Oakville Historical Society
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Phone: 905 844-2695

History of Thomas House

The Thomas House

Built in 1829 as the original home of The Thomas Family, The Thomas House is furnished and presented as a pioneer home of the 1830 - 1840's, with many original family items.

The house is operated by the Society and is open during the summer months when Society volunteers act as guides. A brochure covering the history of the family and the house (with fascinating details of life in the early 1800s) is available to visitors. Be sure to ask how many people lived in the home!

An orb is seen in one fire place photo. Is it spirit or science?
Historic Places     Halton     TripAdvisor

Crossword Puzzle
Admission is free, but donations in any amount to help sustain the house are much appreciated. As an old and fragile structure, the Thomas House requires regular care and attention, provided by OHS volunteers, with costs of maintenance and regular renewal paid for from the Society's limited resources.

The Thomas House was moved to its present location in Lakeside Park during 1955 as a result of the efforts of Hazel Chisholm Mathews and the the Oakville Historical Society. It was originally west of the Sixteen Mile Creek on a site now occupied by St. Jude's Cemetery and St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
Visit The Grounds of The Thomas House at 144 Front Street

Due to COVID-19 The Thomas House is closed until further notice.

Closed, until after The Oakville Museum (and Old Post Office) reopens.

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Mrs. Thomas bakes and shares Welsh Cakes.
Have a good fire going. Be able to hold hand over the fire to a count of 3 or 4.

For a stove top, hold hand 2 inches above the pan you will cook in and count seconds slowly. A medium setting on a burner should produce enough heat to prompt you to pull your hand away after three seconds for a temperature between 325 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 
Mix together in a bowl:
-2 cups of flour
-1/2 tsp of baking powder
-1/2 tsp of baking soda
And a pinch of salt ​
Cream together in another bowl: 
-1/2 cup of sugar
-1/2 cup of soft butter
-1 lightly beaten egg
Welsh Cakes
Combine the dry and wet ingredients together. Then knead the dough. ​You could also add some currents or other berries if you like.
​
Roll out the dough and cut into small circles.

Place on a lightly greased griddle for about 10 minutes. Flip and cook about 10 minutes.

​Enjoy the delicious, warm Welsh Cakes. Download the recipe.


During 2019, Mrs. Thomas hosted a Summer Camp group from the Oakville Museum. Not shown are campers adding a veggie to a soup pot on the fire.
 The group was asked if they knew the name of a long yellow bean. An answer given was "French Fry"!!!!! They liked smelling fresh herbs....sage, rosemary and basil. Basil won! 

Many types groups arrange visits to The Thomas House. Of course the activities vary. Feel free to ask information about booking your group.

The Bed
Cool Gadgets

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The Secret Room
Visit by The Thomas House, Oakville Historical Society

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Can you spin, knit, weave, tat, crochet, whittle, make soap or candles? Would like to demonstrate your talents on the front porch of The Thomas House?​ Please volunteer to share your talents and contact us. 

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Heritage ID:Status: Part IV
Designation Year: 1978
Year Built: 1829
By-Law: 1978-006
History: Merrick Thomas House. A fine example of an early settler's second house, which would have replaced the log cabins often built by settlers. It was moved to Lakeside Park in 1955. Originally a storage site for cordwood used on lake steamers, this land has been a public park since 1877 when it was traded to the Town by George K. Chisholm, the first mayor, in exchange for the permanent closing of Front and Water Streets where they ran into the harbour. In 1896 the park was laid out, trees were planted and the land was sloped down to the beach. Heavy erosion has since caused the existing high bank on the lakeshore.
Description: 1 1/2 storey clapboard house with saltbox design. Constructed of local white pine logs on a foundation of field stones. Other significant features include wainscoting and window trim hardware.
Legal Description: PLAN 1 BLK 77 PT LOT C


The Old Post Office - is run by the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate

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The Old Post Office, Oakville's first post office (1835 to 1856), stands beside the Thomas House and is operated by the Oakville Museum. This building was moved by Mrs. Mathews from the east bank of the Sixteen Mile Creek (SW corner of Navy and Lakeshore) in 1952.

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2021 Copyright & Legal notice:
The content of the Oakville Historical Society's ("OHS") website is to be used for general information only. The Oakville Historical Society and its officers and directors, members, webmaster and any other person contributing to this website do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any material contained herein. The Oakville Historical Society specifically disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to the use of this material or any results with respect thereto. The material contained in this website shall in no way be construed to constitute a recommendation by Oakville Historical Society Inc. The material contained within this website, except as otherwise indicated*, is owned by the Oakville Historical Society and is protected by copyright, trademark and/or other proprietary rights. You are free to copy and use the images herein for non-commercial purposes provided you give clear attribution to the Oakville Historical Society or the indicated copyright holder. Further details and restrictions are available here. Commercial uses are forbidden without OHS's or the copyright holder's written consent. Please use the Email Contact Form on the right side of our contact page and select information as the topic.
  • HOME
  • Contact
  • ABOUT
    • Our Story
    • Our Office
    • Our Gardens
    • The Thomas House
    • Our Volunteers
    • Our Interns
    • Archive Intern - Summer Paid
    • Our Sponsors
    • Our Plaques >
      • Plaque Process
      • Plaque Order Form
      • Plaque Payment
    • Supporting our Cadets >
      • 2020 Cadet
      • 2019 Cadet
    • Oakville History
    • Oakville Heritage Moments
    • Videos
    • Village Essays
  • DONATE
    • Donate Artefacts
    • Donations Online
  • Stories
    • Do You Have a Story to Tell?
    • The White House on Allan Street
    • Christena’s Story
    • A Child’s Wonderland
    • Growing Up at Holyrood
    • Oakville Children’s Centre
  • Books
    • Beautiful Oakville - 1897
    • Garden of Canada - c1902
    • Library
    • Telephone Book 1947
    • The Sumner Diaries
  • Archives
    • Archive
    • Basket Factory Memorial Plaques >
      • Basket Factory Questionnaire
    • Health Care As It Was >
      • Health Care As It Was - Continued
    • Munro Letters
    • Oakville Images
    • Oakville Memories
    • Ontario History Journal Digital Archive
    • Oakville Museum
    • Our Ontario
    • Photo Collection
    • Poppies WWI
    • World War I
    • Town of Oakville Online Collections
  • Membership
    • Membership New
    • Membership Fast Renewal
    • Membership Renewal
    • Membership Update
  • Activities
    • Speakers' Nights 2021 >
      • Speakers' Nights 2020
      • Speakers' Nights 2019
      • Speakers' Nights 2018
      • Speakers' Nights 2017
    • Guided Walking Tours
    • Self-guided Walking Tours >
      • Erchless Estate
      • Navy Street
      • Old Oakville
      • Trafalgar Road Heritage Conservation District
      • Trafalgar-Allan Corridor
      • Lot 12
    • In & Around Oakville
    • Yard Sale
    • Family Day >
      • Family Day 2020
      • Family Day 2019
    • Annual General Meeting >
      • 2019 AGM
    • Ghost Walk >
      • Ghost Stories
      • Video Ghost Stories
      • Question(s) or Comment(s)
      • 2019 Reviews
    • Doors Open
    • Oakville Family History Fair
    • Mayor's Historical Picnic >
      • 2019 Mayor's Historical Picnic
      • 2018 Mayor's Historical Picnic
      • 2017 Mayor's Historical Picnic
    • Family and Local History
    • Museum Camp
    • Members' Christmas Party
    • Snapshots: Society events
    • Archive >
      • 2014 Activities
      • 2015 Activities
      • 2015 Youth Art Contest
  • News
  • Store
    • Store
    • Art of Oakville
    • Store, Photo, Archive Payment
  • Links