The Carter-Holland House 1875
Cultural Value
This impressive house was built In the Gothic Revival and Italianate style in 1875 by Henry Carter, who had important connections to the Town of Thorold. This house dictated the setback of the remaining houses on Welland Street and the exquisite untouched detailing makes it one of the gems of our community.
Historical Significance
Dr. Henry Rolls conveyed Lot 11 to Henry Carter: A mason. He was a member of the second Thorold Band organized in the late 1850’s and later the Orange Young Britons Band, which became known as the Thorold Reed Band – still in existence and one of the oldest bands in the Niagara Region. He was also a firefighter and was one of the first 8 Councilors to be elected in the new Town of Thorold in 1875.
In 1939 the property was bought by Gertrude Mae Holland and remained in the Holland family for the next 60 years.
Architectural
In Ontario we had exuberant folk art which blossomed all over the gables, eaves and porches of most of the vernacular houses of Canada best between 1840-70. * This picturesque brick house with a steep pitched roof, located on a corner, has beautifully understated barge boards which are a perfect complement to the Gothic/Italianate style. These boards are comprised of simple rounded fretwork in a doubled pattern, separated by squared’ drop finial posts.
A Cathedral Window is located on the south side of the house, 2nd floor; the windows on the brick portion of the house have limestone slipsills and the first floor front windows have strong Italian influences incorporated into the cut limestone lintels. The beautifully-designed arched windows are significant, as well as the shutters. The foundation stones are of limestone rubble, separated by a decorative limestone stretcher, lining the entire front of the building, thus separating the foundation stones from the brick masonry work of the walls.
The frame addition (later 19th century) was built with sympathetic styling to the main house.
This is a very fine example of height of the Gothic movement in architecture and one of the only houses in the immediate area to have so many embellishments associated with that style.
