Old Folks Home

Happy New Year !

What better time to celebrate the New Year than exploring an abandoned retirement home. Somewhat aprospo I should think.

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Versa-Care Centre Lambeth is location just west of London, Ontario near Delaware. This long-term nursing facility for the aged was constructed in the 1969 and subsequently had a large addition added soon after effectively doubling its size. The structure is approximately 34,000 square feet and was licensed for 135 beds.


Our exploration was rather hurried (20 minutes of fast photographic documentation) for reasons I will not go into other than there was a bit of 'hide-and-seek' happening. Here for your enjoyment is a brief video of our very short exploration.

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Due to regulatory requirements the physical building layout fell out of compliance and the owners, Central Park Lodges (aka Versa-Care) built a new facility in London and moved its residences there.

The last meal was served in June, 2006. It currently sits abandoned and slowly is deteriorating. The building and the 10 acres it is sited on is for sale. The asking price is $ 789,000.

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From the floor plans, it appears that residents were housed two to three per room. From our quick tour through some of these rooms it appeared that they were far from spacious.










From a small number of reports I did read on-line, it also appears that this facility may not have been a picture of happiness for some residents. Judging from the gaudy wallpaper patterns and unreflective choice of colours, I imagine some residents did contemplate hanging themselves from the curtain dividers.

There were some indications in the material I reviewed that suggested there may have been patient neglect as well as issues of some elderly residents of sound mind being roomed with those suffering from advanced dementia or 'senile agitation' as this vintage advertisement has labeled it. I should think that given the choice, staff would have liked to order thorazine by the keg.

To counter this, I did find evidence shown here that the late denizens were occasionally treated to a day at the spa.
You know the equipment at the mini hair salon downstairs was certainly dated (you can date such equipment when see a built-in ashtray in the arm rest ! ).

For those residents still capable of shuffling to the shared washroom, they were treated to a relief from the frightful and grotesque wall treatments in their rooms to this refreshingly bland lavatory. For those mobility-impaired residents unable to get to the washroom without assistance, they were treated to a good bed soaking.

For those readers who drop by the blog frequently, you will know that I have a penchant for institutional, industrial and commercial abandonments (in that order). Exploring this particular institution, I had something of an epiphany in the home's basement kitchens . . . every memorable institution I have explored was indeed equipped with an industrial kitchen. Perhaps this may be a secret ingredient ?









You may be asking the same question I have here . . . Why yellow ?

Although it may provide somewhat of a brighter atmosphere, I harbour serious doubts that the facility owners had had these good intentions in mind for the servile sycophants toiling in this gastronomic crypt.










Although most of the kitchen equipment was somewhat dated, there were a few pieces present such as the hot buffet cart on the left and coffee maker on the right which appeared still serviceable. Perhaps it simply did not match the more recent equipment at new home in London.

I shall sign off with a comment about building occupant safety and the Ontario Fire Code. I may not be an expert here, but it should be obvious to most that to camouflage an emergency exit may be less than intelligent.






Note: camouflage is taken from the French word 'camoufler', to disguise or to play a trick. I was tricked by this brick-patterned wallpaper for just a moment. Imagine if you will a hall full of slow-moving alzheimer-sufferers in a smoke-filled hallway . . . not pleasant.

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Another brief note - My photography is a skill which is evolving slowly for me. I am very flattered by some readers who have used some of my better images for Facebook group pages or the like. Please remember to either link back to the blog here or provide credit.

Thank-you - Have a safe and prosperous New Year !

Woodholme Castle

Located in north-west London, Ontario, this magnificent mansion has both historic and heritage significance. It is a unique structure built during the late 1800's almost entirely of concrete in a style reminiscent of an English castle.

The structure's features include a secret passage between levels, maze-like hallways, floors and ceilings constructed of cement and decorated to look like tile and wood. Woodholme was designed and built as a residence by Richard Shaw-Wood. He lived there until his death in 1909, leaving the estate to his daughter, Anna who sold the property in 1920.

It served for many years as the residence of the Honourable Ray Lawson O.B.E., prominent London businessman, government representative and philanthropist. Subsequently his son, Colonel Tom Lawson and his popular wife, Miggsie, lived there and expanded on the family business and philanthropic tradition.













As Regimental Commander Tom Lawson, with Miggsie, hosted Prince Philip at Woodholme in 1983 when the Royal Canadian Regiment celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Colonel Lawson died in 1991 and Miggsie died in 2004, leaving their medieval-styled home to the Lawson estate. Portions of the land were latter sold by the estate and developed into residential housing and a retirement home complex.


The Woodholme 'castle' is now owned by Sifton Properties and is for sale. Due to the price tag and the extensive repairs required, the mansion and property remains is a state of limbo.

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Architectural Attributes excerpt from the 'Reasons for Heritage Designation' document.

Woodholme has been altered since its original construction in 1894. On various occasions additions have been attached to the north and northwest facades. Pebble dash stucco was later applied to face the exterior concrete. Certain interior features have been added or altered. Unless noted below these later additions and alterations are not included in the heritage attributes worthy of preservation.













Architecturally important exterior features of Woodholme which should be preserved include:

1 ) For reasons of technology and style, exemplifying the picturesque interpretation of the Gothic Revival style, exterior facades showing the shape and massing of the original Shaw-Wood structure on the east, south and west facades are important. The historic muntin and framing design, found in all but the plate glass windows, should be retained. Beneath the later pebble-dash, the exterior walls are grooved to resemble ashlar a reflection of Richard Shaw-Wood’s innovative use of concrete.
Other exterior ‘medieval” elements include: the corbelled parapet and irregular roofline on the south facade, its battlement, stepped gable, concrete chimneys and the two towers, including the one on the southwest with its arched portal and door.

2) Doors and windows on the east facade of the original building vary in their appearance but the segmental arch is common. In a main entrance paired doors containing rectangular panels are separated by a vertical course of octagonal panes and surmounted by an arched fanlight pierced with decorative small circular panes. On the second storey paired windows are placed above the main entranceway but to the north on this facade the windows are more asymmetrical in their placement and appearance. A second storey balcony rests on angled concrete abutments and supports a wooden balustrade. On the third storey the two windows at the north also rest on concrete abutments including an oriel window. Second and third storey windows contain paired twelve and ten pane lights respectively headed by a round-arched fanlight which itself contains a rectangular panel between two arcs. Concrete abutments below certain windows further illustrate the use of this building material.

3) While entranceways vary considerably in their style and size, of note are the paired ground floor window /doors into the formal living room on the west facade. An arched fanlight holds eight oval shaped panes of varying length above rounded arched doors with muntins creating octagonal panels surrounding smaller diamond panes. The paired windows on the second and third storeys are simpler but retain the rounded arch and fanlight effect. A similar octagonal and diamond pattern is present in the tripartite window facing to the south from this room.

4) Also important is the bay on the west facade immediately adjacent to the west entrance. This addition/alteration by Ray and Helen Lawson after their purchase of the house in the 1920s is a sympathetic addition to the original structure. Specific interior features within this section of the building are described later.

Interior features worthy of preservation are as follows:

5) The gothic ‘medieval’ castle concept is further developed in the interior in several respects: i) a central passageway ceiling vaulted with molded arches and constructed of concrete impressed to resemble brick to complement the red brick on the passageway walls; ii) a large cooking fireplace in the formal living room. This fireplace is lined with narrow ceramic tiles angled to reflect the heat and incorporates an early ‘heatilator’ system to warm the room. Adjacent to it is the bricked firewood storage closet headed by a brick arch; iii) the use of a wood balustrade on a landing backlit with rounded arched windows creating a clerestory; iv) cement floors showing an impressed tile pattern in the passageway and formal living room on the ground level; v) brick piers along the passageway which echo the use of brick in the formal rooms; vi) Wood doors sliding on iron railings in two locations on the central passageway are of interest as are the concrete stairs leading to the landing between the ground and second floors compartment; vii) The wood paneling on this passageway, extending to the landing, while a later, Lawson, addition, is also noted for its role in ‘softening’ the austere concrete surface.

6) Further emphasizing the sense of a building created over time are several unexpected nooks and alcoves including one, about four feet high, at the end of the central passageway leading to exterior windows. Along this passageway is the entrance to a small, cramped, ”hidden” staircase accessing a second storey room.

7) In the principal formal room is the patterned concrete floor in which inlaid hardwood is set and a large fireplace mentioned above. A hall through the room is marked at the ceiling level by a structural wood girder ornamented by wood cutouts and a strip of wood fretwork. Wood moulding in octagonal designs is set against a tongue and groove ceiling. Also evident are bricked arches. In the south-west corner, a remaining original fireplace is present illustrative of the original heating system.

8) In the large room to the south, the original front entrance door remains and should be preserved. While several windows are later alterations, east and west windows retain the original two over two design.

9) On the third floor of interest are the glass block ”lights” set into the floor presumably to transmit light to the lower level from the clerestory windows on the roof of the east facade. As well, one of the original arched doors, once common throughout the second and third storeys, is evident and should be retained as representative of the early doors and door frames initially installed.

IO) The concrete tunnels with concrete walls and barrel vaults found beneath the older portions of the building form a unique and effective structural component of the building while adhering to its ’medieval’ character.

11) The “Green Room”, a principal room on the main floor created by the 1920s Lawson alteration is noted for its wood paneling, inlaid hardwood flooring, stuccoed walls containing white bas-relief pictorial tablets and an inset fireplace with wood mantel.

12) On the second floor, reflecting the later Lawson alteration, the principal bedroom has inlaid wood hardwood flooring similar to the floor below in the Green Room.

Innisfil Agrarian

Recent stirrings of Spring in Simcoe County had roused me from my hiemal hibernation to once again go out and explore area rural abandonments.

The two farmhouses explored, located in Innisfil, had been previously visited by fellow explorers 'Megs' in January of 2005, and latter by 'faded_x', in February of 2006. What better way to chart the progress of deterioration and decay by a follow-up visit almost a year latter.

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The first farmhouse appeared to have been constructed after a fashion in a Gothic Revival style which featured an arched Gothic window set in a gabled dormer wreathed in simple gingerbread bric-a-brac.

The exterior consisted of a plain coursed ashlar masonry interrupted only by lintels at the front of the building which suggested a certain frugality during construction.

Given the odd cross gabled roof intersection, I strongly suspect an addition not long after the original construction as the building materials appear to be virtually the same.

Entry to the house was hazardous at best due to a hungry basement which was slowly consuming the main floor.

Here in the washroom, just off the kitchen, it appeared that the shower stall is about to slip into the basement as well.

Looking at the peeling ceiling paint in the kitchen, one can almost imagine a large insect shedding its skin or an autumn tree ready to sheds its leaves.

Among the various debris and relics scattered in the kitchen was this amber moonshine jug with a copy of the 'Cookstown Informer', some now unknown local newsletter.

As the stairs to second floor was completely inaccessible, I decided to set the timer on my camera and stick it (on top of my tripod) through a hole in the ceiling.

The result - this elegantly appointed bedroom . . . eat your heart out Travelodge®.

As this was a working farm 'back in the day', I then decided to set out to find the obligatory pile of old tires and used oil . . . I was not disappointed.

Early farmers not only had to know husbandry and horticulture, they also were required to perform their own mechanical repairs as evidenced by this pile of hardware curios which did not quite make it into the driving shed.

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The second farmhouse visited was immediately recognised as being constructed for a far more affluent farming family. This two-story cross-gabled Quuen Ann Styled structure featured intricate decorative brickwork.

Each corner of the house included attractive faux quoins and each window, embellished segmental pediments. Long covered porches were provided at the front and side of the house. The second floor also had a balconet which was crowned with a rounded arch of alternating coloured brick voussoirs.

A very large breach in the wall at the rear of the farmhouse provides us with a good view of this structure's superior assembly. This image clearly shows the solid masonry or 'double brick' construction of an inner and outer wythe.

It is doubtful that the wall(s) failed naturally as header bricks appeared to be solid and installed at least every 6th course.

More evidence of of solid construction was evident inside the front room which featured a masonry hearth. It was obvious that the hardwood flooring was scavenged. The exposed floors showed the massive wooden floor trusses.

The spacious dining room with its blue wainscoting, white walls are large windows suggested an almost Mediterranean environment.

A chair in the main floor hallway was sporting a retrolicious vinyl coat resplendent with funky patterns of brown, gold, and olive green.
The 1970's called while I was photographing this and asked for their chair back.

Upstairs, habitat-confused barn swallows had built several nests in the house.
Silly birds !

The days are numbered for these two very different and unique farmhouses. As this tangle of vines may analogously illustrate mother nature reclaiming what mankind wrought.

Please leave a comment.

Innisfil Gothic

We've been very fortunate in central Ontario to have had Winter take a vacation until almost mid-January. With the first permanent snow on its way in, I took the opportunity to make a brief forray to a location in Innisfil I had my eye on before the exploration 'lean season' set in.

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This beautiful gem is in plain view of heedless commuters, just west of the busy Highway 400 in Innisfil, south of Barrie. I suspect that before the highway was constructed in 1952, this house had road access to this paved precursor.

Some items among the detritus of personal effects left inside the house suggest that this may have, at one point in time, been a livestock farm, most likely a milk operation. Contrary to its working rural heritage, the front door presents to us with a shadow of its stately past.

Much of the structure is threatening to collapse into the basement. Sensing this danger, the stairs, which should have been here in the main hallway, took flight.

There is a saying that 'A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top'. With the very unsecure boarding at this old dug well, I will speculate that any person falling down here would see the inside of an emergency ward.

Speaking of wells, I will further speculate that neither a dry well, crop pestilence, or diseased livestock drove the family from the farm but the matron's deplorable taste for frightening wallpaper.

Perhaps given her singular tastes, is what gave cause for the gentleman-farmer to heavily imbibe as evidenced by the poliferation of glass bottles of every shape and volume scattered throughout the location.

The area's early farmers, by necessity, had to be fairly independent. To this end, these rural folk had to fabricate or mend a good deal. As 'Red Green' often says, "If the women don't find you hansome, they should at least find you handy". From the numerous tools found on location here, I will assume that the man of the house was rather grotesque.

The area settlers used this early version of Windows which required no electicity.

Remember kids, Crack kills . . . just like a structurally unsound barn may.

From the look of this cast iron frying pan found underneath a bed mattress, things got quite hot in the bedroom.

I will leave off this post with some sage advice - A falling and depressed real estate market may result in a housing crash.



Happy & Safe Exploring !