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P5618

ID Number: P5618
Item Name: Image
Title: Thornfield / Thornfield
Title (Fre): Thornfield
Date: post 1893
Description: Black and white photograph of Thornfield, the home of Colonel Arthur Rankin; the house is L-shaped, two-storeys high and is in a state of obvious disrepair / abandonment; there is an L-shaped covered porch with five posts, four windows and a door; the door is open and it appears as though there is no glass in the windows; there are two dormer windows in the second storey and two chimneys; the shingles on the roof are falling off in many places; there are bare trees surrounding the house and a path or boardwalk is leading from the edge of the photo to the house.
History: Thornfield was built in 1842 by W.R. Wood, then Deputy District Treasurer. It was bought by the Rankin family in 1848 and was used by the family until 1893. Colonel Arthur Rankin (1816-1893) moved to Sandwich from Montreal around 1860. He fought six duels on Belle Isle before they were outlawed. Col. Rankin volunteered for service during MacKenzie's Rebellion. He married Mary McKee of Chatham and had two sons, Arthur McKee and George. He was one of the first private owners of Boblo Island which he bought for $10 in 1874. He sold the island to his son, McKee, for $15,000 who gave it to his wife in lieu of alimony. In January, 1887 she sold the island for $40,000.
Place made: Canada - Ontario - Sandwich
Collection Name: Museum Windsor

Subjects

Abandoned buildings / Édifices abandonnés

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