The doors are ordinary and rather battered, but the building they are attached to is definitely not.
All along the St Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, there are numerous communities with a rich history from the 1800s. The town of Port Hope east of Toronto is one of those.
I discovered this old water tower in Port Hope by accident, while looking for an award-winning bakery known for its Canadian specialty – butter tarts.
It turns out that finding the building was the easy part. Trying to unearth the history of it was an entirely different matter.
When I searched for “Tower of Port Hope“, I got links to a retirement residence located next door.
Further poking around the interwebs, I found “Greenwood Tower“, but it only provided information about the motel located on the property and not the water tower itself.
Finally I stumbled across a reference to the “Belgrave Water Tower” and found an article about the history of this wonderful 1877 building.
Although in disrepair, the building is still stunning with its fan design of wrought iron in the lower windows,
… the ornate railings along the roof of the extension of the first floor,
… the widow’s walk and the balustrades around the windows on the third level
… and let’s not forgot those circular spoke windows on the top level.
Although I couldn’t see inside the tower, it is said to have a wooden circular staircase that winds up to the 4th level, and deep below the tower is a brick-walled well that is 10 feet across and drops down about 75 feet (3 metres and 23 metres respectively).
It was built on a 30-acre estate known as Belgrave, and the tower provided water to the house and surrounding gardens. I’m obviously talking about a local businessman with serious wealth.
It may look derelict and abandoned, but a family of feral cats currently call the tower home. Pretty fancy digs whether you’re a cat or not.
Thursday Doors is a weekly photo feature hosted by Norm Frampton at Norm 2.0. Check it out and discover a world of doors.
Hi J, so cats occupy the space…
and as I looked at these beautiful photos – with worn wood doors – it reminded me of the lasting beauty of brick.
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I grew up in the north where we only had wood frame homes, so anything brick to me is really special. I see something like this – old, historic, BRICK, … it pushes all the right buttons 🙂
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Oh that is cool and I can relate – I love brick homes – but also various bricks around our town (in the state of Virginia) we even have a few brick streets – maybe more cobblestone? And years ago I was more enamored with patios that had a dozen different kinds of bricks – but not to loved anymore – still like them – but the brick is everywhere and so after a while – well u know – 😉
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The challenge I’m finding with stone patios is the stuff that insists on growing between the stones. It’s a constant battle with nature
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oh so true!
and I actually have to move a slightly raised garden bed because all these tree and shrub roots have meandered over for the nutrients. So I will move it and make it higher….
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This is a marvelous choice, Joanne! I love all the iron details. Such an unusual and lovely tower. Hugs.
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Thanks Teagan 🙂 It’s fun to find these little treasures and showcase them when they might otherwise be completely missed.
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I love the previous comment! 🙂
It is all about exploring and keeping your eyes open to the world around us.
What a neat find, Joanne!
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Thanks Laurie. I agree completely – there are so many interesting things to discover and usually we don’t have to venture far from our own front door to experience it.
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Love this tower with all the specific details! The door fits in there nicely – on second look: not many towers have this many balconies:) Sorry, a little later but am quite distracted of re-learning the Apple system after 20+ years:)
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I’m likely going to be switching to an Apple computer by the end of year. I’ve never used one before, but my frustration level with my PC has reached the point where I’m ready to abandon the Windows platform.
How is your transition going? I was hoping it would be relatively painless.
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Um, I’m pretty inpatient, so It’s testing my weak spot. Luckily there are countless tutorials on the net for any move one wants to make. If you can handle wordpress, you can handle Apple;).
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Thanks! I keep telling myself that Apple surely can’t be worse than my current laptop nightmare.
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sorry, maybe tak up another hobby?
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Such a fabulous building. When I was a kid, I wanted to live on top of a tower. This one would have done nicely.
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hahaha! I still want to live in a tower! 🙂
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What a building.
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I agree 🙂
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🙂
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Good detective work Joanne! By some interesting coincidence we are working on a post about a restored water tower in Saskatchewan that looks like a lighthouse. Seems we remain eerily connected. 🙂
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I am not surprised, Sue. We tend to do that! 🙂
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Such a lovely building. Thanks for sharing, Joanne.
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Thanks Ruth 🙂
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This IS a great find…but did you see any of those feline residents? And a butter tart…this sounds like double trouble but am willing to try anything!
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Unfortunately I didn’t get to see any of the residents. I was told it was a new mom with a litter of newborn kittens.
… and butter tarts are big trouble in that they are sweet, gooey, and highly addictive 🙂
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YUM…
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A long time ago we stayed at a BnB in Port Hope which is a fabulous, historic Ontario town to explore. But dang. Butter tarts you say? Did you find said bakery? We are serious butter tart fanciers in this house and would make a trek to visit for sure!
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We did find the bakery, called Betty’s, and is technically in Cobourg, but from what I can tell, the delineation between Port Hope and Cobourg is pretty gray 🙂
I’m not a huge tart fan – I’m more of a cake person – but these ones were worth the trip.
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I’ve had Betty’s! We bought a tray when we were at the Butter tart festival 2 years ago. They are delicious.
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Based on the map in their bakery, I’m thinking they are world famous 🙂
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I love this building, the doors, the colors, the history. Such a cool find on your part. Of course I have to ask: did you ever find the bakery and if so, how were the tarts?
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The bakery was found and the tarts were amazing … and that’s coming from someone who will normally take cake over pie any day 🙂
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Cool cat house! I do love the combination of the deep turquoise wooden doors against the red bricks.
Peta
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I don’t know what I initially thought this building might be, but water tower didn’t come immediately to mind!
What initially caught my eye was the wrought iron widow’s walk. There is something about that kind of embellishment on top of a building that always catches my eye.
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Wonderful building Joanne. I love how the Victorians built such elaborate structures to house even quite mundane (though obviously important) things.
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You have to love those Victorians! They had class 🙂
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And cash 🙂
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Ha! Yes, some most certainly did!!
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What a beautiful find, Joanne. 😃
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Thank you 🙂
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This is a wonderful building, Joanne. I love the balconies, the door, the windows, the roof lines – all of it, it’s perfect. I could see spending some serious time looking at this building. I’m glad you got the tarts.
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My only regret is not getting a peek inside … boarding up all the windows made sure of that 😦
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Yeah, I would love to see the inside. It’s good to know I’m not the only one who will stick a camera up to a window and take a few snaps.
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You mean it’s not a thing everyone does? 😉
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I’m sure it’s expected.
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Wow! That is an interesting building. I love the spoke wheel windows on the top level.
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Round windows are such a novelty to begin with since they require customization – but including them on a water tower sounds so extravagant!
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That’s an interesting building, Joanne. I imagine it was even more attractive when it was cared for and not a home for feral cats. The ironwork is gorgeous!
PS: Wondering what kind of wonderful treats you found at the butter tart place.
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The ironwork is what caught my eye – especially the widow’s walk. At one time in my youth I would have scoffed at that kind of embellishment, but the older I get, the more I’m loving it.
That bakery exceeded my expectations – tarts with a multitude of fillings from plain butter tarts, with nuts, with raisins, to tarts with blueberry, cherry, lemon (to DIE FOR!!) and strawberry, etc.
Then there were pies and strudels. Oodles of strudels 🙂
Then we went down the road and got scones … both savoury and sweet.
Did I mention cookies? OMG the cookies with caramel and drizzled chocolate on top.
This was a day when calories were not taken into consideration, however most of what I bought ended up in the freezer for future indulgence 🙂
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Ohmigosh, that all sounds delicious, especially the lemon tart and cookie. I would not be able to resist…
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… I didn’t 😉
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I think it’s marvelous! What lucky cats 🙂
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Couldn’t you just imagine renovating such an interesting space? Those kitties have chosen a great place to call home 🙂
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I don’t believe I’ve ever encountered a privately owned water tower before. I wonder how common (or uncommon) this would be. I also wonder who the business man was, and his story.
So cool, thanks. (You will note that I am not inquiring about the butter tarts. Nope, I am not.)
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LOL – butter tarts, yum 🙂
When I was told it was an old water tower, I just assumed it was a municipal tower. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered it was privately owned.
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I am almost afraid to ask, but did you find the butter tarts? And what are those?
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Butter tarts have a sweet gooey centre made with butter, sugar, and eggs. Think of the base of a pecan pie, but gooey and usually runny.
I’m more of a cake person, but I do love a good butter tart.
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Sadly I looked them up…now I want some. They look delicious. I am not a big fan of sweets but when I “sin” it might as well be worth it. 🙂
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NOT A FAN OF SWEETS?!!! You’re one of “THOSE”!!! 😉
I agree about making it worth it though … I always say ‘go big, or go home’ 🙂
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I would take a bath in chocolate if I could 🙂
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Now we’re talking 🙂
Too bad chocolate gives me heartburn now. Stupid aging body!
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It makes my bones hurt 😦
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ouch! That’s an unusual reaction.
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I guess brick is more durable than….uh, whatever those doors are made of.
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Yeah – unfortunately doors have to be lighter to move than bricks 😉
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It’s such a beautiful building, those cats are lucky to call it home. I hope it’s preserved for the future.
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Unfortunately, it appears that the tower is part of the property of the motel next door, and it seems to be having its own issues. I suspect the tower is pretty low on the priority list, but I hope it is at least designated as a heritage site before it deteriorates too much.
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Unfortunately, lack of funds is usually behind many lovely old properties being neglected.
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Sadly, I would have to agree with you 😦
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Very cool building! Hope you got your butter tarts.
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Thank you – yes, we did … and they were worth the trip 🙂
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This is an amazing building – architecture, doors, windows, and I LOVE the bars (for lack of a better word) on that last photo of the window on the side of the door. The structure itself reminds me of our lighthouses. Lovely catch for Thursday Doors. 🙂
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This has to have been converted to live in surely with those sash windows and balconies etc. A prime example of what would appear on one of the Grand Designs or Restoration programmes! And yes, did you get your tarts?
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The next time I’m in Port Hope – and I’m sure there will be a next time – I’ll have to go back to learn what I can about the interior. Now I’m more curious than ever!
… and yes, the tarts were amazing!
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Cool building. Did you find the bakery?
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Yes! … and they had so many wonderful treats!
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What a superb find and great research on the building… thanks for taking us there!
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Thanks for coming along 🙂
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What a gem you found on the way to the bakery! I love the wrought iron and all that red brick. I hope it gets restored, and put to use. I think it would make a neat little home to people as well as cats.
I could do with one of the Butter Tarts with my morning tea right now. Miam, miam! Hope you found the bakery for some.
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A butter tart would make a perfect companion for your morning tea … and when the sugar rush hits you, you’ll be a humming little energizer bunny for a few hours 🙂
… not that I would ever do it myself 😉
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*wink, wink* 🙂 With a 4 yr old at home I could do with the energy of the Energizer Bunny most days. 🙂
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ooooh – good point!!
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🙂
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Great photos…and very interesting history. Thank you for your diligent research! I was also wondering about those butter tarts!
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I was travelling that day with a friend who has a serious weakness for butter tarts. Oh yes, we found the bakery! There was no chance that we were going home without butter tarts 🙂
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I hope someday the tower is restored, Joanne. It’s still in pretty good shape if they don’t wait too long. Interesting history and I imagine the family had quite a fortune to build such a structure over their well. I hope you found the bakery too!
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That was my thinking too. This had to have been a very wealthy family. Sadly, if there was any evidence of an estate still remaining, I didn’t see it. This is such a beautiful town, it is worth the effort to go back to explore more.
… and yes, the bakery was worth finding!! 🙂
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What a great looking building, love the iron work.and feral cats as well, heaven. What are Butter Tarts ?
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Probably the easier way to explain a butter tart is to give you this link …. http://www.torontosun.com/2017/06/20/butter-tarts-recipes-for-the-quintessentially-canadian-dessert
It’s probably way more than you ever wanted to know 🙂
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Mmmmmm, just my kind of cake. 😋
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Cake? Now we’re talking!!
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That is a gorgeous building. It’s fun the things we stumble across while in search of something else.
So did you ever find your butter tarts?
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After having to make a couple of u-turns, we did eventually find the bakery … and oh my! Such delights!! 🙂
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Nice piece of architecture. Looks like it wouldn’t need much work to restore it, unless the inside is a big mess.
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That was my thinking too. I would have loved to see the inside … mess or not.
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What an amazing building! It really is a shame that it is being neglected and left to deteriorate. Someone must own it… maybe you could wiggle your way into an invitation to see the inside (and, of course, share pictures with us). Did you ever get your butter tarts?
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The tower appears to belong to the motel sitting on the same property. This motel seems to have its own struggles to survive, so I think the tower is pretty low on its priority list.
There was a woman who came out of the motel to bring water to the family of cats. We talked to her briefly and I really wanted to ask about going inside, but I have to get past this shyness of asking for something. I know the worst they can say is ‘no’, but I often really struggle to get past it.
… and yes, butter tarts were procured. They were worth the effort 🙂
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I don’t know what you call those bars on the windows–we call them ‘burglar bars’ (nice, right?), but that starburst design is pretty. This entire building is pretty darn amazing, though.
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I don’t know what we call them – burglar bars sounds good to me … and these ones are very pretty. If you have to have bars on your windows, might as well make them aesthetically pleasing 🙂
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Beautiful! Thanks for sharing Joanne. Hope you found those butter tarts. If ever in Cambridge again, check out Dee’s Bakery. Their peanut butter butter tarts are my fave!
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Thanks for the tip 🙂
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Isn’t it amazing what you find when you are looking for a bakery.
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hahahaha!! So true 🙂
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