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.
194 Collier St.
This attractive dwelling once belonged to Gordon and Monica Stevenson. In the early 1900s, it was the only home on the north side of Charlotte Street (now Collier Street) between Albert and Dundonald streets, other than a distinctive mansion, the Roxborough.
Gordon was the son of John Mclean Stevenson, who was born 1835 in Lanark, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. John McLean, one-time solicitor of Bradford, was both surrogate registrar and deputy clerk of Crown and County until his death.
In 1877, John McLean was also one of a small group of business men, such as Nathaniel Dyment, that helped launch two local utilities: the Barrie Gas Company and Barrie Waterworks Company.
The Barrie Gas Company was built on Kempenfelt Drive. The thriving new utility business and appliance sales were managed from the company offices in the Music Hall building overlooking Fred Grant (Memorial) Square. Gas was far more popular for lighting and cooking than previously-used resources such as wood, coal, kerosene etc. and by 1878, Barrie’s coal oil street lamps were replaced with gas lights.
The Barrie Waterworks Company was a more complex proposition. Dunlop Street was under construction by 1890, as trenches for water mains were dug. A wood-fired furnace and steam-driven boilers powered the pumping station on lower Mary Street.
In 1925, John’s son, Gordon, an insurance agent, married Kathleen Monica Cotter Barwick. Monica was the granddaughter of J.R. Cotter who was born in Cork County, Ireland in 1836. Cotter, a lawyer and later appointed Crown attorney of Simcoe County, was married to George Lount’s daughter Hannah.
Cotter is responsible for building not one but two impressive homes: Rockforest, a stately Wellington Street ridge mansion at 54 Peel St., now demolished, and Rockforest II on Owen Street. After giving the bride away in a flower-filled Trinity Anglican Church, a dainty luncheon reception was served on the veranda of Cotter’s lovely Owen Street home. The couple planned to reside at Rockforest II following their honeymoon.
There are some indicators that after purchasing the Collier Street home about 1926, Stevenson immediately began advertising the house for sale or rent but the family remained there for many, many years.
This charming home, at first glance, has the appearance of duplex, given its symmetrical design. Although the house has seen some updates, detailing on the brickwork and the bracketing flanking the twinned stacked bay windows continue the period look of the structure. The side entrance veranda with its delicate spindles and traditional Victorian woodwork compliments this gracious home.
