Five South Dundas home owners will open their doors to the public this Sunday, September 25 for the Homes on the St. Lawrence House tour in support of the community’s off leash dog park.
Organized by the Park Pals committee, the House tour features five homes, four of which are directly on the St. Lawrence and the fifth with a great view of the Morrisburg dock and waterfront area.
In addition each of the homes will have their front entries or outdoor living spaces decorated by local artists and/or businesses.
Starting at the east end of the tour, the first house featured is the historic home owned by Ian and Cathy MacKay.
The home built in 1894 is located overlooking the Morrisburg dock on the curve where Ottawa Street turns into Lakeshore Drive.
Cathy MacKay says she and her husband are delighted to open their home, the former “Falcon” tourist home to the public.
“We feel the house is part of Morrisburg’s history and welcome people to come and visit it,” says Cathy.
She feels that visitors, like she and her husband, will be delighted with the impressive Victorian hardware, the intricate wooden staircase, imposing sliding doors between the principal main floor rooms and the excellent quality of the original butternut wood working.
The home was built in the late 1800’s by Mr. Gibson for his son. In the 1930’s it was run as The Falcon Tourist Home and accommodated people who came to see Dr. Locke. It was later owned by the Kincaids who operated a monument business on the property.
The MacKays have owned the home for 1.5 years.
With the longtime green shutters now being painted black, Cathy is looking forward to her front entry being decorated by Belle Flower Gifts located on Highway 31, north of Winchester.
Heading west, the next stop is at 12014 Lakeshore Drive at the attractive, two-year-old, Guildcrest-built home of Marjorie Smith.
The home is totally custom built and features an open concept with nine foot ceilings, a 16 foot cathedral ceiling, three bedrooms and, of course, a fantastic view of the St. Lawrence.
Marjorie, a salesperson with Guildcrest Homes is originally from Winchester. She owned two previous Guildcrest Homes before designing this one for her waterfront property.
Marjorie’s back patio living space will be decorated by Cardinal Flowers and Gift Gallery which has locations in Morrisburg and Cardinal.
Owned and operated by Michael O’Brien and Frank Fralic, the Cardinal Flower and Gift Galleries are full service retail gift shops specializing in fresh floral tributes for all occasions.
Michael O’Brien who toured the Smith home Sunday, said he several good ideas for the space.
Next up on the tour, is the Gord and Robin Lane home located right next door to the Smiths at 12012 Lakeshore.
The custom built three storey Lane home is seven years old. It is environmentally friendly and was designed by Gordon and Robin.
“As a result it has many personal touches,” says Gord. “It’s a cement house and has real stone on the exterior. Robin and I both went to the University of Saskatchewan and our home has the same stone as the university which came from the foothills of Alberta. It’s our piece of memorabilia.”
Other highlights of the home include the oak floors which came from the Lane’s bush lot in Quebec, the interior and front doors all glass done by a Quebec artisan and a copper ceiling.
Robin has also arranged to feature the art sculpturing of Paverpol Sculptures for the day. “They are going to put a mermaid in the pool, which will be interesting.”
The Lane’s entry will be decorated by local decorator Karen Marshall whose Something Unique: Interior Decorating and Home Staging has been working with homeowners locally for 15 years.
Marshall says she is looking forward to decorating the Lane’s entry and while she won’t give away any secrets, she will be including copper in her design.
“I’m still playing around with some ideas, so I don’t want to show my hand yet,” says Marshall. “It’s definitely going to be a fall theme and something that Gordon and Robin will enjoy.”
Next stop on the tour is the home of Mae Pederson at 5648 Birch Lane. (left turn off Lakeshore Drive, just east of Flagg Creek).
The Pederson home is one of the few farm houses along the St. Lawrence that was not lost to the Seaway.
It consists of the orginal farmhouse built in the late 1700s and an addition added in the 1800s.
Pederson purchased the home eight years ago, “when it was 35 below zero and there was four feet of snow.”
In those eight years she has “tore down all the walls inside to open it up” and the result is her open concept dream home.
Her kitchen occupies the original farmhouse and is wide open to the roofline with original restored wood plank floor.
Handling her entry design for the house tour is Elaine of Canadian Tire in Morrisburg.
Located at the west end of the tour is the home of Claude Lavoie located at 11158 Gresdale Boulevard.
To reach the two storey, Lavoie home, visitors must travel to County Highway 2 towards Iroquois and turn left onto Saver Road. Travel south on Saver Road and turn left onto Grisdale Boulevard.
The beautiful homes is distinguished by white fencing and offers up some great views of the St. Lawrence.
The home’s entry will be decorat by Eileen Johnston in conjunction with Riley’s Valu-mart in Morrisburg.
The tour will run from 1-4 p.m. and the cost is $20 per person.Tickets can be purchased at Mustard’s Variety in Iroquois or Cardinal Flowers in Morrisburg.
Refreshment will be served at the Lane home.
The event is a fund raiser for the South Dundas Dog Park located in Morrisburg.
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