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.
Ardtrea — 101 Clapperton St.
It’s hard to miss this sprawling mansion in the historic Grove neighbourhood. Its size and numerous historic features make Ardtrea an endlessly fascinating home to study.
Let’s start at the beginning with Thomas McConkey, who was born in Ardtrea, County Tyrone, Ireland. In 1823, Thomas, his wife Sarah and their six sons and three daughters left Belfast for Canada, landing in Quebec then living in Ottawa for about a year.
They headed west again, living for a few years in Chippewa Creek in the Niagara area before moving to West Gwillimbury, where Sarah and one of their sons died, before finally settling in Innisfil.
The McConkey farm was close to the Ross farm, near Barclay, and Thomas’ son, Thomas D. McConkey, married the neighbour’s daughter, Mary Ross.
Thomas Jr., known as T.D., and Mary left for Toronto in 1840, with T.D. working as a clerk for Thomas Clarkson, a dry goods merchant on Yonge Street. It was T.D.’s boss, Clarkson, who helped him open his own business in Barrie in 1843.
Five years later, T.D. hired Mary’s brother, Charles, and in 1855, the brothers-in-law formed their partnership McConkey & Ross.
Ross went on to become one of Barrie’s mayors, among other accomplishments, building his beautiful Maple Hill at the corner of Wellington and Toronto streets in the late 1860s.
In the mid-1870s, T.D. built his own house on the hill. Ardtrea can been seen in the distance in this view from Court House Hill.
Aside from contributing to the commercial development of the community, T.D. had a distinguished career in politics as well: magistrate for Vespra in 1836, reeve in 1855, county warden 1860-61, MPP for Simcoe North 1863-67, MP for Simcoe North 1867-72, and sherriff from 1875 until he died in 1890.
The house passed to McConkey’s daughter, Anne (Mrs. J.H. Plummer), upon his death, who used the home as a summer residence.
In the 1890s, Ardtrea was a magnificent estate with beautiful gardens, lawn tennis and a bowling green.
In the spring of 1922, the social pages reported that Mrs. Dignam would consider returning to Barrie, if they could find a suitable house.
Well, apparently the Dignams did find a suitable house — Ardtrea.
By January 1923, W.S. Dignam was looking at space for a grocery store, opening Curry’s Cash and Carry at 36 Dunlop St., about four doors west of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. That spring, an ad ran in the paper looking for ‘A reliable girl for light housework (no washing or ironing). Apply to Mrs. Dignam at 101 Clapperton’, and by fall, another ad for a ‘Good general maid, immediately. Apply to Mr. Dignam at Curry’s Cash and Cash or 101 Clapperton St.’
If you have ever walked by this home, you would understand why the lady of the house needed help – it’s enormous! Originally, there was an open verandah on all sides of the house. The tail of the building, which extends toward Wellington Street, at one time had sheds, a coach house and other structures connected to it across the back of the property adjacent to the street.
Ardtrea still retains so much of its impressive original architectural detailing: stained glass windows, elaborate bargeboard, decorative brickwork, distinctive chimney stacks and woodwork.
The home was recognized in 2018 with an award from Heritage Barrie for its historic significance.
An apartment building for many years now, Ardtrea has gifted so many tenants with the opportunity to live in one of Barrie’s most truly historic and iconic mansions.
