Backus-Page House Museum
Encyclopedia
The Backus-Page House Museum is a living history museum located in the heart of the Talbot Settlement
in Wallacetown
, Ontario
Canada
. The Georgian style
house has been restored as closely as possible to its state in 1850. The museum is maintained and run by the Tyrconnell Heritage Society which is a local independent organization that is dedicated to restoration and preservation of Backus-Page House and surrounding estate.
homes built in Dunwich Township
.
The house was commissioned by Andrew and Mary Jane Backus. The Backus family was one of several families that had obtained land from Colonel Thomas Talbot and settled in the area that quickly came to be known at Little Tyrconnell (a namesake carried over from Ireland
).The property that Andrew built his house on was given to him by his grandmother, Mary Storey, who received her original land grant
in 1809.
That the Backus’s prospered can be attested to by the quality of the house built (as well as surviving business records) but that did not translate to an opulent lifestyle. Written correspondence from that time period seems to indicate that though the house was handsomely built it was plainly appointed. During the time the Backus Family lived within the house it was referred to as Lakeview. The Ministry of Natural Resources
has since reforested
the area between the house and Lake Erie
but during the Backus era that land was cleared and afforded an excellent view of the shoreline and lake.
The two story red brick Georgian style home was constructed using approximately 72,000 bricks. The bricks were made from clay
dug from the field directly behind the house and fired right on the farm property. The bricks were used to build both interior and exterior walls of the house. The walls were built to last having a width of either 4 or 5 bricks.
Oak
and black ash beams and joists were used in the framing
. Much of the lumber
, such as pine
, ash, and tulip
which went into the finishing of the house was harvested from the adjacent woodlands. The house was heated by three main level fireplace
s, each with a black walnut
mantel
and paneling. The fireplaces are no longer operational however the cooking crane hardware that presently remains within one indicates it would have done double duty as the original family cooking fire.
The Backus-Page House and property was obtained by Jonas Page in 1925. The Page family had settled in the area in the early 19th century as well and maintained property further up Lakeview Line. Members of the Page family resided on the estate and farmed the property for over 40 years. The house underwent a number of physical changes as it aged moving it away from its original 1850s state. Morley and Grace Page were the last of the Pages to live on the farm and they sold it to the Ministry of Natural Resources in 1968.
The Ministry of Natural Resources currently retains ownership of the Backus Page-House. The Ministry has entered into a lease agreement with the Tyrconnell Heritage Society. The society was incorporated in 1994 with the express purpose of restoring the house and property to its 1850’s condition. In 1998 the society undertook a restoration of the property, renamed the house in tribute to both its longtime owners and undertook a mandate of preservation and historical education regarding the estate and the Talbot Settlement in general.
, England
at Five Stakes, Upper Canada
which is now known as Talbotville. He was looking to settle in the area and was directed to the offices of Colonel Thomas Talbot. Talbot had obtained a large land grant from the British government along the shores of Lake Erie and was charged with organizing the settlement of the area.
Jonas, on completing the 14 miles (22.5 km) journey to Talbot’s log cabin
, found Talbot in a less than agreeable mood and was informed there was no land available. Not ready to give up yet, Jonas waited and returned several days later to try again and was awarded with a parcel of land at the princely sum of $2:00 an acre on the shores of Lake Erie, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Port Tyrconnell.
Jonas was able to clear the land and build a log house with the help of his nearest neighbour, a Mr. Job Curtis. This was an extremely important as Talbot had been known to repossess the land of settlers who did not clear and settler the land within an acceptable time period. With a home built he was able to return to Five Stakes (Talbotville) and move his family by oxen and sled the 20 miles (32.2 km) through the bush to their new home.
The settler’s life was a hard one. Still individuals would take time to work towards building a strong community. One of the first projects that Jonas was able to assist with was the erection of the First Methodist Church in Tyrconnell in 1855. Jonas was of a musical bent and when the church was finished he would lead the singing of the congregation keeping them in pitch with his own tuning fork
.
Jonas and his wife had 10 children.
established to restore and preserve the Backus-Page House and the surrounding grounds situated in the heart of the Talbot Settlement. The society also works to compile and revel the rich historical traditional of the Talbot Settlement. The society was founded in 1993 when the future of the Backus-Page property became uncertain due to MNR policies. Incorporated under the umbrella of the Ontario Historical Society in 1994, the volunteer membership of the Tyrconnell Heritage Society has since worked tirelessly to further the society’s mandate
.
In 1998 the society entered into a 50 year lease agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources. This agreement, along with local financing and funding generously providing by the Ontario Trillium Foundation
, allowed the society to move forward with the restoration of the 1850s Georgian style house. In addition to restoring house the society enlarged the grounds around the house, established a picnic area and erected a separate resource and multiuse facility behind the house. The Tyrconnell Heritage Society created three walking trails within the John E. Pearce Park, wherein which the Backus-Page House is located.
Today the society continues to move towards its goal of establishing the Backus-Page House as a living history museum. Every year the special event education program allows hundreds of children to experience the life of a Canadian pioneer
family. As the museum collection grows the society has had the opportunity to increase the museum’s exhibit calendar. The society and estate grounds continue to play host to a diverse number of celebrations ranging from wedding
receptions to corporate day retreats.
As a part of its agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Tyrconnell Heritage Society continues to work to maintain the trails and facilities of the John E. Pearce Provincial Park. Society members provide guided hikes and support the work of educational and research institutions that conduct studies in the area. A membership agenda has been established to record the seasonal characteristics within the park boundaries.
Efforts are already underway to expand education programs to a year-round format as well as increase museum programming and activities. The renovation of the estate will take a giant step forward as the rectory barn is set to receive a welcome restoration. The Tyrconnell Heritage Society is dedicated to ensuring that the Backus-Page House Museum continues to enjoy its prominent position as one of the few remaining historical landmarks along the northern shore of Lake Erie.
Thomas Talbot (Upper Canada)
Colonel Thomas Talbot was born at Malahide Castle in Ireland near Dublin He was the fourth son of Richard Talbot and his wife Margaret Talbot, 1st Baroness Talbot of Malahide...
in Wallacetown
Dutton/Dunwich, Ontario
Dutton/Dunwich is a municipality located in western Elgin County in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.The municipality was formed in 1998 through an amalgamation of the Village of Dutton and former Township of Dunwich. It includes the Hamlets of Wallacetown, Duttona Beach, and the western parts of both...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Georgian style
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
house has been restored as closely as possible to its state in 1850. The museum is maintained and run by the Tyrconnell Heritage Society which is a local independent organization that is dedicated to restoration and preservation of Backus-Page House and surrounding estate.
About the Backus-Page House
The Backus-Page House Museum is located within the grounds of the John E. Pearce Provincial Park in the heart of what was once known as the Talbot Settlement. The museum is situated within a restored Georgian style house that was constructed in 1850 by Robert Morris. Mr. Morris would be responsible for building a number of homes in the area but this one would have particular significance as it would be one of the first brickBrick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
homes built in Dunwich Township
Dutton/Dunwich, Ontario
Dutton/Dunwich is a municipality located in western Elgin County in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.The municipality was formed in 1998 through an amalgamation of the Village of Dutton and former Township of Dunwich. It includes the Hamlets of Wallacetown, Duttona Beach, and the western parts of both...
.
The house was commissioned by Andrew and Mary Jane Backus. The Backus family was one of several families that had obtained land from Colonel Thomas Talbot and settled in the area that quickly came to be known at Little Tyrconnell (a namesake carried over from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
).The property that Andrew built his house on was given to him by his grandmother, Mary Storey, who received her original land grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
in 1809.
That the Backus’s prospered can be attested to by the quality of the house built (as well as surviving business records) but that did not translate to an opulent lifestyle. Written correspondence from that time period seems to indicate that though the house was handsomely built it was plainly appointed. During the time the Backus Family lived within the house it was referred to as Lakeview. The Ministry of Natural Resources
Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)
The Ministry of Natural Resources is a government ministry of the Canadian province of Ontario that responsible for Ontario’s provincial parks, forests, fisheries, wildlife, mineral aggregates and the Crown lands and waters that make up 87 per cent of the province...
has since reforested
Reforestation
Reforestation is the natural or intentional restocking of existing forests and woodlands that have been depleted, usually through deforestation....
the area between the house and Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
but during the Backus era that land was cleared and afforded an excellent view of the shoreline and lake.
The two story red brick Georgian style home was constructed using approximately 72,000 bricks. The bricks were made from clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
dug from the field directly behind the house and fired right on the farm property. The bricks were used to build both interior and exterior walls of the house. The walls were built to last having a width of either 4 or 5 bricks.
Oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and black ash beams and joists were used in the framing
Framing (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
. Much of the lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
, such as pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, ash, and tulip
Tulip
The tulip is a perennial, bulbous plant with showy flowers in the genus Tulipa, which comprises 109 species and belongs to the family Liliaceae. The genus's native range extends from as far west as Southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, and Iran to the Northwest of China. The tulip's centre of...
which went into the finishing of the house was harvested from the adjacent woodlands. The house was heated by three main level fireplace
Fireplace
A fireplace is an architectural structure to contain a fire for heating and, especially historically, for cooking. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue allows gas and particulate exhaust to escape...
s, each with a black walnut
Black Walnut
Juglans nigra, the Eastern Black walnut, is a species of flowering tree in the hickory family, Juglandaceae, that is native to eastern North America. It grows mostly in riparian zones, from southern Ontario, west to southeast South Dakota, south to Georgia, northern Florida and southwest to central...
mantel
Mantel
Mantel is a municipality in the district of Neustadt in Bavaria in Germany....
and paneling. The fireplaces are no longer operational however the cooking crane hardware that presently remains within one indicates it would have done double duty as the original family cooking fire.
The Backus-Page House and property was obtained by Jonas Page in 1925. The Page family had settled in the area in the early 19th century as well and maintained property further up Lakeview Line. Members of the Page family resided on the estate and farmed the property for over 40 years. The house underwent a number of physical changes as it aged moving it away from its original 1850s state. Morley and Grace Page were the last of the Pages to live on the farm and they sold it to the Ministry of Natural Resources in 1968.
The Ministry of Natural Resources currently retains ownership of the Backus Page-House. The Ministry has entered into a lease agreement with the Tyrconnell Heritage Society. The society was incorporated in 1994 with the express purpose of restoring the house and property to its 1850’s condition. In 1998 the society undertook a restoration of the property, renamed the house in tribute to both its longtime owners and undertook a mandate of preservation and historical education regarding the estate and the Talbot Settlement in general.
The Page Family
In 1845, Jonas Page, with his wife and five year old son arrived from OxfordshireOxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
at Five Stakes, Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
which is now known as Talbotville. He was looking to settle in the area and was directed to the offices of Colonel Thomas Talbot. Talbot had obtained a large land grant from the British government along the shores of Lake Erie and was charged with organizing the settlement of the area.
Jonas, on completing the 14 miles (22.5 km) journey to Talbot’s log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
, found Talbot in a less than agreeable mood and was informed there was no land available. Not ready to give up yet, Jonas waited and returned several days later to try again and was awarded with a parcel of land at the princely sum of $2:00 an acre on the shores of Lake Erie, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Port Tyrconnell.
Jonas was able to clear the land and build a log house with the help of his nearest neighbour, a Mr. Job Curtis. This was an extremely important as Talbot had been known to repossess the land of settlers who did not clear and settler the land within an acceptable time period. With a home built he was able to return to Five Stakes (Talbotville) and move his family by oxen and sled the 20 miles (32.2 km) through the bush to their new home.
The settler’s life was a hard one. Still individuals would take time to work towards building a strong community. One of the first projects that Jonas was able to assist with was the erection of the First Methodist Church in Tyrconnell in 1855. Jonas was of a musical bent and when the church was finished he would lead the singing of the congregation keeping them in pitch with his own tuning fork
Tuning fork
A tuning fork is an acoustic resonator in the form of a two-pronged fork with the prongs formed from a U-shaped bar of elastic metal . It resonates at a specific constant pitch when set vibrating by striking it against a surface or with an object, and emits a pure musical tone after waiting a...
.
Jonas and his wife had 10 children.
The Tyrconnell Heritage Society
The Tyrconnell Heritage Society is a local independent societySociety
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
established to restore and preserve the Backus-Page House and the surrounding grounds situated in the heart of the Talbot Settlement. The society also works to compile and revel the rich historical traditional of the Talbot Settlement. The society was founded in 1993 when the future of the Backus-Page property became uncertain due to MNR policies. Incorporated under the umbrella of the Ontario Historical Society in 1994, the volunteer membership of the Tyrconnell Heritage Society has since worked tirelessly to further the society’s mandate
Mandate
Mandate can refer to:*Mandate , an obligation handed down by an inter-governmental body*Mandate , an official or authoritative command; an order or injunction*Mandate , the power granted by an electorate...
.
In 1998 the society entered into a 50 year lease agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources. This agreement, along with local financing and funding generously providing by the Ontario Trillium Foundation
Ontario Trillium Foundation
The Ontario Trillium Foundation , is an agency of the government of Ontario and one of Canada’s leading grantmaking foundations. It was created in 1982...
, allowed the society to move forward with the restoration of the 1850s Georgian style house. In addition to restoring house the society enlarged the grounds around the house, established a picnic area and erected a separate resource and multiuse facility behind the house. The Tyrconnell Heritage Society created three walking trails within the John E. Pearce Park, wherein which the Backus-Page House is located.
Today the society continues to move towards its goal of establishing the Backus-Page House as a living history museum. Every year the special event education program allows hundreds of children to experience the life of a Canadian pioneer
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
family. As the museum collection grows the society has had the opportunity to increase the museum’s exhibit calendar. The society and estate grounds continue to play host to a diverse number of celebrations ranging from wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
receptions to corporate day retreats.
As a part of its agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Tyrconnell Heritage Society continues to work to maintain the trails and facilities of the John E. Pearce Provincial Park. Society members provide guided hikes and support the work of educational and research institutions that conduct studies in the area. A membership agenda has been established to record the seasonal characteristics within the park boundaries.
Efforts are already underway to expand education programs to a year-round format as well as increase museum programming and activities. The renovation of the estate will take a giant step forward as the rectory barn is set to receive a welcome restoration. The Tyrconnell Heritage Society is dedicated to ensuring that the Backus-Page House Museum continues to enjoy its prominent position as one of the few remaining historical landmarks along the northern shore of Lake Erie.