Clovelly - 417 Main Street West

Name/Title

Clovelly - 417 Main Street West

Context

This grand 2 1/2 story Queen-Anne style home and property on the "Hagar Curve" of Main Street West, was constructed in 1901 for Lewis L. and Selina Hagar. It was designated as a Heritage Property by the Town of Grimsby on Oct, 16, 2023 The Hagar's ran one of the most prosperous farm's in the region. They had initially lived in Winona and then moved into a stone tenant house on this property when they first purchased the property from John Glover Ten Eyck sometime after 1881. This was replaced by a new residence constructed in 1887 when the Hagar's were in their mid '20s. Fabulous barns were also completed for Lewis' trotting horses which he competed with around the area, winning some material events and purses. In July 1901 a fire started in green hay in a barn and quickly spread to all structures on the property, leveling everything. The Hagar's rebuilt on a grander scale, having an architect design this new residence. It was constructed by J.A. Hewitt of Depot Street in Grimsby Village, and a large cement barn was constructed for the horses. In the fall of 1909 Hagar sold 150 acres of the farm on both sides of Main St West leaving him with 35 more manageable acres. In 1912 the Hagar's donated 5 acres to build a school, which the Township named Hagar School. In 1913 the Hagars decided to give up farming on this scale and swapped the property and cash with grocer A.F. Hawke for the Hawke home on Main Street East. The Hawke's owned this property for 13 years, then sold it to the Murgtroyd brothers, private bankers and investors in Smithville. The Murgatroyds held it as an investment property between 1925 and 1944, renting portions of the large home as a residence and a care/ rest home while large rooms were for groups like the Peach Kings Hockey team, Niagara Packers or the Ontario Fruit Growers Association to hold annual conventions and banquets. During the war years of 1941 to early ’44 the home was vacant. The Murgatroyd’s were approached and agreed to allow the home to be used as the headquarters for some fifty-five Farmerettes. It opened as a government backed Farmerette Camp on May 11, 1944. The home was sold in 1946 by Frederich Murgatroyd, the family Executor, to the Maleyko’s. History of Concession 2. Lot 18 property 1798 – Patent to John Beamer 1804 – West ½ of 100 acres to Paul Marlatt 1815 – Andrew Pettit 1865 – Francis Ten Yeck c. 1882 - Lewis L Hagar, Selina A Hagar (builders of Clovelly) 1909 - Hagar sold off 150 acres 1912 – 5 acres given by the Hagar’s to Marsh Brothers to construct Hagar School 1913 – Ada & Albert Francis Hawke – cash & property swap for 63 Main Street East 1925 – Robert & Ellis Murgatroyd 1946 – Theodore & Martin Maleyko 1963 – Joseph & Angela Piotrowski 1986 – Current property owners; a kennel since 1999