Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Isaac Petch Farm House

Not Isaac Petch Farm House, The Un-Demolished Version

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 05:20:17 +0000

I photographed the Isaac Petch Farm house back in mid April and I tell you the truth I don’t even know if the house is still standing. These days old historic houses in Aurora drop like flies.

Correction, this is not the Isaac Petch Farm House. I need to find out more. When I photographed this house I was under impression that this house belonged to Petch Family, but hanging around people in Aurora, I learned that I am completely wrong here. December 7th, 2012.

Demolishing process is actually interesting process. First they, the demolishing guys, take the longest time to clean up around the house, then suddenly dig into, let it fall, scoop and go – and its all done and gone.

Just like with the non-existent now the Browning House – I managed to take photos before and after and absolutely nothing in between.

Isaac Petch Farm House, Wellington Street

Noticed the light bulb?

I don’t know how old that light bulb is? I am sure that all the electrical services are disconnected to the house so there is no army of electrons marching to generate light to illuminate the house. But I happened to notice that as everything ages around the house including the house itself, that glass light bulb seems prefect.

That perfect light bulb probably not energy efficient has no purpose anymore. That farm house probably not energy efficient as well has no purpose anymore. But this is not why we are demolishing this house or everything else of historical value on this end of the town. May be just why not?

Isaac Petch Farm House, Wellington Street

Last month after visiting Hillary House I ventured out for a walk around the corner, the Catherine Avenue. I thought that I will just stay on that street and then turn around to go back to my car, but I was so overwhelmed with the beautiful historic houses on that street that I ended up on Spruce Street.

Isaac Petch Farm House, Wellington Street

As I walked on Spruce Street one of the houses reminded me almost exactly the Isaac Petch Farm house. First it was that tall chimney stack on the side of the house. But that was not it. It was also that color of the brick. I think we all can see that the contrast between the red brick and the kind of yellow earthy brick on the farm house is quite intriguing.

Isaac Petch Farm House, Wellington Street

I find that rather coincidental for the two houses, one on Wellington Street and the other on Spruce Street to be somehow apart yet to look so alike.

Well, may be there is hope for this fallen tree. I hope someone gets an idea and relocate to a pond or even arboretum. It would make a great perching tree for birds.

Isaac Petch Farm House, Wellington Street

Every year ready for Christmas, but those Christmas lights will not shine again.

Isaac Petch Farm House, Wellington Street

Probably the only thing now that is trying to hold on to the farm house. Surreal.

Isaac Petch Farm House, Wellington Street

So I thought I shine some light on preservation, but oops there is no light. On the other hand I think I should go back and check if the house is still there.

Aurora 1945-1965 An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change, Milner

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:18:22 +0000

Aurora continues to change day by day. Continues to grow. We will never be a small town on the map and we will never be a population of four thousand of people.

Going about twelve months back, it all began with saving the Petch Log house. On my part that was great experience to explore the deteriorating log house before the restoration and to document my thoughts here.

Aurora 1945-1965 An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change

Then search for more information about the town led me to Elizabeth Milner’s book, Aurora 1945-1965 An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change. Being on the photo journey through the town in the past couple of years, the book is a jewel in my pocket.

So what that you were not born between those years. How can you relate? Of course you can relate. Milner’s detailed assembly of 20 years of town’s records will lead you to years before 1945 and beyond 1965. Her compelling book is actually very relative to the past and the future of the Aurora. On the end it is a book about the people of Aurora who made a difference.

Petch Log House

Last year about this time difference was made, Katherine Belrose came forward and Petch log house was saved, probably restored by now, yet future location unknown.

Nokiidaa Trail Link, St. John's sideroad, Aurora

‘The Anglican Sisters of St. John gave St. John’s Sideroad its name when their convent was built in 1931. In 1940s and early 1950s, the Convent was a busy place. The Sisters cared for girls with special needs such as: Downs Syndrome, autism and other problems. …

They came each Sunday to morning service at Trinity Anglican Church, bringing the young girls for whom they cared. They sat at the front, on the north side of the church, under the pulpit. The sisters sat erect, silent and still in their penguin outfits. Usually their wards were silent and still too, but occasionally there was a strange noise wiggle, or turning head that was quickly corrected.‘, 1958, Milner, page 94.

Nokiidaa Trail link boardwalk of St. John’s sideroad is now established and well visited trail.

Wells Street Public School Sold

Wells Street Public School got sold last year. Must mention that Elizabeth Milner was a grade nine student at this school for one year from September 1951 to April 1952.

Yonge Street, What Changed Here?

Next time you pass by Yonge Street and Tyler Street intersection you will notice change, the new commercial and residential complex. On the other hand one might say – the downtown traffic increased.

The Auroran, Sold

‘James Murray cut a ribbon at the old Post Office on Yonge Street in September of 1960 to mark the beginning of door-to-door mail delivery in Aurora.‘, 1960, Milner, page 167.

The old Post Office on Yonge Street is also home of our local newspaper The Auroran that was started by Ron Wallace and recently sold.

Once IGA Store, Now Nothing Yet

‘In 1961, the town’s IGA offered steak at seventy-nine cents a pound and prime rib roasts at sixty-five cents a pound. Oranges were fifty-nine cents a dozen and a cauliflower sold for twenty-nine cents.

Usually cakes were made from scratch, but if the housewife wanted to cheat with a newfangled cake mix, they were selling at two for thirty-three cents. That’s how it was in 1961 at the IGA Foodliner.‘, 1961, Milner, page 175.

Recent closing of the Foodland grocery store was total surprise and shock to the seniors living close by. It is very much unknown who will move in, but last week I read Banner and it was noted that the building was on the list for Youth centre. It may not happen, there were other competing locations.

George T. Browning House, Demolished

The proposed conversion of the Browning house to Montessori school didn’t go to well and it was decided to demolish the house. The Browning house was demolished couple of days before Easter.

Tree Trimming, Yonge Street from the Aurora Public Library

‘In the December third Banner, letters to the editor showed that Aurora people were upset about changes in Aurora. One citizen complained about the trees coming down and the land being stripped down to bare clay near one of the best streams in town.‘, 1959, Milner, page 152.

We continue to cut the trees. Some needs to be cut or trimmed, but some were not given any mercy.

Isaac Petch Farm House, Wellington Street, To Be Demolished

‘Highway 404, the Don Mills Parkway extension, was proceeding north and would pass three miles east of Aurora. John B. Wilkes, an engineer from the Department of Highways, spoke to the Board of Trade and assured them that Highway 404 would reduce traffic through the town by one third to one half. The first section of Highway 404 opened early in July.‘, 1961, Milner, page 170.

Highway 404 most likely will not change, but there is no future for the old and lonely Isaac Petch Farm house on Wellington Street – it will be demolished.

Aurora 1945-1965 An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change, Milner

Elizabeth Milner in the book’s Afterward wrote: ‘I did not want to write a book about a “wonderful Aurora” of the past. This is often the kind of local history that results from reminiscences. The town was a good place to grow up. The people were good people. They helped one another, supported churches and social institutions as well as the needy in other provinces and countries; but everything was not perfect.

Disputes about having a liquor store in town, the use of open land, the building of a shopping centre, Town Council decisions and other incidences might seem trivial to the reader, but they were heated issues at the time.‘

Perhaps somethings just don’t change in our town – we continue with heated issues to make the difference.

Sunday Break, Not Isaac Petch Farm House, Vine-Not Letting Go

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 05:00:23 +0000

Sunday photo showcase. All posts titled Sunday Break are photo(s) only and a quote. Posted photos may not be necessary the most current one and as always it is all about the Town of Aurora. Enjoy!

Correction, this is not Isaac Petch Farm House. I need to find out more.

Isaac Petch Farm House, Wellington Street

‘Change is never easy, and we shouldn’t expect it to be. We just have to be mindful that instead of fighting hard to hold on to what was, we must instead fight hard to let go.’ ~ Unknown Author