Barnum house
Encyclopedia
The Barnum House was built between 1817 and 1819 by Eliakim Barnum, a United Empire Loyalist originally from Vermont
. The house, which stands just outside of Grafton, Ontario
, in Alnwick/Haldimand Township
, is the earliest example of Neoclassical architecture
in Canada. Barnum House was the first house museum to open in Ontario, restored and operated by the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario in 1940. It is currently owned and operated by the Ontario Heritage Trust
.
Barnum House was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1959.
by British soldiers who were billeting there. Barnum purchased the property from Norris and built the house which still stands there today.
In designing his house, Barnum was influenced by American architecture popular in New England
states at the beginning of the 19th century. These homes were inspired by the neoclassical style
, intended to reproduce elements of classical Greek architecture. These elements include a central temple front with flanking wings, articulation of the facade with pilasters linked by elliptical arches, and extensive use of delicately scaled details. The neoclassical elements of the house's exterior are echoed in the ornate woodwork of several interior rooms, particularly the parlour
.
Eliakim Barnum came to Haldimand Township from the United States in 1807. He followed the lead of earlier loyalists in settling on the north side of Lake Ontario
, along the main route which connecting York with Kingston. Barnum quickly prospered in the area, operating a tavern and distillery. He went on to purchase large tracks of land and open a grist mill in 1830.
Barnum was also a founder of and key player in the Grafton community. He helped to found St. George's Anglican Church and the first school in the township. He also acted as a justice of the peace and lieutenant-colonel of the Third Northumberland Battalion.
Eliakim Barnum lived to the age of 94, dying in 1877. The house was passed to his youngest son James. James was responsible for dismantling the grist mill, indicating the family's decreased dependence on agriculture. James died in 1907, and the house remained in the family until 1917, when it was sold to the Prentice family. The Prentices lived in the house until 1939, when it was sold to the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario restored the house to its original state and opened it as Ontario's first house museum.
In 1958, the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario transferred ownership of Barnum House to Haldimand township. The township operated the site as a community museum, and in 1982, the Ontario Heritage Trust
, an agency of the Government of Ontario, purchased the house and took over its operation.
The Ontario Heritage Trust performed an extensive restoration of Barnum House between 1989 and 1991 in an effort to ensure the long-term conservation of the site. During the restoration, the Trust completely rebuilt the crumbling foundation, replaced the cedar shingled roof, restored the windows and siding, and reproduced the original paint colours and wallpaper of the interior. A two-storey addition to the house was also constructed to serve as a gallery and resource centre.
In the ensuing years, the site was operated as a partnership between the Ontario Heritage Trust and the Barnum House Museum Foundation.
After their partnership with the Barnum House Museum Foundation ended in 2002, the Ontario Heritage Trust struggled to keep the museum open. The site was closed for a number of years beginning in September 2003. A large private donation allowed for the site to open for three months in the summer of 2007.
Barnum House is currently home to a large collection of artifacts from the Georgian and Victorian periods
. The collection includes a range of artifacts, including a variety of furniture, china, books and newspapers, cookware, children's toys, photographs, scrapbooks, and more. Among these pieces is a Clementi
piano from the early nineteenth century, believed to be the only one of its kind to survive. The collection at Barnum House is as significant as the house itself.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. The house, which stands just outside of Grafton, Ontario
Grafton, Ontario
Grafton is a community in the province of Ontario. It is in Northumberland County, in the township of Alnwick/Haldimand. It is 12 km east of Cobourg, Ontario on the former Highway 2 , with close access to Highway 401. The hamlet is near the geographically significant Oak Ridges Moraine at Rice...
, in Alnwick/Haldimand Township
Alnwick/Haldimand, Ontario
Alnwick/Haldimand is a township in central Ontario, Canada, in Northumberland County, situated between Lake Ontario and Rice Lake. It was formed in 2000 by the merger of Alnwick Township in the north and Haldimand Township in the south...
, is the earliest example of Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
in Canada. Barnum House was the first house museum to open in Ontario, restored and operated by the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario in 1940. It is currently owned and operated by the Ontario Heritage Trust
Ontario Heritage Trust
The Ontario Heritage Trust is a non-profit agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture, responsible for protecting, preserving and promoting the built, natural and cultural heritage of Canada's most populous province. It was initially known as the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board...
.
Barnum House was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1959.
History
The site of the Barnum House was first built upon in 1811 by Eliakim Barnum's brother-in-law James Norris. Norris' house was burned down accidentally during the War of 1812War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
by British soldiers who were billeting there. Barnum purchased the property from Norris and built the house which still stands there today.
In designing his house, Barnum was influenced by American architecture popular in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
states at the beginning of the 19th century. These homes were inspired by the neoclassical style
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
, intended to reproduce elements of classical Greek architecture. These elements include a central temple front with flanking wings, articulation of the facade with pilasters linked by elliptical arches, and extensive use of delicately scaled details. The neoclassical elements of the house's exterior are echoed in the ornate woodwork of several interior rooms, particularly the parlour
Parlour
Parlour , from the French word parloir, from parler , denotes an "audience chamber". In parts of the United Kingdom and the United States, parlours are common names for certain types of food service houses, restaurants or special service areas, such as tattoo parlors...
.
Eliakim Barnum came to Haldimand Township from the United States in 1807. He followed the lead of earlier loyalists in settling on the north side of Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, along the main route which connecting York with Kingston. Barnum quickly prospered in the area, operating a tavern and distillery. He went on to purchase large tracks of land and open a grist mill in 1830.
Barnum was also a founder of and key player in the Grafton community. He helped to found St. George's Anglican Church and the first school in the township. He also acted as a justice of the peace and lieutenant-colonel of the Third Northumberland Battalion.
Eliakim Barnum lived to the age of 94, dying in 1877. The house was passed to his youngest son James. James was responsible for dismantling the grist mill, indicating the family's decreased dependence on agriculture. James died in 1907, and the house remained in the family until 1917, when it was sold to the Prentice family. The Prentices lived in the house until 1939, when it was sold to the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario restored the house to its original state and opened it as Ontario's first house museum.
In 1958, the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario transferred ownership of Barnum House to Haldimand township. The township operated the site as a community museum, and in 1982, the Ontario Heritage Trust
Ontario Heritage Trust
The Ontario Heritage Trust is a non-profit agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture, responsible for protecting, preserving and promoting the built, natural and cultural heritage of Canada's most populous province. It was initially known as the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board...
, an agency of the Government of Ontario, purchased the house and took over its operation.
The Ontario Heritage Trust performed an extensive restoration of Barnum House between 1989 and 1991 in an effort to ensure the long-term conservation of the site. During the restoration, the Trust completely rebuilt the crumbling foundation, replaced the cedar shingled roof, restored the windows and siding, and reproduced the original paint colours and wallpaper of the interior. A two-storey addition to the house was also constructed to serve as a gallery and resource centre.
In the ensuing years, the site was operated as a partnership between the Ontario Heritage Trust and the Barnum House Museum Foundation.
After their partnership with the Barnum House Museum Foundation ended in 2002, the Ontario Heritage Trust struggled to keep the museum open. The site was closed for a number of years beginning in September 2003. A large private donation allowed for the site to open for three months in the summer of 2007.
Barnum House is currently home to a large collection of artifacts from the Georgian and Victorian periods
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
. The collection includes a range of artifacts, including a variety of furniture, china, books and newspapers, cookware, children's toys, photographs, scrapbooks, and more. Among these pieces is a Clementi
Muzio Clementi
Muzio Clementi was a celebrated composer, pianist, pedagogue, conductor, music publisher, editor, and piano manufacturer. Born in Italy, he spent most of his life in England. He is best known for his piano sonatas, and his collection of piano studies, Gradus ad Parnassum...
piano from the early nineteenth century, believed to be the only one of its kind to survive. The collection at Barnum House is as significant as the house itself.