The restored Petch log house will be relocated near the Aurora Senior Centre, possibly in the fall or next spring. I don’t expect much to happen during the winter.
As part of my ongoing series about Aurora, this will be a fascinating area to explore, with the Petch House, Aurora Senior Centre, and Town Hall all just a stone’s throw away from each other. And let’s not forget the Skylight Gallery at Town Hall and the entrance to the Community Arboretum. It’s all right there for you to enjoy!
The Petch log house is sure to stand out and be visible from John West Way, as it will be the only structure among all the brick buildings. The area for the log house has already been prepared and fenced off by Town staff. All that’s left is to bring it in. Let’s sit back and wait for its arrival—just so you know, it will come in pieces, log pieces, in fact.
A few weeks ago, while strolling through the Community Arboretum, we stopped by the future site of the Petch log house. It was just an empty fenced area, but when I got home, I saw a comment from Mike McCartney on a post about the Petch House being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Since the original post was from last year, I thought it would be nice to share his comment here.
“Hi I have enjoyed reading your postings and pictures of the Petch House. I’ve tried searching the web for more history on this house but have had no luck. A little bit of what I do know I learned from my family. The Mills family bought the property in the early 70′s, when it stood on Leslie Street, and started what turned out to be a very large Thoroughbred horse breeding operation called Aurora Meadows. My uncle Alfred Mills who lived in it for many years told us that the original log cabin was apparently the scene of the last Indian/Settler skirmish in the area and was actually able to show us an arrowhead that was embedded in one of the logs. Not sure how historically accurate this is but thought you might find it interesting.“
This is interesting—“an arrowhead embedded in one of the logs!” I should go back and check my photos to see if I captured it.
I like to visit Town Hall to check out the Skylight Gallery. Sometimes, I also snap photos from the windows on the third floor or from the parking lot. If you look to the northwest, you’ll see a new office/retail space building in town, right next to Nino D’aversa Bakery in the same plaza.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who enjoys reading plaques. When I visit the Community Arboretum, I could easily spend hours walking around, reading the plaques for the commemorative trees. They don’t just have to be memorials for loved ones we’ve lost.
“They enable individuals, or groups, or organizations, to commemorate something that is important to them. The trees may be used as memorials to loved ones we have lost, or they may be gifts of love for husbands, wives, parents who are still living. They may commemorate special events in our lives, the birth of children, special birthdays, marriage. They may recognize achievement by individuals or groups, or by an organization to recognize the accomplishment of individuals. The opportunities are endless.” Source: Community Arboretum, Aurora.
Aurora has been evolving for nearly 150 years, with its transformation deeply rooted in history. From its early days as a small village to becoming the vibrant town it is today, the pace of change has definitely accelerated in recent times.
