44/ DECEMBER 2018 THE RIDER REAL ESTATE: Community and Fellowship Disappearing


By Teri Davidson Small towns have always had


a big piece of my soul and heart. I grew up in Toronto, Ontario but my early years, summers and vacations where spent on our family farm in Whitevale near Pickering, Ontario. I come from a long time gener-


ation farm family and community. Markham was the biggest town


near our farm and we spent time at the annual fair and did some shop- ping there. Outside of that we


Experience TERI DAVIDSON 42 Years


Broker/Owner of Associate Realty Brantford Inc. (519) 758-7307


Call Teri to sell your farm


Spectacular Century Home Bursting With Style And Full Of Luxurious Character! So much Heart and Soul has gone into


the Design and Finishes within this Immacu- late Burford Beauty circa 1843. This Peaceful 3.5 acre Property is situated on a Sprawling, Private Lot surrounded by Serene Lush Greenery and Farm Land as far as the eye can see.


This Two Story, Triple Brick Home with


4 Bedrooms and 3 Bathrooms is a mix of Old World Charm and Modern Amenities with a long list of features including all New Electri- cal, Plumbing, HVAC, Furnace, AC, Central Vac, Steel Roof, Energy Efficient Windows, Porch, Back Deck, Board and Batten Mud- room Addition and Slate Walkway. As you enter the home you are welcomed by the Huge Cathedraled Kitchen, Custom White Shaker Cabinets, complete with Granite, Large Is- land, High End Appliances, Exposed Brick Wall and Reclaimed Beams. From there you can make your way through the Sliding Barn Door into the Custom White Shaker Butlers Pantry with Built-in Laundry, Utility Sink and a 2nd Fridge. The Powder Room features Marble Bas-


ketweave Floors, a Chrome and Porcelain Console Vanity with Exposed Brick and Gor- geous Millwork. The Main Bath has a Large Custom White Subway Tile and Glass Shower with Carrara Marble Flooring. The Ensuite in- cludes a Claw Foot Tub, a White Subway Tile and Glass Shower and a Reclaimed Oak Van- ity with Hexagon Carrara Marble Flooring throughout. The Home also boasts 11’ Ceil- ings, a Gracious Foyer with Original Front Door, Ornate Plaster Ceiling Medallions and


Crown, Gorgeous 16” High Baseboards, Original Staircase, Original Refinished Pine Plank Flooring, Pot Lights and Designer Light Fix- tures.


The Attention to Detail and Era is evident throughout, the Prop-


erty is Pristinely Manicured and the View from the Porch Daybed features Absolutely Stunning Scenery. Take advantage of this Once in a Lifetime Opportunity to own a Piece of History. This Century Dream Home has it All!


Burford, ON - $1,299,000


stayed at the farm where we played in the barn, chased the cows and wild kittens and helped my grand- mother prepare her fresh from the garden meals and desserts. We be- longed to our Catholic Church and my grandmother, who had a big im- pact on my life, taught at St Michaels school in Toronto. An all boys school where, she was fond of saying, all the students ended up as priests or hockey players. I eventually moved away from Toronto and my life path took me


to a small town the opposite side of Toronto where I grew up after our family farm was expropriated for a new Pickering airport that never came. I made my career in the real es-


tate business and established my own family in a small town. My children attended Catholic schools, we belonged to our nearby church and I taught a year of Girl Guide students one year in our community church hall. We had lots of get to- gethers with neighbours and friends and t h e


children flourished. The church and the hall and the


group there were part of our lives, something we used to forge friend- ships and a way of life. Two years ago the small family


church beside our farm was desig- nated to be torn down. It is a Circa1861 Brick two storey build- ing , built the same year as our farmhouse on land that was given back in 1861 to the Bethel Church as a donation off the corner of our farm. It was used for many years of Sundays as both a place of prayer and sanctuary. Members of my hus- bands family attended Sunday school there, marriages were at- tended and my mother in law was baptized there as an infant. We did- n’t want to see it torn down and I purchased it from the small congre- gation and hope to restore it one day. So many memories of the years past reside there. Last week two local churches


came on the market here in my city. A client I am working with asked for a viewing of both with thoughts of conversion. I arranged to show him through and we toured both magnificent buildings. The quality of construction, the stained glass, the huge post and beamed vaulted ceilings, pews and ornate fixtures were breathtaking. The lower level and back rooms that served as com- munity kitchens , Sunday school rooms, scout and girl guide facili- ties were empty and the child draw- ings on the walls along with the little chairs and empty play boxes made me feel sad and empty. This is where families spent


Two acres and this Circa 1800's Solid Brick Original Ontario farm- house. Home needs to be completely restored but when done will be a showpiece. Barns not included and are being taken down. No close neighbours. Enjoy a farm style life without the work. Close to the edge of the City of Brantford and village of St George. $799,000


"True Colors Farm" a picturesque 50 acre Original Ontario Rural Farmstead located in Norfolk County. Early 1800's Classic farmhouse has been renovated and improved upon over the years and offers lots of character in its generous room sizes and modern conveniences. Updated windows bring so much natural lighting and provide views of the farm fields, six fenced paddocks and open skies . Kitchen is updated with shaker style cabinets , pot lights, stainless appliances and granite counters. Lots of extra pantry space. Main floor mudroom, office and laundry. Spectacular dinners are enjoyed in the large dining room with its walls of windows. The great room enjoys summer views and winter evenings by the wood- stove. Separate living room faces south. Three to four bedrooms upstairs with gorgeous bathroom and plenty of closet space. Completely separate two bedroom apartment with huge kitchen and loft living room is a wonderful place for in-laws, guests or easily make it part of the main living quarters. Outside the horse lover will find an eight year old custom built barn with high ceiling, 8 box stalls 12 x 12'. Wash stall with hot water . Lots of extra space for more stalls and equipment or hay storage. Big separate workshop with concrete floor. Double car garage. Driveshed. Oak board fencing encloses 6 paddocks. Beautiful pond is a perfect spot for skating or swimming . 40 acres workable land . Ginseng never grown here. Fabulous trails for dog walking and wildlife watching. Enjoy. Townsend, ON - $1,595,000


time, cooking for special occasions, this is where kids first learned about themselves and their spirits were taught to soar. This is where the sense of belonging and commu- nity sharing were established. We worked together to raise money for the pews, the beautiful stained glass the new roof for our gathering place. How sad that these rooms now stand empty. There were dif- ferent dedications on the walls speaking of donations on behalf of family members who’d passed. Several of the magnificent stain windows were donated by families in memory of their loved ones. Erected in years of the 1800‘s and early 1900’s. How sad these fami- lies would be to see how we don’t worship in our gathering places, we seem to have lost our sense of fel- lowship and community. I have spent the last few days reflecting on times and people passed. I worry what the future holds for my children and theirs in a world so different from what mine was.


Teri Davidson is Broker Owner of Associate Realty Brantford Inc. Teri has been helping families move for 42 years. Contact Teri at 519-758-7307 or email at teridavid- son@execulink.com


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