609 Fourth Line - Alexander Page and Catherine MacMillan Page House

This home was previously located at 17 Stewart Street and was moved to its present location in 1966

The first owner of the house, Alexander Page, was born in 1890 in Colchester, Essex, England. He lived a rather precarious life as a youngster, spending time in the workhouse in Colchester, as is reflected in the 1901 census. The rest of his family's fate is unknown. Eventually, Alexander was rescued from the poverty and squalor of the workhouse and sent to Canada in 1903 by Dr. Barnardo's Homes, a British charity founded by Thomas Barnardo in 1866 to care for vulnerable children. He would have travelled with a box made by children at the Barnardo Technical School in England and filled with the necessary provisions - mainly clothes. He was placed with Thomas and Sarah Brain of Oakville who were fruit farmers.

Thomas Brain had 10 acres of land on part of lot 16, concession 3 and other land on lot 15. This lot was originally owned by George King Chisholm, however, it was eventually split up with portions being sold off.

Thomas Brain's relationship with Alex Page was likely an amiable one. On November 2, 1914, he transferred about an acre of land to him for the sum of a dollar. It was probably a wedding gift, as three weeks later Alexander married Catherine MacMillan at Appleby College. Two children, Janet & Isabella, followed soon afterwards.

The land lay vacant for a few years until eventually, a foundation was laid for a house. The 1917 tax records show that it was "not finished" but by 1918 it was complete and given a value of $500. The land was worth an additional $300.

This house originally stood north of what would later become Stewart Street which didn't exist at the time, just west of Queen Mary Drive. In total, there were three houses and several outbuildings.

The Pages sold the house and property in 1920 to Charles H. Stevens for $900. Six years later it was sold again to Elizabeth Edith Hatcher for $3,800. She lived there for over 30 years until selling it to Ollie and Thelma McCraney. In December 1965 the McCraneys sold to Trafalgar Senior Homes Limited who had the existing apartment complex built. The house, however, was not demolished but moved to Fourth Line in 1966, where it remains.

It is unknown what became of the Page family. In 1921 Alexander appears to be living as a patient at the Ontario Hospital in Hamilton while his wife and children are living with her parents in Oakville. This could be the reason for the sale of the home in 1920. Alex died in 1974 and his wife Sarah died in 1975. They are both buried at St. Jude's Cemetery in Oakville. Alex's benefactor Thomas Brain died in 1928 and is also buried at St. Jude's. Neighbours once again.