Name/Title
Nelles-Fitch House - 125 Main St WestScope and Content
Nelles- Fitch House - 125 Main St. west, SW corner of Main and Gibson StreetsContext
This Georgian style home is the oldest residence in Grimsby; the south wing of this structure dates to 1786.
The Town of Grimsby designated this a Heritage Property in September 1990.
The home has significant historical importance both for its architecture and its past owners. It is an excellent example of the Georgian style prominent throughout the Upper Canada at the time.
The home is attributed to the Nelles family. The first 1792 Township land survey recorded Captain Heinrick Nelles as the owner. He willed it to his son Warner, but Warner remained at his farm on the Grand River. Robert Nelles took ownership, receiving the Crown Patent for the lot in 1803.
The south wing of the home was origionally a small log cabin and dates to 1786, inscribed on a beam uncovered during a restoration. Past accounts suggested Robert Nelles's family may have lived in the cabin while "The Manor" was being built (1788-1798). While that is possible, it is not known for sure. Nelles also had a large home on a 100-acre farm near what is now Main St East and Baker Road. It may have been a more suitable environment for his growing family.
The expansion from a log cabin to a formal Georgian home was likely during Robert Nelles eldest son Henry's ownership. During the War of 1812, the Nelles family were active in Canada’s defence and this property was converted into a military barracks with a basement prison cell.
Though only twenty-three when the Americans invaded, Henry Nelles served as an officer and participated in the Battle of Queenston Heights. Shortly after he married but his happiness was short-lived. Within weeks he was wounded, captured, and held as a POW in the United States for the duration of the War. Upon his release, Henry and Sally made this their home, and resumed charge of their merchant store and mills. He became Postmaster in 1826 and was Colonel of the 4th Lincoln during the Upper Canada Rebellion. They resided here until their deaths, Sally passed away in 1840 followed by Henry in 1841.
Their eldest son, Robert Fanning Nelles, lived here until 1852 when he sold the house to Dr. William Fitch, a new village doctor. Dr. Fitch passed in 1869 but his widow and daughter lived here until 1882. They sold to William Fitch Jr.
William Jr., known as "Doc." Fitch, studied medicine at Victoria College and Biltmore College, New York. After interning at a few hospitals, he returned to Grimsby but never practised as a doctor. Known for his eccentricities, he ran a Main Street general store and operated the village’s first Telegraph office, but his main focus was cricket. He developed his cricket skills on local teams and became one of Canada’s top players. He was on the All-Canadian team for the 1876 Centennial series in Philadelphia where Canada won the All American trophy. Fitch later captained Canadian Cricket teams that visited England seven times for matches.
Fitch lived here until his death in 1938. Strachan Caskill and Wilbur Wright then purchased the property planning to convert the home into a museum. Wright began extensive renovations after World War II but could not get Town Council's support for the museum concept, so plans were abandoned. In 1954 a new owner turned the house into six apartments.
In 1989 Jack and Wendy Watt acquired it to conserve the historic property. They undertook a well researched, complete restoration, and breathed life back into the home. Since then, the property remains well cared for by subsequent caretaker owners.Collection
GHSLocation
* Untyped Location
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