The house that the Elliott family built back in the late 1850’s fell into the right hands nearly 130 years later.
It’s a good thing it did.
In 1986, the place was so dilapidated that another buyer might have either demolished the house and barn, or renovated the character out of them.
But the Boothmans had the vision, patience — and resources needed — to bring the property to new life, without destroying its character.
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Allow me to digress a little at this point, please…
Remember that the Boothman kids refused at first to to move with their parents into the family’s farmhouse? It was Hallowe’en 1986, and with a cemetery for a neighbour, the children were afraid the ghosts would come next door to their home. (See Part 2)
That historic cemetery is also on the Doors Open tour this year.
It was the Elliott family who donated the land for this cemetery and the church that once stood there — Kendal’s first church, New Connexion Methodist. It was later named for the Elliotts and their neighbours, the McLeans.
Of the two neighbouring families, the McLeans achieved greater fame.
A McLean grandson, (James Stanley McLean), became founder and president of the well-known Canada Packers company. Wealthy and influential, James and his wife built a stately Georgian-style house on 50 acres in Toronto.
They called it “Bay View” — which later inspired the name of one of Canada’s wealthiest neighborhoods, Bayview Avenue.
Today their former home belongs to world-famous Sunnybrook Hospital. Renamed “McLean House” in their honour, the house is used for events — a fundraiser for Sunnybrook’s medical research.
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But let’s return to the main story of how the Boothmans saved the Elliott house and created a beloved home for their own family.
In restoring and renovating the property as they did, Nick and Wendy preserved its history, and went far beyond.
They gave it a new life, deserving of a new name: “The Grange”. The Boothmans have therefore created a legacy of their own.
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Three generations of the Boothman family — and their friends — have enjoyed The Grange.
Wendy remembers that “one of the children’s friends called and asked if he could get married here, saying: ‘The Grange is top of our list because of the memories and the setting. Is it doable?’ “
“Yes”, she replied.
In all, five weddings have been held here. Son Thomas, and 4 of the children’s friends, all held their weddings at The Grange.
Much has changed in 31 years.
Wendy has launched a variety of ground-breaking projects. She’s assisted on some long-distance projects too. Born in S. Africa, she’s proud of helping her brother-in-law Mike with a project, led by Nelson Mandela, to develop effective volunteerism in S. Africa.
More recently, she won, on behalf of Durham Region, the Guinness world record for the longest picnic table in the world.
Nick, meanwhile, has become a well-known author of several books.
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The Boothman children have grown up. Wendy and Nick now have 5 grandchildren.
It’s the grandchildren’s time to explore and enjoy The Grange — this home settled by the Elliotts and transformed by the Boothmans, more than a hundred years apart.
It doesn’t snow as heavily as it used to, and Wendy misses the snow. But she and Nick cherish their home, with its “peace and quiet, the gardens and the views”.
On June 10th, 2017, as part of Doors Open Clarington, The Grange hosts its biggest audience: hundreds of people from the area and far beyond will explore this storied home.
Wendy and Nick will warmly welcome everyone, happy that they took the risk, 31 years ago, of restoring a property that many would have rejected.
What an achievement.
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Photo Credits:
McLean House photo from The Estates of Sunnybrook
Photo 5 by Hamlin Grange
3rd, 6th & 11th photos by Bernice Norton
9th, 10th and 12th photos by C. McSorley
14th photo by Marilyn Morawecz
Other photos provided by Nicholas Boothman
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To contact Doors Open Clarington:
Co- Chairperson Bernice Norton
905-623-9982
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Thanks to Doors Open Clarington and the Boothmans for research assistance.
Cynthia Reyes 
What an achievement and what a story! Love the pictures.
It sure is an achievement, Laurie. Blows my mind to think of what they went through to do it all.
I should say so! I wouldn’t have either the patience, resources, or stamina.
Nope — nor would I.
Beautiful: people, photos, and story.
Thank you very much, Jo-Anne, for following the series and leaving this comment. I appreciate it.
Excellent post… I love the retelling and photographs alongside it… The . It Boothmans certainly deserve the credits and loable congratulations for keeping the old Elliott “alive”…. And with that, memories, anecdotes, weddings…. So many good things… A good reminder: one doesn´t need to destroy anything to create something new 😉
Love & best wishes, deat Cynthia. 😀
Well said: one doesn’t need to destroy in order to create.
Thanks for the virtual tour Cynthia. They have created a beautiful home and legacy. And you have a passion and knack for creating stories about family and homes. As a fun sidenote, I grew up in McLean, Virginia. 🙂
Thanks very much, Brad, it’s good to know you have a McLean connection! Happy birthday, Brad.
Thanks my friend. Merry McLean memories of making music. I was in the band too; the Highlanders. 🙂
This was a wonderful and inspiring series Cynthia. Thanks so much for sharing the story and beautiful photos. I am so thankful there are people who love to keep some of history alive! Tina
Thank goodness for such people — you’re so right. I’m glad you liked the series, Tina. I was in awe of the Boothmans all the time while I was writing.
I love the story of this home and the people who gave it new life and memories. Thank you for sharing it with your readers. 🙂
And thanks so much, Lavinia, for following the series. I really appreciate that.
Inspirational – excellent finale
Thank you, Derrick.
Such a wonderful property, delightful family and heart warming story, Cynthia.
Thank you, Kate. You have a large garden and house yourself, so I know you will understand the scope of the work.
What a lovely place. I’m so glad the place was preserved and became a home for multiple generations. 🙂
Thank you! They really did a great job. It’s a lovely and interesting place.
A wonderful final part to your series, Cynthia’ but of course this isn’t the end of the story, is it?
No, and as you read in the Post-Script, Clare, one must leave room for serendipity.
Oh yes indeed!
Took me a little while to get over here Cynthia – so sorry. I have just read through this wonderful 4 part series and just wanted to say how much I enjoyed it! They sound like such a lovely family and have obviously poured so much of themselves into this beautiful property. I laughed at the “Screaming Hill” – don’t we all need one of those occasionally?! Really heartwarming story.
Thanks so much, Kate. I’m so glad you read and enjoyed the series. And that’s what I thought about Screaming Hill too!
Un bel endroit ; une vie simple et belle 😉
Bient dit, Christiane. Merci.
I love the sense of continuity and history being built up as the house has been renovated and grown into its new incarnation.
Me too, Andrea. Thanks for saying it as you have. With the Ebor House series, the original family had been extremely prominent in both London, England, and here in Canada. I was therefore able to do some digging and find archives and stories about them and their exact times. In fact, I had too much material. I was sad that I had much less archival material to build on here — till I realized that the story of the Boothmans was its own impressive part of history, and I could focus on that and still have a meaty series.
What an achievement, indeed! but it also has a new history added to the old, with new generations enjoying it. A great story and wonderful photos of the inside and out. Thanks for this great tour, Cynthia.
And thank you for following the series, Jeanne. I figured you’d like it, given the stories you have written about your great heritage house.
There are a few of us crazy enough the take on the task of saving a historical old home. The Grange was saved by a couple with vision of what it could be…that is wonderful.
And I’m so glad there are such people, willing to take on such places, Karen.
A lovely read! Interesting writing, Cynthia. 🙂
Thanks very much, Iris, for that nice compliment.
What a lovely story! I think I might need that book of Nick’s. 🙂 🙂
A truly wonderful story .. thank you for sharing