward Lee Home Edward Lee's life was indeed an active one, continuously doing something for the the happiness of those around hin. candor, truthfulness, �ood, and he was or to enhance Lee was remarkable for and uprightness, and his death was 2 his ndeeply regretted by a large circle of friends.11 Lee's outstandin� position in the Township of Wainfleet and the surrounding communities is reflected through the !'11onu_,_111ental home, which he had constructed in 1858, centred in the Village of Wainfleet. The Lee hone is presently occupied by J:.Ir. A.nderson and their family. and Hrs. James The building has been well maintained, with some interior renovations bein� made during the last fifteen years. The home is 125 years old this year, official registry records, according to the and is an outstanding example of mid-19th Century niddle-class architecture. then, served as a monuCTent of merchant class The Lee home, and homes like these, Tte home, social standing. indicate that Ontario was indeed a land of opportunities. Exterior A.rchitecture The Lee home is an example of Georgian architecture, building style used in Ecgland and the colonies durincs the 1700's and early English 1800's. takes its name from the Kings-George I, II, a A.�erican The III, style IV�who reigned �during this period. 3 Georgian architecture is distinguished balance of design, classic forms. and stone. and restrained hy ( see picture 1) I� �old ornament and large, amental cornices appear makes extensive use of bri ck richly ornamated imposing doors. around the edges of the roofs, balanced number of chimneys on each side. 1 - based on Georgian architects often decorated the rooms with large panels, Picture by symmetry of 4 ( see picture Orn- with a 2) Obvious is the balance of the house. The large central door has an equal number of windows on each side. The home is relatively square accent­ ing the classic foro. �_ _,._..,,-,.-· "-·�� �.,,--:. The original property surrounding the home was approxiamately 150 acres. The current home sits on two acres. The land outlined in red marks the boundary of the current property. �,, ---:'�·. · r - tl The home has thirty-one windows, � many of them ·with original glass extending almost from floor to ceiling. Upon close showin g the observation, many windows app ear �o be nBubbledn, advances made in glass production since the time the house was built. The large ·wind01Hs add solar heat, but mainly the ·windows took advantage of light at a time when artificial light was not available. The height of the ·windows adds spaciousness and a certain elegance to the house. Picture 3 - Notice: 1 - 2 - ( see picture intricate mouldings surrounding the windows the general size of the windows, in comparison to the height of the room. 3) �-· -_-c;._,f- '""""'>f� ' �bove and around most of the doors in the house are nlightsa, or gla ss panels, ·which served to take advantage of every possible source of Picture L,. - Eotice: 1 2 - - light. further ( see picture 4) the 1-Jindov.rs surrounding the door the decorative glass used to beautify t he door. �The home sits on a solid foundation of undressed stone, which offers strength and stability. the home, the 1'1l'1.en building contractors laid brick of three thicknesses ·which adds to the insulation and increases the strength of the hone. The brick used for the construction of the home \.»ras purchased and made in the area of the rTill Race, situated in the Village of Wainfleet. Interior The interior of the Lee estate has thirteen elegant rooms averaging over 11.5 feet in height. a distinct elegance and spaciousness, The height adds but is mainly utilitarian. The height ·was practical for a time when additional li�ht vras needed, where ever possible. The thirteen rooms do not include the partial basement. In 1858, used when the house was constructed, for recreation, basements were not but chiefly for storage. Noteworthy It also also is the fact that the basement was dig by hand. may be said that as generations pass, getting taller, which North �mericans are perhaps represents another factor I determining the basement height of just over five feet. (see picture 5) �The general frarnevmrk of the home is of constructi.on. 6) This form of construction offers stabilit;r and strength. Such a solid framework no doubt ( see picture Post and Beam explains the durability of the home. Picture 6 - Notice: 1 - the linkage ( see picture of tvm beams in a 7) corner . �The current A.nderson kitchen was originally a rough summe r kitchen oven, and storehouse. It contained a large brick no longe r extstant. In the main area of the house, or the ground floor, great pains vrere obviously taken by the original o 'ltm e r s and builders to make the interior woodwork and mouldings attractive. In 1858, decorative and when the house was built. spent a great deal of money, Lee obviously and had his tradesmen go out of their way to make the home the monument it was and is today. Pictures ( see pictures 9, 10, 11 - still 10, 11, 9) Notice: 1 - intricate·woodwork on the banaister, doorfrarne, and mouldings. �Situated on the top floor of the home is the walk - in - attic, ·which ·was, and is still, In the attic there is a nvJidovr's Uatchn, area at the ( se e picture used ��ainly for storage. staircase leading 12) su::'i.nit of the roof, or up to the the flat rectangular enclosed by a railing, affords a dramatic vie-w of the surrounding which countryside. Legend has i t that these watches originated in the Marit i me Regions, sea, 1;\There sailors' ·wives would stand and look out to waitin� for their husbands who often did not return. �C o ncl u sion The Lee estate t o da y is in remarkable condition emphasi21ing the workmanship of era past, partial ho pe ·which society for the future. can set its The ho me is a mo nume nt by standards. condition of the house is surprising, externally. The excellent both i nt er na ll y and Over the last de ca de the home has renovated and rest o red , to the original, look and giving us a '"'ith an attempt to been be faithful so that ot h er s may take a no stal gic at an age gone by. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louis McDermott Collection Subject The topic of the resource Local history, Fort Erie and surrounding area. Description An account of the resource A collection of historical documents, photos, news clippings, letters, and writings, assembled by local historian, Louis McDermott, and donated to the Fort Erie Public Library. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Louis McDermott Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived FEPL-LH -Louis McDermott Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Included in this collection are writings, historical documents, news clippings, images, maps, and more. They were written and compiled by Louis McDermott into a series of binders. The digital collection has been scanned from these physical copies. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fort Erie Public Library and Louis McDermott Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Edward Lee Home Description An account of the resource Listed here is a document pertinent to Edward Lee and his home. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Louis McDermott Collection Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Undated Louis Mcdermott Collection undated