Applewood Shaver House -History of the House

*History of the House* In 1980, Applewood was saved from demolition and moved from its original location at the corner of The West Mall and Burnhamthorpe Road in the former city of Etobicoke, to its new home in Broadacres Park. It was built in the 1850's by a man named Peter Shaver who was the grandfather of James Shaver Woodsworth, founder of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and a leader in social reform. It is interesting to note that the house remained in the Shaver family from the time it was built until its relocation. The land it sat upon was sold to a developer and, therefore, the house had to be moved or destroyed. It was a group of concerned citizens with knowledge of the history the house represented that banded together to save it from demolition. This group incorporated as The James Shaver Woodsworth Homestead Foundation and has overseen the maintenance and the business of the house ever since.

The house is constructed of a double layer of clay bricks that were made on the premises in molds and dried in the sun. Therefore, the brick is soft, unlike the kiln dried factory bricks of today. At the corners and around the windows, you will see yellow brick. This style of brickwork is called Flemish bond. It can be found in many of the houses of this era. You will also notice that the house is symmetrical on all sides, another common trait in 19th century farmhouses.