Water

On the Market National Post, August 23, 2002 (Adobe Acrobat File - 5,478 KB)

The Discerning Buyer Saturday Post, July 6, 2002 (Adobe Acrobat File - 238 KB)

The Property On May 2, 1892, Thomas L. Willson (1860 - 1915), a.k.a. Carbide Willson, accidentally discovered the processes for making calcium carbide and acetylene in commercial quantities.¹ Born in Princeton, Ontario, he was the grandson of John Willson, speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada. At 22, he moved to the United States, where he held various jobs in the mechanical and electrical trades before settling in Brooklyn, NY, in 1887. His work during the next three years resulted in six patents. In December 1890, the Willson Aluminium Co. was formed to develop Willson's patents. In 1891, Willson moved to Spray (now Eden), NC, to build a small plant along the Smith River backed by James Turner Morehead, a textile manufacturer, land and water power developer, and former state senator. In time, to leverage their position, they established a corporation in order to sell the rights to the patented process. Within five years, eight calcium plants had been built in the United States. Seven of them failed. The plant in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, was the sole survivor. The group of men who owned this plant formed the Union Carbide Company in March 1898, signalling the birth of a world-wide manufacturing organization. Many years later, Carbide Willson sold them his Canadian patents and they formed the Union Carbide Company of Canada Limited in 1914.

In 1894 Carbide Willson made his wish come true when he bought a plot of land for his dream home in Woodstock, Ontario. He spared no expense in building his mansion. He wanted his mother, who had sacrificed so much for him, to enjoy the life of a Victorian lady. He hired an architect from New York, which was extravagant, for in those days most buildings were designed by engineers or contractors.The house, with its offset tower, is described as Queen Anne Revival style, a style which became popular in late 19th century.²

This brick and stone mansion, with its impressive front entrance and circular veranda, is almost as splendid today as it was when built nearly a century ago. The four-storey house is equipped with a solarium that runs across the back of the building offering a full view of the gardens. The mansion itself was decorated in a typically ornate Victorian style. There are 20 rooms with 9 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms and 9 fireplaces. Each room in the house is decorated with a different kind of wood. Two bedrooms on the second floor deserve special mention. One is fully paneled by birds eye maple and the other cherry wood. The fourth floor consists of four unfinished rooms with an elevated stage in one. The servants lived in comfortable quarters in the basement where they had a butler's pantry, a servants' lounge and a fruit cellar.

The cost, at $90,000, was the most any house had cost in Woodstock up to that time.

vs. Now with Richard's Notes. The Loeffens, successful Dutch culinary entrepreneurs, paralleled Carbide Willson in their extravagance in their investment for the restoration and upgrade process - down to the most minute detail. e.g. All the original locks have been taken out and shipped to Amsterdam to re-key at the cost of $20 each. Then there are the 15 jets whirlpool in the ensuite bathrooms. It's like having a personal spa next to each bedroom. My favourite Bedroom is the Admiral Room on the Third Floor (previously the Billiard Room). Soaring ceiling, elegant antique ceramic fireplace mantel (My description with respect to "elegant". There is something to the design and colour, framed by what looks like an ornate metal work border, that makes it very unique and attractive), wrap-around crescent shape balcony (5'5" x 27') with pot lights separated by wooden frame door with bevelled crystal and stain glass, and the whirlpool in the ensuite has 13 jets with 7 lined up in double column to massage the back!)

The Town Located in the rolling farmlands west of Kitchener, Woodstock can be counted as one of Ontario's better preserved historic communities. The townsite was acquired and laid out in 1832 by British Admiral Henry Vansittart as a continuation of a plan started by Governor John Graves Simcoe to create a string of military settlements through western Ontario. Around this time St. Paul's church, Woodstock's oldest building, was built. It survives to this day. Shortly after, in 1851, the new town hall was built - which has also survived. Then the Italianate Railway Station - now designated under the Heritage Railway Station Protection Act and is one of Canada's oldest continuously operating rail passenger stations.

vs. Now with Richard's Notes. Woodstock, with easy and fast access, to College Town of London, Silicon North Tri City of Cambridge - Kitchen - Waterloo, and geographically central to these cities, is fast evolving into a pleasant bedroom community serving the same. Recently, it is proud to have a $14 million new community centre.

Ground Floor
Foyer	13' x 12'	Fireplace with Ceramic Mantel and Carved Oak Top Original Oak Floors (Restored) Ceramic Mosaic at the Entrance Platform Grand Chandelier (Not Included) Built In Closet
Guest Bathroom		Kohler 2 piece Aqua Brass Taps
Living Room	18' x 15'	Oak Floor Almira Stove Works - Wood burning Fireplace with Glass Front Oak Trim Windows Pocket Door to Foyer with Acid Edged Glass Panel
Dining Room	21' x 15'	Formal Fireplace with Marble Base and Wood Mantel Tower Curved Windows Original Plaster Ceiling Wall papered Wall Sconce Lighting
Library	18' s 18'	Original Mahogany Columns and Ceiling Crown Centred by "Dancing Cherub" Fresco Octagonal Original Decorative Ceramic Insert Fireplace Built-in Shelves with Panel Glass Mahogany Frame Door with Large Glass Panel Door to Verandah Carved Mahogany Wainscoting Brass Chandelier
Kitchen	22' 5" x 15' 1"	Large Ceramic Tile Floor Bosch Convection Oven with Stainless Front Built-in Panasonic Microwave with Stainless Front Built-in Subzero Refrigerator/Freezer with Maple Paneling wrap around to cabinetry in Laundry Room Miele Dishwasher with Maple & Stainless Panel (Turbo Therma Plus Model with Cutlery Shelving) Grohler Tap Thermadore Professional 6 Burner Gas Range with Commercial Ventilation Stainless Steel lined directly to chimney Back Splash that covers the wall above the Range with Hand painted Ceramic Tiles from Original Style Limited of Exeter, England From the La Belle Collection Legumes de Saison series with the Vegetable Trug Plaque centrepiece Wet Bar with Stainless Sink and Aqua Brass Tap Built-in Computer Secretary Opal Shelf, Ambassador Line from Cardinal Kitchens of London Ontario. Cut-Glass Panels Cabinetry All 24K Gold Plated Knobs Single Panel Glass Shelving 220 volts hook-up Pot Lights Crystal Chandelier Antique Radiator on Polished Granite Platform Polished Granite Door Sill Servants Stairway to Second Floor
Laundry Room	7' 4" x 5' 10"	Lead Glass Window Ceramic Back Splash Walk-Out to Street Polished Granite Counter Top Miele Stack Washer-Dryer
Solarium	12' x 8'	Original Tile Floor with Mosaic Trim Phantom Screen Polished Granite Door Sill L Shape with Wrap Around Windows Wall Sconce Lighting Halogen Lights
Second Floor
Mid Landing		Arched Picture Window Antique Brass and Porcelain Bird Chandelier (Not Included)
Landing	8' x 13'
Master Bedroom	19' x 14' 6"	Built-in Closet Curved Windows Fireplace (to be opened) Balcony (10' 11" x 6' 10") overlooking Admiral Street and Vansittart Avenue Screened Door Wall Sconce Lighting Oak Floors
Ensuite Bath Room		4 pc 13 Jets Corner Whirlpool (Acrylica Hydromax) Overlooking Balcony Aqua Brass Fixtures Ceramic tile flooring Two tone decorative "Spanish" Marbleized Tiles Wainscoting Pocket Lights
Bedroom No. 2 (Birdseye Maple Room)	17' 4" x 14' 4"	Fireplace with Birdseye Maple Mantel & Ceramic Tile Insert His/Hers Closet Alcove (for Ewer and Basin) Pocket Doors Entrance and Access to Cherry Room Crystal Diffuser
Bedroom No. 3 (Cherry Room)	16' 5" x 13' 11"	Built-in Closet Corner Balcony (6'3" x 6' 10) overlooking Gardens
Ensuite Bath Room		4 pc Ceramic Wainscoting Custom Made Glass Shower Panel Rain Shower Head Moen Hardware
New Breaker Panel		220 volts Hook-up
Bedroom No. 4 (Oak Room)	15' 11" x 15' 2"	Balcony (7' 10" x 8')
Ensuite Bath Room		4 pc Ceramic Wainscoting 6 Jet Whirlpool Moen Fixtures Handheld Shower Panel Convect Air-Heating System
Back Staircase to Kitchen
Third Floor
Landing	12' 6" x 7' 2"
Bedroom No. 5 - The Willson Suite	21' x 14' 8"	Oak Floor Fireplace with Ceramic Insert 2 Exits with Doors with Beveled Crystal and Stainglass to Balcony (5'5" x 27')
Ensuite Bath Room		4 pc Ceramic Floor 13 Jet Acrylica Hydromax Palace Whirlpool with 7 Jet Back Massage Panel Convect Air-Heating System Aqua brass Fixtures 3' 1" Oversize Pedestal Sink
Bedroom No. 6 (or Ensuite Sitting Room to Bedroom No. 5)	22' x 16'	3 Built-in Closets
Bedroom No. 7	11' 4' x 8' 2"	Oak Floor Alpine Ceiling Turret Window
Ensuite Bath Room		3 pc Shower Stall
Bedroom No. 8	20' x 15' 8"	Oak Floors 2 sides of Stainglass Windows Crystal Diffuser 2 Built-in Closets
Ensuite Bath Room		4 pc Custom Glass Shower Panel Skylights Moen Hardware
Fourth Floor
Steep Stairway
Room No.1	4' x 8'	Wood Floor
Room No.2	14' 9" x 8' 6"	Wood floor Six Square Windows on two rows
Room No.3	35' 3" x 7' 3�"	Wood Floor Access to Turret Stage with Alpine Roof 19' 7" x 15' 7" Closet 6' 10" x 9' 4" Six Square Windows on two rows
Basement
5 Rooms on a Fully Opened Concept 7' 11�" Ceiling Roughed-in Laundry Room 3 x Hot Water Tank 75 Gallons Fireplace Walk-up to Outside Grounds