Tricky to Treat

To be honest, I was hoping to post “The Witch’s House” for Halloween. However, having biked past it a few times, no pumpkins were spotted unfortunately.

Down the road, the warmth of the giant smiley pumpkins outside Shield’s House made people stop and peek.

The owner’s effort in this old house’s Halloween décor is child’s play compared to its extensive restoration.

Behind the nostalgic gas lamp and taut chestnut tree, is a Second Empire house in such pristine condition, the restoration took nearly 3 years to complete, with every detail reviewed and approved by City of Toronto Heritage Preservation Services.

Take a peek inside Shield’s House (Source, YouTube / The Seymour Team Realty)

Although built by the same builder as its neighbors, Shield’s house stands out due to its stone veneer front instead of the usual clay brick façade. Its uniqueness also meant restoring the house to its former glory was a labor of love and a bit tricky.

The sandstone veneer and asphalt shingles on the roof were cleaned and bad ones were replaced. The marble stones at the corners were replaced.

The intricate wooden eaves and ornamental brackets below the convex mansard roof were repainted and repaired.

Commonly used in Second Empire style residences, the elaborate iron cresting on the roof and above the bay window were re-installed.

Since 1876 when it was first built, this house has only changed hands 3 times. Currently on sale, it may change hands again for 4^th time.

377 Sackville Street, Toronto