The brochure stated that the reaction of those who visited the home would help decide whether or not to incorporate ideas from this controversial home in the designs offered in future residential developments undertaken by the company.
The house, 59 ft. X 24.5 ft. (17.9 m X 7.46 m) is of frame and stone construction with a two-car garage, covered patio 20 X 22 ft. ( 6 X 6.7 m) complete with a barbecue.
The press preview of the home was held Tuesday, September 14, 1954. The home opened to the public on September 17, 1954 under the sponsorship of the Progress Club, which was raising funds for the mentally challenged. Viewers donated to the Club during the three-week viewing period.
Attracting major interest was the activities room, a blend of informal living room and recreation room. It had access directly outdoors as well as to the children’s rooms and a bathroom. The bathroom was situated in such a way as to back onto the bathroom in the master bedroom thereby saving additional piping.
The open plan featured the living room, dining room and kitchen combination, and wall space was saved throughout by the use of sliding doors. Only four doors were of the conventional hinge design.
Summer air conditioning went on automatically just as the furnace came on in the winter, and a remote control bedside switch provided auxiliary control of the lighting throughout the entire house.
There was an accent on colour in the interior decorating. A careful blend of colours added spaciousness to the open areas yet tied everything together. Eaton’s also provided furnishings boasting that they were flexible enough to suite the varied activities of a growing family.
There stands a number of homes along Dixie Road, North Service Road, Cawthra Road and at The Queensway and Stanfield Road which pre-date Applewood Acres. Some are smaller homes which housed employees of the orchard owners of the area, while others were houses built and occupied by relatives of some of the major landowners.
As an example, Ken Watson, a relative of the Watson Apple Orchard family, who owned property along the QEW and Dixie Road area, lived in a house which is still quietly tucked almost out of sight, snuggled up to the east bank of the Dixie Road overpass at 1345 North Service Road.
Ken’s daughter, Nora, married Carl Stewart, who could well be this area’s first elected politician as he sat on Township Council before the Shipps came along. Carl and Nora built the home at 835 North Service Road.
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