BloomsburyPortHope Harvey Kalles Real Estate Limited, Brokerage
2 Baldwin Street, Port Hope
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Non-Designated Georgian Century Home |
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Canadian $1,280,000 / ~ U.S. $1,166,000
The Owner's Notes
The Bloomsbury Group was an important movement of writers, artists, designers, intellectuals, philosophers, economists, etc. in England, from the beginning of the 20th century through World War II. It began as a group of friends who had gone to Cambridge University together, and who frequently gathered at the home of the Stephens sisters in the Bloomsbury district of London. Virginia Stephens became Virginia Woolf, one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, and married to Leonard Woolf, a literary figure and publisher who founded the Hogarth press with Virginia.. Vanessa Stephens was an artist, who married art historian Clive Bell but shared a home at Charleston farm for most of her life with fellow artist Duncan Grant. Charleston was a country house that became the gathering place and weekend home of many of the group -- decorated and painted throughout by Vanessa, Duncan, Clive and others, who also created beautiful gardens. Other members fo the Group and visitors to Charleston included writer Lytton Strachey, artist Roger Fry, economist John Maynard Keynes, philosopher Bertrand Russell, poet T.S. Eliot, writer E.M. Forester... In Port Hope, Bloomsbury on Baldwin Street evokes the spirit of Virginia and Vanessa -- and reflects the style and ambience of Charleston Farm -- a place that is home to art and books, and a gathering place for eclectic groups of friends, country weekends, political gatherings, and conversation... in the house, in the gardens, by the pool and on the tennis court (considered by many visiting tennis lovers from around the world to be the most beautiful private court in Canada.
About the house -- the earliest part of the house was Georgian -- built in 1843 -- one of the earliest houses in this section of Port Hope which was known as Englishtown and was a garrison area for British soldiers. The earliest occupants were probably army officers. By early in the 20th century, the house was owned by Nicholson's File Factory, a major mill and employer in Port Hope at the time, and was occupied by the marketing and sales director of the factory. The retaining wall in the ravine on the North side of the house was created by literally hundreds of millstones and grinding stones from the file factory. In 1970,. the house was bought by Claude Fitzgibbons, a lawyer and colourful local character who added on the great hall, swimming pool, cabana and tennis court. Irv Bronfman was the next owner before us. We then bought the house, which had fallen into disrepair and restored the house and gardens and created Bloomsbury.
Richard's Notes
Restful, and quiet elegance, is how I would peg it.
On the literary front, I can see Scott Fitzgerald at the Tennis Court for a game or two. Totally private, enveloped by majestic trees and shrubs. As it is in the swimming pool area as well. Lush Green Space abounds. My initiation to the property was on the grounds. Interesting notes such as the simple teased iron gate to the pool, a commissioned work by a regional artist Amy Quinn, christened the property in Chinese Characters (thankfully, genuine, not caricatures), and the marble counter top in the Cabana's Kitchenette, promised more quaint surprises inside the House.
I was right. Culturally opulent and quality appointments abound. Ceiling murals in the library, Bedroom Wall Colours inspired by Chagall and Monet, painted doors in the Master Bedroom much akin to the dwellings of the Bloomsbury Group, Heartland appliances (Classic Model of course), 31' Ceiling in the Great Room with Floor-to-Ceiling Picture Windows looking out to the lush green Gardens and Floor-to-Ceiling Stone Fireplace with a Slate Apron - Mahogany Floors, of course; and the Study just off one side with raised Oak Floor and Cedar Paneled Wall and Ceiling looking out to the Gardens; and on the other side, Marble Counter Wet Bar with Slate Floors also looking out to the other side of Gardens.
My Economic training would tuned me into the "elasticity" of the space. Notwithstanding a measurement of some 5,000 sq.ft. interior living space, it has a Century Home core with Centre Hall lay-out, cozy bedrooms on the second level, and a spacious Kitchen with Oak Floors, Heartland Appliances, Corian Counters combined with a Breakfast Area which includes a Brick and Brass Mantel wood-burning Fireplace, all looking out to the Grounds; thus, well suited for a dwelling for two. For the more reclusive moments, one can retreat into the Library, huge enclosed Porch overlooking the Grounds, large Great Room in front of a crackling fire surrounded by floor-to-ceiling Windows; or simply walk out to the different Porches and enjoy the open air (perhaps with a pipe?). For larger gatherings, the space can easily morph into a "compound" - separate access to a guest quarters on the Third Level with a four-piece Ensuite, large Formal Dining Room, large Family Room on the Lower Level with a billiard table and yet another Fireplace. The later also has an access to a Stone Patio.
The Property has been in a number of the Port Hope Garden Tours and housed a function for the Royal Ontario Museum. In the spirit of the Bloomsbury Group, the House has hosted many political and artistic gatherings, with guests including such cultural luminaries as Farley Mowat, David Blackwood, Ron Bolt and Janet Read in addition to political lights such as Scott Brison, Jack Layton, Olivia Chow, and Senator Nancy Ruth.
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Notes on The Region
Tap into what the cognoscenti have known for several years, a little bit of insider information if you will - Port Hope (www.town.porthope.on.ca) is turning into a bedroom community of Toronto. 50 minutes of highway driving east of Toronto on HWY 401, Port Hope is one of (maybe a couple), towns in Ontario that has a proactive Heritage Conservatory that has prevented bulldozing of Century Homes for Parking Lots - "managed growth" is a term that comes to mind. In this gradual transformation, property values have risen exponentially in the region.
Steeped in history, it was the playground of the Rich and Famous since the early 1800's. That would explain all the majestic estates both in town and in the surrounding countryside as well as the "satellite" communities of Cobourg and Grafton - aggregately known as the gems of Northumberland Country.
Northumberland County benefits from the growing trend of "city folk" moving out from the hustle and bustle in the "big smoke" to somewhere quieter and safer. With the Internet revolutionizing the way we do business and communicate, many have taken advantage of what telecommuting has to offer. When we placed the Director of Marketing for a major National Bookstore in Grafton close to 10 years back, he traded his home in North York for a 100 acre farm with a restored Century Home that once belonged to the Masseys for $550,000. I won't even extrapolate what it's worth today!
Port Hope, being the closest to Toronto in Northumberland County, has positioned itself to be a gateway of sort. Port Hope, indeed, is unique with it's water frontage, Yacht, Golf and Country Clubs, developed cultural events and mildly eccentric denizens. We have the Big Apple in Colborne that opens year round attracting millions. And Brighton turning into a well received retirement community - great success in the development of Brighton-by-the-Bay by a REIT. Then Prince Edward County, with picturesque Picton, is turning into the other Wine Producing region. After selling The Hillcrest in Port Hope to an area Spa close to 10 years ago, I see a few more popping up that provide a variety of alternatives and choices. Another client from the U.K., now a good friend, has set up another one in Brighton - www.ElementalEmbrace.com . This is quite special - as influenced by her background as a hotelier in Africa and her son as an impresario in the entertainment/music industry in the U.K. and New York. Then there is Trenton and Belleville, led by one of the most dynamic Economic Development Boards in the person of Chris King; and Kingston, which is also experiencing phenomenal growth.
GreatCanadianCountryEstates Home
Telephone: 416.441.2888 x 522 Cellular: 416.809.0909 /1.888.232.2088
Facsimile: 416-441-9926 Direct Fax: 1(866) 556-0823
Address: 2145 Avenue Road, Toronto, Ontario M5M 4B2 Canada
Member of the Toronto Real Estate Board
