Item
The Demise of the Poor House Farm
Beacon
Aug. 10, 1918
To His Worship the Mayor,
Dear Mr. Greenlaw:
It has been suggested to me by the Manager-in-Chief of the Canadian Pacific Railway's hotels, that it might be possible for the Town of St. Andrews to be willing to exchange the Poor House, situated on the Farm and which is rented by us for Golf Links, for the property known as The Inn at Indian Point. This building is in thorough repair, with outhouses consisting of a large carriage shed, 3 horse stalls, 3 cow stalls, large hen house, coal and woodshed, with very large accommodation for hay and straw etc. in the loft of same, and also excellent storage on the floor above the coal shed. There is also an acetylene gas plant and the whole house is in good shape. There are 20 rooms in the house, 2 bathrooms with all fixtures. There is a large attic which would accommodate from 15 to 16 people and the whole is thoroughly equipped for lighting with acetylene gas, even the attic. There is a large water tank in the attic, which holds 5,000 gallons; there is also a good artesian well and soft water system with leaders from the roof; this is solid brick and holds about 10,000 gallons of water, and will at all times ensure sufficient water for domestic purposes.
The original part of the house is piped for hot air heating, with registers in all the principle rooms of that part of the house; this could be used in the summer time exclusively, and if it was necessary to close off this part of the house in the Winter time, the extension, which includes the kitchen, contains eight bedrooms, sitting room downstairs and a large kitchen, and can be closed off so that one stove upstairs will do the heating and the kitchen range will heat the lower portion. There is a three-section range left in the building, which is in good order.
It has occurred to me that the exchange of buildings might be more suitable for Town purposes; at the same time the Golf Club have found it imperative that the Golf Club House be extended and on the present site of which the Golf Club house stands there is no room without interfering with the layout of the Golf Course. There is a possibility that we might be able to use the present Poor House with extensive alterations, make same available for the Golf House, as the intervening section of land between the two courses is very essential to us for the purpose of teaching golf. At the present time we find it necessary to do the teaching on the Fairway of the 18-hole course, which of course is a detriment at all times to the players, and at the same time embarrassing to the people who are being taught.
I should esteem it a great favour if you would kindly take this proposition up before the Council and advise me on what basis the transfer could be made, keeping in mind the fact that we will still continue to pay the rental of the farm grounds, which at the present time is leased on a ten year lease, four of which is still to run, with the option of the renewal at the expiration of this time. I shall be glad to have this lease renewed at the time when the present lease expires.
Your attention to this matter personally, with an early reply, would be very gratefully received by,
Yours faithfully,
A. Allerton
Beacon
Sept. 7, 1918
Carried: "That the exchange of buildings [Inn for Poor House] be made on the basis of a bonus of five hundred dollars per annum to be paid the Town in addition to the payment to the Town of the present rental of 250 dollars per annum on the land known as the Poor-Farm; also the rent of 80 dollars per annum on the land at "Indian Point" on a portion of which the "Inn" is situated, the foregoing to be subject to the approval of the rate-payers of the Town."