REMEMBER THIS: Glen Ormond grounds once stretched to the lakeshore

The distinctive mansion house, once known as Glen Ormond, is today an island in a sea of more recent buildings. The original four-acre grounds surrounding 11 Rodney St., once stretched all the way down to the waterfront.

“Glen Ormond is a substantially built brick and stone 12-room residence standing in beautifully laid out grounds and gardens.”

The Barrie Examiner of July 11, 1929 included a two-page article describing the auction sale that was held to dispose of the property, boats and cars, art work, china, fine furnishings and other luxury goods left by Mr. D.T. Rees, who had recently passed away.

“An unrestricted view of the Bay and frontage of 300 to 400 feet to the lakeshore with private lots and bathing beach; a large range of green houses and hot houses, also gardener’s house, double garage, boat houses etc.”

The fabulous home with the Celtic sounding name was built about 1895 for John Dickinson. Dickinson was born into a well to do family in Dublin, Ireland. His father, Sir Drury Jones Dickinson, was a prominent lawyer as was his grandfather. Some family connection may exist with Ormond Castle southwest of Dublin.

Young Dickinson decided upon a career in civil engineering which took him to Spain where he built railroads. After that, he set out for Canada where the railway was fast expanding in Simcoe County. Eventually, the profession of his forefathers began to interest him and John Dickinson was soon a practising lawyer.

Glen Ormond was designed for Dickinson by Eustace Bird and built by George Ball.

John Dickinson and his wife, the former Eliza Lount, were not long in the house. John Dickinson died in February 1903 and the home next passed to George Warnica of Innisfil who later sold it to David Lennox, also of Innisfil.

In 1910, Glen Ormond got a new owner.

“Mr. D.T. Rees, a gentleman from New Orleans, has purchased the property of the late John Dickinson and is at present making extensive renovations and alterations. Mr. Rees will be a good acquisition to our town as he is a great sport. He has the fastest motor boat on Lake Simcoe, a boat which boasts a speed of 18 miles an hour. He is also the possessor of a large motor touring car.”

The Rees family, who used Glen Ormond as their summer home, brought their entire staff with them from Louisiana every year. The train would stop for them in front of their east-end Barrie estate.

In May 1929, word came to Mr. Homewood, the caretaker of Glen Ormond, that his employer who was expected to arrive in Barrie within the week, had passed away. The reports in the local newspapers about the auction that followed give a unique window into the opulence of what was then described as a “beautiful lakefront country estate."

Included in the sizeable inventory of treasures on offer were paintings by “reputed Old Masters," fine Waterford and Bohemian glassware, Empire period French vases, Chinese bronze wall pieces, carved walnut, rosewood and mahogany furniture, a collection of orchids, and Rees’ ultimate toy – his speed boat.

“Expensive 35 feet motor launch the Ormond in mahogany, 100 horse power, six cylinders, in excellent condition.” 

At the end of the day, Mr. R. Wark, a Woolworth’s executive, had purchased both the house and the coveted water craft. The other assorted valuables for sale had gone in many different directions as Mr. Wark had said “I don’t require statuary." The sales totalled $40,000.

Possibly the most disappointed customer of the day may have been one of the men who had been ultimately outbid on the sale of the house itself, its designer, Eustace Bird.