Video Saved the Radio Star

During lunch on a random weekday, I was killing time on realtor.ca, I saw this house was looking for a new owner.

I remember showing this gem to my manager, who was house hunting back then. Whenever I came across something “special”, I would just randomly text her house listings.

A double garage, finished basement, built within the last 15 years, was pretty much her requirement.

This 158-year-old house has no garage, no basement and a high land tax due to its large lot. The exact opposite of what she was looking for, but the fully renovated interior, makes it “kind of special” was the way she put it.

Behind the luscious gardening and classic white picket fence is a simple but elegant Pre-Confederation era house.

The first occupant was a shoemaker. The modest white Georgian style board and batten house is a lovely architectural reflection of his modest business.

The originality of the house has been well preserved. The six-by-six windows on the 2^nd floor are still original to the house. Large pieces of windows glass were expensive back then, so six-by-six small panes of glass were used instead.

The dark grey wood trim around the windows and front door are also original. The red door, perhaps a religious nod to the biblical time of red color, meaning welcoming and protection, with the pair of lantern lights complete the whole package.

While it is true, with rapid urbanization, new mega condos are built to satisfy an ever-growing population, old houses would fall prey to modern developers.

At the same time, ironically, since we are living in the age of the internet, it has helped increase the reach of marketing, with pictures and videos, making it easier to find potential buyers that can appreciate them.

Last time I checked, the shoemaker’s house has found its new caretaker.

2 Wismer Place, Markham