Balahan House 





  

    

            


        		Town of Stratford -         
	 		 
							
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					                            Town of Stratford -                                                 Town of Stratford -                                                 Town of Stratford -                     					

                     				

						

	
	

	  	  		

				
Date of Construction:    1852

				
Style/Design:    Georgian

				
Architect/Builder:    John B. Stewart

				
Integrity:    
-Building on original footprint.

-Original stone foundation.

-1st addition - 1940

-2nd addition - 1998

				
Construction Methods:    
-Brick foundation - brick fired from owners kiln.

-Brick exterior - brick fired from owners kiln.

-Iron rods run from side to side and back to back with crudgeons encased on the ends of the rods at the front and rear of the house.

-Stuccoed exterior due to moisture in 1940.

				
Exterior Condition:    Excellent

				
Landmark:    
Family home of a prominent business family of the 19th century situated on a large parcel of land (450 acres) which housed large brick kilns.

				
Historical Context:    
 The farm was settled in 1808, and known as Balahan Farm after Ballechin, Perthire, Scotland. The house was built in 1852 by John B. Stewart, the great-grandson of Chief Justice Peter Stewart who settled in Lot 48 in 1775. John B. Stewart married Elizabeth Dewar on May 11, 1885 and they settled into "Montrose Farm," the name given to the house and property. An interesting point about this house is that it was constructed from brick made from brick clay on "Montrose Farm" which was fired in the brick kiln which operated on the property. The property was later purchased, in 1929, by Dr.J.P.Lantz, a prominent physician, and used as a summer residence. Due to moisture seeping through the brick exterior into the interior of the house, the Lantz family had the structure stuccoed in 1940.