Group helps historic Heintzman House shine with artisan showcase

YorkRegion.com
Nov. 8, 2014
By Adam Martin-Robbins

Thornhill's historic Heintzman House looks pretty spiffy, especially for a place with sections that are nearly 200 years old.

That's due, in part, to the crafty efforts of a group of volunteers, known as the Heintzman House Auxiliary.

This weekend, the group is hosting its 43rd annual auxiliary artisan craft sale, proceeds from which go toward refurbishing the sprawling white mansion's interior, which has sections dating back to 1817.

The sale is something of a one-of-a-kind show featuring 25 to 30 vendors of unique items, ranging from brightly coloured silk scarves to attention-grabbing fabric sculptures and colourful wooden bowls to handcrafted pens made from exotic wood, acrylic and even space-age metals, according to Sabina Margitta, vendor co-ordinator for the sale - and there's lunch, too.

The event attracts about 1,000 people over the course of two days and raises a few thousand dollars each year, she said.

The auxiliary typically saves up the money raised through the craft show for a few years until enough has been set aside to tackle a major project.

Over the years, the group has contributed to an extensive refurbishment of the house's original room and replacing carpeting in other sections of the sprawling white mansion.

The craft sale also serves another important function.

"Part of the reason for this is to open the house to the public and make people aware of the house," Margitta said. "We do have a loyal following and some new people come every year... but it's still not that well known and it's like Thornhill's treasure, with great ambience and character."

To aid in educating visitors about the house's history, information pamphlets are handed out and members of the Toronto Branch of the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada are on site, dressed in period costume, to talk about the past and answer questions.

That's because the first owner, an American named Anthony Hollingshead, was granted the original 190-acre lot where the house now stands, surrounded by modern suburban homes, back in 1798 after fighting on the British side during the American Revolutionary War.

Hollingshead erected a modest, two-room adobe (mud brick) farm house, portions of which have been preserved within the newer structure and that can be seen by pulling open panels installed for that purpose.

The property was sold in 1817 to a wealthy government official named Col. George Crookshank. He expanded the house into a 13-room mansion.

After Crookshank's death, the property passed through several owners until it was purchased in 1881 by John Francis, whose sons, Samuel and Elijah, were set up on the land as farmers.

Samuel eventually took over sole ownership of what was then known as Sunnyside Manor.

In 1930, he sold it - reportedly for $100,000 - to Charles Theodore Heintzman, grandson of Theodore A. Heintzman, founder of the Heintzman Piano Company.

Charles and his wife, Marion, added the pillars and portico to the house, as well as the conservatory, a garage and servants' quarters.

When they died, the property was sold - for a reported $880,000 - to real estate developers who planned to tear the place down to build new homes or some type of high-rise building.

Area residents rallied to save Sunnyside Manor and eventually convinced the then Town of Markham to buy it in 1966. A board of directors was set up to manage it.

It was renamed Heintzman House and served at times as offices for Markham's parks and recreation department and as a community centre.

In 1971, the auxiliary began holding its annual craft show to raise money to keep the interior in tip-top shape.

Back then, it was a much smaller event held for one afternoon, but it has grown over the years to become a two-day, highlight event in the heart of Thornhill.

In 1984, the house was officially designated a heritage site under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Today it is regularly used by community groups such as the Lions Club, the American Women's Club of Toronto, Thornhill Horticultural Society and the Society for the Preservation of Historic Thornhill, said Christine Beck, house manager and event co-ordinator.

It is also rented out for weddings, anniversaries, corporate events and other functions, she added.

The craft show has really started flourishing, with a large number of new vendors brought in each year to keep it fresh.

Elina Ten, a fashion designer who works in felt and silk, is in her second year as a vendor and called the event great.

The 43rd Heintzman House Auxiliary Artisan Craft Sale runs until 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The house is at 135 Bay Thorn Dr.

Admission is $2 and children 12 and younger are admitted free.

For more information, visit hhouse.ca and heintzmanhouse.ca.