This ongoing series from Barrie Historical Archive curator Deb Exel shows old photos from the collection and one from the present day, as well as the story behind them.
166 Collier St.
Looks can be deceiving. Records can be tricky, too.
But it’s possible the home at 166 Collier St. has been standing since the late 1870s when Robert and Margaret Neill owned the property.
The house was built on land originally owned by William Davis Ardagh, whose home The Hill overlooked the Collier Street property.
Actually, the east end of Collier Street between Berczy Street and the intersection of Dundonald Street (the bottom of 'Supertest Hill' to locals) and Blake Street was known as Charlotte Street at that time. It was part of the Berczy Block and named for one of William Berczy’s seven daughters. Charlotte Street, one of Barrie’s oldest, was renamed to Collier Street in 1952.
Robert Neill, born in Glasgow in 1827, had a shop in 1872 on Dunlop Street where he manufactured and dealt in shoes in boots. Robert passed away in 1892, but the Neill family owned 166 Collier St. until about 1895, when the Urquharts moved in.
Andrew Urquhart was born about 1850 in Scott, Ont., now part of Uxbridge, and grew up in that area. As a young man, he spent a year in Toronto before going into the lumber industry. He married Mary Gordon, daughter of Angus lumber merchant Joseph Gordon.
Urquhart worked first with his father, then as a bookkeeper in the lumber business with the Burtons.
The Burton brothers were major players in the Barrie area. George Burton launched steamboat the Ida Burton in 1866 – the first to be built in Barrie. The steamer made daily trips between Barrie, Orillia and the Severn River providing connections for stage coach and rail travellers, until it was retired in Orillia in 1875.
Tragically, George drowned in Lake Simcoe 1869. Brothers Martin and James formed Burton Bros. Lumber after George’s death.
The Burton boys did well in the lumber industry: Martin lived in a beautiful home overlooking Queen’s Park, and James had a magnificent mansion in Allandale – Springbank.
The Urquharts lived on Collier Street for many years, raising their family and attending the nearby Methodist Church. Socially, Andrew was a past master of the Corinthian Lodge in 1892 and 1893 and a member of the Foresters, United Workmen and Sons of Scotland.
The Collier Street home was the setting of both weddings, Miss Mina Gordon’s, and funerals — Andrew’s — when he passed away at the age of 75.
Although the original front porch, second-storey balcony, cornice over the main-floor bay windows, front entrance sidelights and transom as well as other architectural features have been replaced or removed over the years, the old Urquhart home still retains its charm and character.
