Henson House

Built in the mid-19th century, this house was the last residence of Josiah Henson and his second wife, Nancy Gambril, who lived there until Henson’s death in 1883. Larger than other residential buildings in the area at the time, it symbolized his status in the community. After his death, the house was altered by several owners before William Chapple bought it in 1940. In 1948, he opened it as a museum, moved it to a new site, and tried to restore its original condition. Jack Thomson bought it in 1964 and relocated it here, one-half kilometer northeast of its original location. The restoration efforts of Chapple and Thomson as a museum ensured its survival before architectural conservation became popular in Ontario. The house is significant for its association with Reverend Josiah Henson and as an example of mid-19th century vernacular domestic architecture.

Ontario · Canada