Skip to main content

Windjamming in Port Stanley

A short 30 minute drive south from London, Ontario on the South Shore of Lake Erie lies a once important portal of entry to Canada for landed immigrants; settlers who poured into Southwestern Ontario between the years 1825 and 1875 - Port Stanley. In 1804 John Bostwick was granted 100 acres of land at the mouth of Kettle Creek by his friend, Colonel Thomas Talbot. He settled in the area in the early 1820s and ran an important warehouse and mill. Bostwick can be referred to as the founder of Port Stanley but there were many other early settlers; like Zavitz, Minor, Smith, Stephens, Price, Begg and Mason. Port Stanley was a central as a portal of entry to Canada during the 1800s. 1822 a road had been opened linking the port to St. Thomas and London, and in 1856 the London and Port Stanley railway started operation, connecting Port Stanley to the vast rail network which was spreading across North America.


In 1844, a record number of boats - 148, arrived into the busy little harbour. Along with the droves of people, large merchant ships also arrived carrying bulk cargo; such as, lumber, grain, ore, and coal. The grandest of these merchant sailing ships were known as Windjammers. They had between three and five large masts with square sails. Legend has it, these ships were called "windjammers" because of the sound cast from the large sails. They were designed for long voyages and had the capability to circumnavigate the globe.

A prominent businessman, Samuel Shepard, was a Windjammer engineer, designer, builder, and commander-"Captain" to some of the finest ships to grace Port Stanley harbour. Each year he would award "Shepard Top Hat" to the first boat into the harbour each spring - a tradition that continues today.

Shepard built a beautiful landmark home in 1854 on a corner lot in the SW part of Port Stanley nearly a half kilometre from Lake Erie. Today it remains a beautiful depiction of life in the Victorian Era and a true expression of early settler influences. The inspiration of his house reflected his wealth. It featured classical details known in that era, including a steep roof, and a central chimney. Interestingly, the post at base of stairs as well as the fireplace mantle in the dining room came out of one of Shepard's Ships. The family-friendly plans supported 4 - 5 bedrooms, including a servants quarters which was upstairs over kitchen (there was a staircase).

Today, there are three bedrooms and a carriage house. Very much a part of our Canadian history, this heritage location, is now a Bed & Breakfast with a contemporary dining room that rivals that of fine dining in large suburban areas.

For Availably contact the Windjammer Bed and Breakfast in Port Stanley Ontario

http://patriciabe.wixsite.com/patriciakuhnenbeaver/blog

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Kecemburuan semacam ini

Jacey melemparkan cangkir kopi kaca, (Mug Kaca Berinsulasi Dinding Ganda Zwilling), melintasi dapur. Itu menghantam dinding yang baru dicat (Behr, Sweet Coconut Milk, M230), dan hancur menjadi triliunan kepingan. "Inilah yang telah kamu lakukan pada kami!" teriaknya, suaranya berderak karena cemburu, kuku jarinya yang terawat (Orly Cold As Ice - perawatan bernapas + warna) menusuk udara ke arah tumpukan puing-puing kaca. Blayne menundukkan kepalanya, dagu keduanya mengenai dadanya terlebih dahulu. "Maaf, sayang," gumamnya. "Maaf?! Maaf!" Dia mengambil sekotak Wheat Thins dan mengangkatnya di atas kepalanya. "Tolong jangan melempar yang lain!" Blayne memohon, berdiri dari posisi setengah duduk di bangku logam di dapur. Ini adalah bangku yang sangat tidak nyaman (Bangku Meja Grejsi dengan Bingkai Logam), tetapi Jacey menyukai cara logam itu memantulkan sinar matahari di sore hari, jadi itulah yang dia beli. Dia mencondongkan tubuh ke arahnya,...

Thirteenth step

My grandmother attends the church basement on Tuesday evenings. I saw him there among the metal folding chairs and antique coffee pots, his figure trembling under the fluorescent lights that buzzed like dying insects. She wears the same powder blue pullover she was buried in, the one with pearl buttons that catch the light like little moons. Others can't see it, of course. They just feel a sudden chill as they pass by where she is, or smell the ghostly smell of her Shalimar perfume mixing with the smell of burnt coffee that never leaves these rooms. But I see clearly. He's been following me to AA meetings for three months since I got my first white chip after five years of being back in the bottle. "Your grandmother was my godmother in 1985," old Pete told me after tonight's meeting, hands shaking as he poured a seven-pack of Sweet'n Low into his coffee. "Toughest godmother I ever had. She saved my life." "Mine, too," I said, not specif...

A-Z of Corporate Governance Law

Corporate governance law can be seen as the law that states the way a company is regulated and managed. Any student of law must have a clear idea about the corporate governance law. This article provides an insight into the law, along with its importance. Corporate governance law  describes how a company will be managed and governed. This topic is an important one for any student pursuing a degree in law. They may also receive academic papers to write on it. Hence, individuals should be clear about this law. The article aims at clarifying the idea behind the law and why it is important. What exactly is corporate governance law? A business is directed and controlled by the system of corporate governance. It is a process for governing a company, establishing the policies, customs, and laws for all employees, starting from the highest to the lowest levels. It states the distribution of responsibilities and rights among the various participants in a company like the di...