Name/Title
Two Century Smith Farm - 400 Main Street WestContext
Two Century Smith Farm - A historic Edwardian style dwelling built in 1913 named the “R.O. Smith House”, with a detached barn behind the dwelling.
It was designated a Heritage Property by the Town of Grimsby on October 16, 2023.
The home was constructed by Robert Owen Smith in 1913 in a popular style of the time associated with the reign of King Edward VII. Robert was residing on Kerman Avenue when he inherited his father's farm on Main Street West so he constructed this residence to avoid the daily commute.
The property has been associated with the Smith family for 237+ years since John Smith, a United Empire Loyalist (UEL) arrived in Canada in 1787 and was granted 230 acres of Lot 17 on concessions I and II in Grimsby Township. Robert's father (Sardis), and Grandfather (John), farmed the land and Robert’s son Donald and grandson Duncan farmed the land after him. Collectively the six generations of Smith farmers worked the property for over 200 years, historically linking the parcels and buildings to John Smith, the original Crown land grant recipient. The Edwardian style residence and surrounding property still maintains its historic use of agricultural farming.
The Smith family has built many additional significant houses along that portion of the Main Street West corridor, including 390 Main Street West, 382 Main Street West and 482 Main Street West.
During WWII the operation of this farm was maintained with the assistance of "Farmerettes", the government organized Ontario Farm Service Force which was made up of female high school graduates. By 1943, nearly 13,000 young women were enrolled, keeping farms across Ontario operational.
1797 Original land grant to John Smith
1826 Ezekiel Smith (Son to John)
1886 Sardis Smith (Son to Ezekiel)
1913 Robert Owen Smith (built this home) (Great grandson of John Smith UEL)
1966 George Donald Smith & Elizabeth Jane Smith
(Robert Owen Smiths son and daughter)
1968 Robert Duncan Smith (son of George Donald Smith and Nephew of Elizabeth Jane Smith)
