Name/Title
Doran House - 470 Main Street WestContext
This Georgian style two-story rubble stone home dates to the 1830’s during Thomas Bingle’s property ownership. With a number of notable owners over the past 190+ years, it is commonly known as Doran House for five-time Mayor James Doran who resided here for 33 years.
It was designated as a Heritage Property by the Town of Grimsby on Oct. 16, 2023.
Starting in October 1795, Benjamin Willcox of New Jersey was given a government Land Warrant ticket to the 200 acres.
The land passed through a few owners until acquired by Thomas Bingle in 1835. Bingle, a stepson of Colonel Robert Nelles, ran the farm, a merchant business in Grimsby Village and assisted in the Grimsby Post Office. In 1835 he was a founder of the Stoney Creek Harbour Co., established to build a port at the mouth of Stoney Creek to facilitate shipping from Saltfleet Township and western Grimsby, which would have benefitted his farm.
In 1851 Bingle sold to Sylvester & Elizabeth Doran. The Doran’s adult sons still lived at home and assisted their aging parents with running the 106-acre mixed grain, cattle, and dairy farm. One of a few Catholic families in the area, the Doran’s were behind the movement to have St. Jospeh’s church built.
Son James Doran purchased the farm from his father in 1858. He served on Council in 1866 and was Township Reeve [Mayor] 1867 – 1869. His farm became a profitable operation over the next twenty-five years. He sold in 1884, moved to the village and went into real estate, development, money lending and shipping. Reeve of Grimsby Village in 1895 - 96, the HG&B streetcar railway service came to the area dring his term in office.
Ferdinand Pattison owned the property between 1884 -1906. He became wealthy switching from mixed farming to a bountiful tender fruit operation. His methods for improved and increased crop production were adopted and promoted by the Department of Agriculture. A golfer from his university days, Pattison became one of Canada’s top golfers at the end of the 1890’s. Son Edward Pattison who grew up here became a WWI Canadian air ace, shooting down six enemy aircraft.
Charles Eames was the next owner of note [1916 – 1920]. Eames became one of Grimsby's and Hamilton's leading businessmen, promoter of local sports and the community. He created “Blossom Time,” an event of almost national prominence between 1923 and the 1960s. Owner of the former Deer Park Golf Club, he donated property in 1943 for conversion to Grimsby’s first hospital.
Between 1932 – 1942, the property was owned by principals of Parkdale Wines who converted the farm to grapes. The Boyle family owned 1950 - 1981 and from 1987 -1998 the home was run by the Zimmerman’s as a bed and breakfast.
