Griffin House (Ancaster, Ontario) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Griffin House |
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Griffin House in 2010
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| Location | Ontario, Canada |
| Nearest city | Hamilton |
| Built | 1827 |
| Original use | House |
| Current use | House museum |
| Governing body | Hamilton Conservation Authority |
| Designated | 2007 |
The Griffin House is a special house built in 1827 in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. It became famous because of Enerals Griffin and his wife, Priscilla. They bought the house and 50 acres of land in 1834. The Griffins were once enslaved, meaning they were forced to work without freedom. They bravely escaped to Canada in the early 1800s to find their freedom.
The Griffins were among the first Black settlers in the area. Their home is an important part of Black history in Canada. Today, the Griffin House offers tours about the Underground Railroad and other history programs.
A Home with a Story
The Griffin House was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 2008. This means it is a very important place in Canadian history. The house is a rare example of a four-room home. This style was common in Upper Canada (what Ontario was called back then) in the early 1800s.
Enerals Griffin was an African American man from Virginia. He was once enslaved but escaped to Canada in 1834. The house is a one-and-a-half-story building. It sits just above the Dundas Valley in Ancaster, which is now part of the City of Hamilton. The Griffin House looks like a typical Georgian architecture style home from the 1800s.
For 150 years, the Griffin family lived and farmed on this land. In 1988, a Griffin family member sold the property. It was bought by the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority. They wanted to save the house and share its history.
The house was carefully restored between 1992 and 1994. Workers found over 3,000 old items during this time! Today, the house is a museum. It is run by the Hamilton Conservation Authority and Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum. Visitors can learn about the house and its history. There are also beautiful waterfalls nearby, called Heritage Falls or Griffin Falls. These are also a popular spot for visitors.
Saving the Griffin House
The Griffin House was sold to the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority (HRCA) in 1988. The person who sold it was Bernard Griffin-Costello, a descendant of the Griffin family. At first, some people thought about turning the house into a private home. But the HRCA wanted to make it a heritage site. They wanted to teach people about African Canadian history.
By 1991, a local committee called LACAC agreed the Griffin House was an important heritage site. Even with this good news, there were some disagreements about the project.
Some people in the Ancaster community were worried. They thought the restoration project would be too expensive. They also worried about too many tourists, traffic, and noise. They were concerned about building a parking lot on rural land. However, the HRCA decided to continue with their plans to save and restore the Griffin House.
In November 1993, everyone finally agreed to continue the restoration. This decision came after meetings with the LACAC, Hamilton's Black community, and other Ancaster residents. However, the money for the project was cut. It went from $70,000 to $40,000. Some community members felt this cut was unfair. They believed it was an attempt to make local African Canadian history seem less important.
Despite these challenges, the HRCA kept working on the project. They worked with the local Black community, including the Stewart Memorial Church. This helped them share the history of the Griffin House even better. An advisory committee was also formed. It included staff and volunteers from the Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum and the HRCA. They helped with research on African Canadian history in the area.
The Griffin House officially opened to the public in February 1995. The museum inside the home tells the story of the Griffin family. It also shares the history of their farm from 1830 to 1988. Visitors can learn about Black settlement in the Hamilton-Wentworth area. This includes information on jobs, education, and religion. The Griffin House continues to be a very important place for learning about African Canadian history.
Recent Restoration Work
In the fall of 2022, a new restoration project began at Griffin House. This project will take several years and should be finished by the end of 2024. The project has received almost $1 million in funding. This money comes from local, provincial, and federal governments. Once the work is done, the house will have a new foundation. Its outside, porches, ramp, and pathway will also be restored.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Griffin para niños
