Scadding Cabin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scadding Cabin |
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Entrance to Scadding Cabin
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| Location | Alberta Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Built | 1794 |
| Current use | Museum |
| Governing body | York Pioneers |
| Website | York Pioneers |
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The Scadding Cabin (also called Simcoe Cabin) is a very old log cabin in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was built way back in 1794 for a person named John Scadding. Today, it's the oldest building still standing in Toronto! You can find it on the grounds of Exhibition Place.
Contents
The Cabin's History
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The Scadding Cabin was first built on land owned by John Scadding. He was an immigrant from England. Building the cabin helped him meet the rules for settling on the land given to him by the Crown (the government).
Where it all began
The cabin originally stood on the east side of the Don River. This was south of where Queen Street East is today. John Scadding's land grant was huge, about 253 acres. It stretched from Lake Ontario up to what is now Danforth Avenue. Scadding lived in the cabin until 1796, when he went back to England.
A new owner and a new purpose
When John Scadding returned to York (which is now Toronto) in 1818, he sold his property. A farmer named William Smith bought it. Smith used the cabin as a smaller building on his farm. The cabin stayed with the Smith family until 1879.
Moving to its new home
In 1879, John Smith, who owned the Scadding property at the time, gave the cabin to the York Pioneers. This was a historical society. Interestingly, Henry Scadding, John Scadding's son, was one of the people who started this society.
The year 1879 was also when the Toronto Industrial Exhibition began. This event later became the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). The York Pioneers worked with the Exhibition's founders. They decided to move the cabin to its current spot. This was done to celebrate the start of the fair.
The cabin was carefully taken apart. Then, it was moved and put back together by the York Pioneers. This happened on August 22, 1879. It was placed on the grounds of the first Industrial Exhibition, near where Fort Rouillé used to be.
The Cabin Today
The York Pioneers group now runs Scadding Cabin as a museum. It's like stepping back in time!
What you can see inside
The Scadding Cabin is set up to look like a pioneer home from the 1830s to the early 1840s. Even though it's set in that time, some items inside are even older, dating back to the 1790s. The oldest item is a baby's cradle. John Scadding himself made it!
Other things you might see include:
- Two spinning wheels and a wool winder. These were used to make thread and yarn.
- Tools for making bread and butter.
- A candle mould for making candles.
- Utensils for cooking over an open fireplace.
When to visit
Scadding Cabin is open during the CNE. This big fair happens every year from mid-August until the end of the Canadian Labour Day weekend. The cabin also opens for special events during the summer. For example, it's often open during Toronto's Doors Open event. In the past, it has also been open during the Luminato Festival and the annual CHIN picnic. These events are also held at Exhibition Place.
Recent repairs
In 2022, some rot was found in one of the main wooden logs of the cabin. The York Pioneers worked hard to raise money. They then made important repairs to the cabin in 2023 to keep it strong.
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