THEN AND NOW: The Breezes remains a family home to this day

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. 

The Breezes — 57 Berczy St.

P.H. Stewart clearly loved the breathtaking views and neighbourhood of upper Berczy Street. 

Stewart, founder of the Cookstown Advocate, moved to Barrie in the 1880s, where he became the deputy treasurer of Simcoe County. 

The first home he built in Barrie, Highlands, is located at 89 Berczy St. The Breezes was reportedly his new home, or cottage as it was referred to, but it is unclear if he ever lived there before he passed away in 1901.

For sure, Daniel Quinlan, treasurer of the County of Simcoe, lived there.

Daniel was born in Vespra Township on the family homestead to Michael (of County Clare, Ireland) and Jane Maloney Quinlan, one of eight children. Their Vespra farm on St. Vincent Street (now part of Barrie) is well known to many Barrie residents as the former Bell farm, which was purchased from the Quinlan family in 1914 by Bell brothers Robert and Thomas.

Daniel spent most of his life working the family farm until his father retired and sold to the Bells.

Quinlan was a successful farmer… and many other things. He started his municipal career in 1895 as a councillor in Vespra Township, becoming reeve a year later and part of the county council for the Vespra-Sunnidale division in 1897. While continuing to sit on the county council he was honoured with the wardenship until his appointment as treasurer in 1905.

As warden, Quinlan was referred to as “the father of Good Roads in Simcoe County,” paving the way for other counties by passing a bylaw to kick off a “County Good Roads System” that sprung from his belief in the value of improved highways.

Even after the family farm was sold, Quinlan remained active in agriculture. He was president of the Barrie Agricultural Society for 25 years, promoting the fall exhibition, spring fairs and field crop competitions. The financial success of the Barrie Fair was largely credited to the efforts of Dan Quinlan.

His longtime and close friend R.J. Fletcher (Fletcher’s home became the second Royal Victoria Hospital) worked with him in the administration of the fair for 25 years as well. Quinlan was also a director of the Joint Stock Co., along with tailor Alex Milne and J.J. Brown, who sold seeds and grains in his Dunlop Street store.

Daniel Quinlan served his community even further as a separate school trustee and chairman of the board, chair of the Public Library Board, president of the Barrie Community Association, president of the Mother’s Allowance Commission for Simcoe County, member of the Royal Victoria Hospital Board and Children’s Aid Executive, and chair of the Barrie Kiwanis Club municipal committee. A very dedicated citizen indeed.

Daniel took the death in November 1922 of his old friend, R.J. Fletcher, very hard. He had been coping with his own health issues for several months, but not even his closest friends realized how ill he was until the following new year when he spent several weeks in bed before departing for the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota in March.

Even the world-renowned hospital could not offer much optimism. Near the end of April, Quinlan spent five weeks in Chicago undergoing special, but unsuccessful treatment for his kidney cancer, and was taken by ambulance from the train station upon arriving back in Barrie.

Quinlan passed away two weeks later, triggering a huge outpouring of sadness within the city and across the county over the loss of such a respected and kind gentlemen.

The lovely Breezes was the setting for Daniel Quinlan’s funeral before a Requiem High Mass was held for him at St. Mary’s Church.

The Breezes, still a gracious family home, continues to sit at the crest of a pleasant wooded hillside overlooking beautiful Kempenfelt Bay.