The Painter’s Daughter

If the urban jungle of Toronto is as mundane as an old wardrobe, stepping through the gates of Wychwood Park from Davenport, the transformation from busy gridlock traffic to a serene snowy forest, must feel like entering Narnia.

Wychwood Park has an almost mystical allure. Afterall, the park is not even on Google Streetview. 

There is no white witch, nor are there talking animals in the snowy forest of Wychwood though.

Instead, one of the first houses that greets you once belonged to a painter’s daughter, Cyrilda Matthews Goodman.

Her dad, Marmaduke Matthews was one of the park’s founders. Cyrilda married a lawyer from Waterloo, Ambrose K. Goodman. Sadly, their son would later perish in World War 1.

Just like her dad’s house (6 Wychwood Park), Cyrilda’s house is perched on a hill near Bathurst / Davenport, overlooking Lake Ontario back in 1900s.

I remember when this house was put on sale two years ago, the cover photo on MLS with the house enjoying the panoramic view of Downtown Toronto, just between the tree lines was mesmerizing.

After the house was sold, it has been under renovation since then. It seems that every time this house changes hands, a major renovation follows.

The front two columns below the portico were removed and added back on. Originally this house had a cedar roof with grey stucco. The previous owner wanted a brick façade instead. Not sure what changes the new owner would make to the house.

4 Wychwood Park, Toronto
Cover Photo (First Photo) Source – Birdhouse Media

Youtube Video of 4 Wychwood Park (Source, Birdhouse Media)