Historical Significance
Springbrook Farm dates from 1860 when
the original Crown Deed was granted to James Myles Jr. who
hailed from County Fermanagh, Ireland. James and his brother,
Robert, built the stone farmhouse along traditional Victorian
design likely using masonry skills learned in their home country.
The house was completed in 1878 and a keystone bearing the
year of completion was laid above the front door. The property
remained in the Myles family for almost 90 years. During one
census, one of the Myles brothers was listed as an innkeeper
and it may be that the house was originally built as an inn.
A drawing of the farm features in The
Illustrated Atlas of Grey County, published in 1880, denoting
that the property was of some significance at the time. The
drawing also shows the barn and the surrounding pastures.
The house and barn retain practically all of their original
features.
The house also features in a number of
other publications due to its wonderful location, artistic
design, historical interest and unique nature. The house,
and its ornate front porch, feature in "Old Ontario Houses
- Traditions in Local Architecture" by Tom Cruikshank
and John de Visser. The triple barn features in "Barn
Building - The Golden Age of Barn Construction" by Jon
Radojkovic.
Description of Location
The property is located in the Niagara
Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, a designation
given to areas notable for their outstanding natural beauty
and/or rare or protected natural features/flora/fauna. The
Beaver Valley, an alluvial valley with steep sided rocky cliffs,
is a prime example of such beauty, and this property is located
at its very heart. Old Baldy, a stunning collection of high
rocky cliffs, is in view of the property, only 2 km to the
south.
There are two ski clubs within 3 minutes
drive of the property, while Georgian Bay, with its array
of watersports, is within 15 minutes drive. Several other
ski clubs, plus the Blue Mountain ski village
are within 30 minutes drive. There are
also many other tremendous hikes and escarpment features,
such as Metcalfe Rock, in the area.
Downtown Toronto can be reached in 1 hour
45 minutes.
Description of Farmhouse
The farmhouse was designed to a traditional
cruciform design during the Victorian period and benefits
from a more recent (circa 40 years) addition to the west of
the house, incorporating a Great Room and a double garage.
Included in the original design of the
house were two covered porches, one to the east and one to
the south. Each porch retains its original position and features
which include spectacular curved roof beams and intricate
gingerbread trim. The porches benefit from sunlight in the
morning through to late afternoon and provide wonderful views
down Beaver Valley to the craggy rock face of Old Baldy.
The exterior of the main house is solid
fieldstone, which was re-pointed in 2009, and the roof shingles
were replaced in 2002. The sellers also rebuilt the two chimneys
and upgraded the guttering. Windows are sealed PVC double-glazing
which is estimated to have been installed in 2001. The eaves
are also decorated with traditional gingerbread trim. All
exterior trim was stripped, repaired and refinished in 2008.
The interior of the house reflects the
graceful and practical design of the Victorian era. All floors
are made of beautiful, solid pine or maple, with the exception
of the Great Room, which is floored with slate. All interior
window sills/surrounds, skirting, dado, doors and door-frames
are made with one-inch thick, solid pine, providing a wonderful,
warm atmosphere in all rooms.
The interior of the house extends to some
3,500 square feet and includes 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
Ground Floor
Main hallway (19' x 6.6')
The formal front entrance to the house is via the east porch
and the traditional maple front door. The main hallway, beautifully
floored and trimmed in pine, leads to a dining room, living
room and kitchen, with a stunning curving pine staircase,
with carved banister and gingerbread trim, ascending to the
second level.
Dining room (19.5' x 12.7')
The dining room is the only room where the trim has been painted
white, lending a beautiful light and airy feel to this room.
The morning sunlight streams into this room at sunrise and
is perfect for family breakfasts. The south facing windows
provide wonderful views down the valley. The room also boasts
two antique light fixtures.
Living room (19.6' x 12.10')
The living room is a warm and welcoming lounge area with exquisite
plaster cornicing adorning an archway across the centre of
the room.
Kitchen (13.11' x 11.11')
The kitchen represents the centre and heart of the house.
The entire kitchen was custom refitted by Northwood kitchens,
including granite counters, a bar sink and a convenient centre
island, with granite counter. Stainless steel fridge/freezer;
electric stove and microwave. A rustic light fixture, augmented
by recessed light fixtures above counters and in display cabinets,
allow the kitchen to be practical or atmospheric for entertaining.
Tons of storage space. The external door from the kitchen
leads to the south facing porch which receives warm afternoon
sun.
Back foyer (12' x 13.1')
This useful area contains three separate spaces, with a three
piece powder room, a laundry room and an open area. It is
nicely lit by two windows, one south and one north. In addition,
an enclosed stairway, probably originally a servants' staircase,
leads to an upstairs bedroom.
Great Room (28.7'18.8')
This large and imposing room offers a different character
to the rest of the house. The room benefits from the charm
of having one wall being the original fieldstone exterior
wall of the main house. This has been augmented by floor to
ceiling windows with marvelous views west taking in the barn,
gardens, pasture and forest. High ceilings, with large exposed
beams, give this room a feeling of space and the room is dominated
by a large stone fireplace and chimney containing a propane-powered
"real flame" heater and rough-hewn beam mantelpiece.
This room offers many options in layout and usage and the
slate floor throughout is a great talking point. This room
also has French doors leading out to the large in-ground pool.
Mud room (15.5' x 8.2')
A very useful room, with slate floor and rustic barnboard
walls. Includes three doors, two of which lead to the garden
east and west, while the third leads into the double garage.
Double garage
Concrete floor. Capable of storing two cars and including
a large overhead storage area. Automatic "up and over"
garage door, with remote or keypad entry.
Upper Floor
Bedroom 1 (23' x 9.10')
This large room features its own staircase from the ground
floor and has a gothic-style south facing window. Includes
built-in closet space and a useful area that could serve as
an office.
Semi-ensuite bathroom
4 piece bathroom, including water-saving toilet, jacuzzi tub
and shower. Lit by a large skylight.
Bedroom 2 (12.4' x 11.2')
Double bedroom with coombed ceiling.
Bedroom 3 (12.2' x 8.11')
Double bedroom with coombed ceiling
Bedroom 4 (11.10' x 11.1')
Double bedroom with coombed ceiling. South facing window offers
views down the valley.
Semi-ensuite bathroom
4 piece bathroom. Wonderful antique fixtures, including claw-foot
tub. Separate shower.
Upper hall (8.8' x 6.5')
At the top of the sweep of the main staircase an open area,
providing access to all bedrooms. Lit by a fantastic east-facing
Gothic window.
Basement
An unfinished basement, with concrete floor, lies under the
original house and has separate access to the exterior. This
area provides a huge amount of storage and is the location
for the propane-powered furnace (new in 2007), air-conditioning
and HEPA filter (new in 2007), hot water tank (new in 2007)
and water purification system (reverse osmosis and UV filters,
water softener and monitor). There are two sump pumps, with
back-up pumps, and there are also freeze and flood alarms
in the basement. A new, larger, breaker box was installed
in 2007.
Exterior
Pool
The in-ground pool is situated to the north of the house,
approached by newly-built rustic stone steps from the Great
Room and enjoys lovely views over the property. The pool measures
40' x 20' and has a pool liner that was installed in 2001.
A large capacity heat exchanger pump and a new solar blanket
were installed in 2009 allowing comfortable water temperatures
and an extended swimming season.
Gardens
There are beautiful gardens all around the house with numerous
flower beds. Of particular interest are a lovely grove beneath
pine trees, a fire pit with seating area, a stunning perennial
garden with stone path and a large vegetable garden. There
are also apple, pear and black cherry trees, and raspberry
bushes.
Barn
The unique triple barn was built during the same period at
the house. The barn has its own power and water supplies and
has been significantly upgraded and developed by the present
owners. All areas of the barn are useful and parts of it could
be developed further for residential use, subject to appropriate
permissions.
The upper areas of the barn are typical
of the design of the time, with enormous, rough hewn beams
providing a solid and beautiful internal structure. To the
south is a huge hayloft, with newly laid wood floors, with
trapdoor access to lower animal pens. To the north a further
hayloft, with newly laid wood floors, offers potential for
a number of different uses. The upper central area has been
turned into a recreation room which the present owners use
as a gymnasium and playroom.
The lower areas of the barn include a
new fully insulated and powered workshop, a tack room, two
new 12' x 12' horse stalls, concrete floored machine storage
area, several animal pens and a large central open area ("manger")
that may be used for a number of purposes.
The barn has been reinforced and buttressed
in 2009/10 and was repainted in 2009. There is also a small
chicken coop and run outside the barn.
Pastures
Leading from the east side of the barn is a large corral with
two exits to a 5 acre pasture which was newly fenced in 2009.
The corral and this pasture are both served by an electric
fence and are suitable for horses as well as other large or
small animals.
There is a further 5 acre grass pasture
surrounding the house to the east and north which is laid
to grass.
To the west of the barn are a further
20 acres of pasture, 5 acres of which are currently crop farmed
(allowing a farming tax credit).
Streams and Wells
There are two streams on the property that run most of the
year and serve two wells. One well serves the barn and the
other serves the house (via a cistern). There is a third well
beneath the Great Room which can also be utilized.
Forest
The property has approximately 70 acres of maple forest, with
about 2 miles of wonderful trails and a fantastic screened-in
cabin offered beautiful views of the valley. The Bruce Trail
crosses the west end of the property at the top of the escarpment,
where there are also amazing rock formations. Access is also
available to the Herman McConnell conservation area, a 350
acre unspoiled parcel of land with trails and woodland, that
abuts the north-western end of the property. The property
itself offers fabulous opportunities to outdoor enthusiasts,
including hiking, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, horse
riding, ATV and many others.
Exterior utilities
The present owners have carried out significant trenching
work to lay hydro cables underground leading from the main
hydro line to the transformer and then on to the house and
barn. This has removed all unsightly overhead wires in keeping
with the original house. In addition, a new propane-powered
auto fail-over back-up generator was installed in 2007. A
large propane tank is outside and hidden by a small storage
shed.
There are also two small satellite dishes
outside that can be used to provide internet and television
services.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
The contents of this document are provided
by the sellers to the best of their knowledge and belief and
this document does not contain any warranties as to their
accuracy or completeness. Potential buyers are cautioned that
they cannot place any reliance on the statements herein as
a substitute for their own due diligence and enquiry. These
particulars do not form part of an offer or contract and must
not be relied upon as representations or statements of fact.
The information contained herein, including
text and photographs, are for guidance only and are not necessarily
comprehensive. Measurements are approximate.
The property has been offered for sale
at: $998,000.00
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