From left to right: 17 and 19 Wyatt Street East, Elmira, Township of Woolwich, ON
Excerpt from www.woolwich.ca/media/2ncms3ln/elmira-walking-tour-route-...:
17 and 19 Wyat Street East
These twin houses were built by the well-known local mason, Charles Wilken, who also did the masonry on the Great West Felt Co. at the north end of Elmira. He built No. 19 for himself about 1907 and then built No. 17 shortly thereafter for his wife’s sister who wanted an identical house. One difference between the original buildings were in the foundation blocks; Charles’ son Walter relates that the sister- in-law and her husband spent evenings through the winter making the blocks for No. 17 by hand.
During the winter of 1977-78, an addition was added to the south and east sides of the 1912 building which doubled the area of the library. The new addition was sympathetically designed to reinforce the original architectural features. The addition was set back from the front façade, leaving the focus on the original building, and the rounded windows echo the semi-circular arch over the original main entrance.
The geometric latticework or treillage (a Regency feature) over the verandas is a special feature of these houses. The turned posts are also original, and the bottom railing of the upper veranda on No. 17 is probably original while that of No. 19 has been replaced. Notice also the delicate scrollwork at the top of the Italianate round-headed windows.
From left to right: 17 and 19 Wyatt Street East, Elmira, Township of Woolwich, ON
Excerpt from www.woolwich.ca/media/2ncms3ln/elmira-walking-tour-route-...:
17 and 19 Wyat Street East
These twin houses were built by the well-known local mason, Charles Wilken, who also did the masonry on the Great West Felt Co. at the north end of Elmira. He built No. 19 for himself about 1907 and then built No. 17 shortly thereafter for his wife’s sister who wanted an identical house. One difference between the original buildings were in the foundation blocks; Charles’ son Walter relates that the sister- in-law and her husband spent evenings through the winter making the blocks for No. 17 by hand.
During the winter of 1977-78, an addition was added to the south and east sides of the 1912 building which doubled the area of the library. The new addition was sympathetically designed to reinforce the original architectural features. The addition was set back from the front façade, leaving the focus on the original building, and the rounded windows echo the semi-circular arch over the original main entrance.
The geometric latticework or treillage (a Regency feature) over the verandas is a special feature of these houses. The turned posts are also original, and the bottom railing of the upper veranda on No. 17 is probably original while that of No. 19 has been replaced. Notice also the delicate scrollwork at the top of the Italianate round-headed windows.