Erchless Estate Historic Gardens, Wall and Fence Restoration Project
History
In 1827 Col. Wm. Chisholm purchased 960 acres of land at the mouth of the Sixteen Mile Creek and began to develop the harbour and the village of Oakville. The house, which began as a Custom Office and warehouse c. 1835, was completed in 1856 and was home to six generations of Chisholm’s family. Sold out of the family in 1967, the four-acre Erchless estate, which includes the family home, the Custom House, and two cottages, was purchased by the Town of Oakville in 1877 for $550,000.
In 1983, assisted by a matching grant from the Ontario Heritage Foundation and funds raised for exhibits by the Oakville Historical Society, the Custom House was restored and opened as a Museum. In 1989, again assisted by a matching grant from the Ontario Heritage Foundation the family home was restored to its 1920s appearance at a total cost of about $750,000, and opened to the public in 1991. The Town completed the exterior restoration of the Coach House in 1998.The inhibiting red brick wall that ran along Navy and King Streets replaced a wall that had been built some time between the late 1930s and early 1950s. Built without a foundation or capping, it soon began to deteriorate, reached a stage of imminent collapse posing a public safety hazard, and had to be removed in the summer of 2001.
Project
Plans to replace the brick wall with a replication of the stone wall and iron fence which surrounded the estate in 1924, the site’s restoration date, had been proceeding since 1999. The design presented by Landscape Architect John Wilmott has been approved by both Heritage Oakville and Council. The Town of Oakville had committed $150,000 to the project and the Oakville Museum along with many volunteers are championing this project through the annual Jazz on the Sixteen event.
Jazz on the Sixteen 2007 will help continue Phase Two of the “Erchless Historic Wall, Gardens & Fence Restoration Project,” which includes the construction of a new courtyard entrance, installation of cast iron fencing, and eventually the complete restoration of the gardens on the property to their 1925 appearance.
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