The History of The Gables

The Gables, circa 1910, with George and Sarah standing on the deck outside the widow’s peak looking out on Queen St.

Perched at the corner of Wilson and John Streets, The Gables has been quietly observing Tottenham life since the late 1800s. Construction began around 1880 when George Gordon built both the house and the general store just around the corner. Gordon was more than a shopkeeper. He was a central figure in the town’s early life, extending credit, lending money, and keeping goods moving through a small but growing community.

Alongside him was his wife Sarah Gordon, a talented seamstress who ran the millinery section of the store. Sarah was known for dressing many of the area’s brides and would travel to Toronto a few times each year to learn the latest fashions and bring new materials back to Tottenham. Between George’s bustling general store and Sarah’s skilled needlework, the Gordons became well known in the community.

Circa 1910, the Gordon’s General Store, now Tottenham Paint and Paper, on Queen St.

The house grew gradually over time. The dining room was the first portion of the house built, followed by the kitchen and then the parlour. From there it continued to expand, gable by gable, as local tradesmen and townsfolk settled debts to Mr. Gordon with carpentry, labour, and the occasional creative solution. By the time the Gordon family moved fully into the home in 1906, it had become something rather impressive. Fourteen rooms, three bathrooms, and a four storey tower topped with a balcony that looks out over the town and countryside beyond. It is also interesting to note that The Gables was the first home in the area to receive electricity, a fitting detail for a house that has always seemed just a little ahead of the curve. Over the years, The Gables has developed something of a reputation in town. Because of it’s majestic design and the respected reputations of both George and Sarah, The Gables naturally became something of a gathering place, with people coming and going as part of the everyday rhythm of town life.

The Gables has always been a little hard to ignore. Larger than most homes in town, with its tower rising above the street and its deep front porch facing Wilson, it naturally captured the imagination of the neighbourhood kids. And, as often happens with old houses, a few stories began to circulate. Nothing too certain, of course. Just the occasional whisper that strange things had happened there over the years. It is the kind of house that seems to collect stories naturally. Some of those stories are simply part of Tottenham history. Others tend to be shared with a slightly lowered voice and a knowing smile. After all, a house that has stood this long has seen a great deal of life pass through its rooms.