There are so many abandoned places in Chatham-Kent! This is a list of the top three abandoned places in Chatham-Kent. Browse through all abandoned places in Chatham-Kent
Built in the 1850s, it was bought by Roy and Ethel Guyitt, situated along Talbot Trail, which meets the north shore of Lake Erie in Chatham-Kent
Due to being old, it does have its dangers of falling, earlier, the bricks were removed due to a constant threat of falling over and cracking a skull of anyone below. As well as a front porch and a barn have been removed
The house is also one of the most photographed houses in Ontario. The house looks straight up from a movie, it reminds a lot of the house from the popular cartoon show “courage the cowardly dog”
Currently owned by peter Anderson, who for certain reasons can’t live in the house and honor its ancestral heritage, does try his best to keep the lawn cleaned up and mowed. Its owners are pleased when people come by to visit the house, however, owners don’t like it when people try to enter the house.
Southwest Regional Centre in Dealtown has been closed in 2008. The hospital opened back in 1961, located on 300 acres of land facing Lake Erie. The hospital was built to facilitate disabled adults but was originally designed to accommodate mentally disabled children. When it first opened it was originally named: "Ontario(a)s Hospital School for Retarded Children at Cedar Grove". In 1966 there was a resident population of 1,200 and 600 staff members. By 1979 the resident population reduced down to 620. This was the last{largest} institution built in Canada for the treatment of the mentally disabled. There has been talk by the government to create this huge building in to many different attractions and/or other facilities such as: large-sized tourist resort complete with an indoor water-park, Regional Jail, Retirement Home, and even a resort facility. None of these ideas are likely to happen.
Interior: Consists of many different sectors{sections} and wings. Hospital sector, School sector, patient/staff cafeteria, Gymnasium, Pool, patient sectors etc. This building is massive! Tunnels leading to each building. A lot of the machinery has been removed. Very clean and untouched completely by vandals. little to no deterioration.
Outside: Windows and doors boarded up very securely. Security on site.
All in all this location is in really good condition and closely watched.
I have only got these photos, more will be uploaded shortly.
On October 19, 1826 William Taylor received from Colonol Talbot, a land grant of 100 undeveloped acres of land along what was known as Bear Creek (today's Sydenham River). On this land he and his partner James Smith, built a saw, grist and wool mill. The local community were quite pleased as no longer did they have to transport their produce by canoe to mills located in Detroit. A small community began to develop around the mill site.
Taylor expanded his land to an eventual 1000 acre area along the northern shore of the creek. On this land he built a general store, lumber mill and ship yard. Two of his ships, the "Sara Taylor" and the "Dawn" became part of his business operations.
Taylor also added a woolen mill, which brought the total number of mills he owned to four. His sons and sons-in-law all worked in his various businesses as partners or part-owners. In 1837, Smith and Taylor opened a post office which they would continue to operate for the next 30 years.
Dawn Mills grew to include six streets, three hotels, Methodist church (1908) and a store. The population stood at around 100.
In 1841, the Reverend Josiah Henson and other abolitionists purchased 200 acres of land and established the British American Institute. The purpose of the Institute was to develop vocational training for slavery refugees. The Institute's residents farmed, attended the Institute, and worked at the mills and other local industries.
Dawn Mills demise came when, in the 1860's, the railroad pulled into southern Ontario, replacing the former means of waterway travel. The Taylors fought to have the railroad pass through Dawn Mills, however were not successful in their efforts. Like many other towns in the region, Dawn Mills industries suffered as a result of businesses moving to where the railway was located. The population began to decline and the post office closed in 1918.
After William Taylor died, his son Thomas Hulme kept the family businesses operating until such time that his mother, Sarah Chew, died. Upon her death, Thomas sold most of the businesses and moved the woolen mill to Chatham where the Taylor Mills Company continued in the family until well into the mid-20th century.
Today Dawn Mills is a quiet rural setting. The former hotel and residence may be found on the west side of the road. On the other side of the road you will find the former church and parsonage. If you walk around to the back of the church you will notice that you are facing the front of the church. The buildings face what used to be the main road.
For an indepth website about this town go here: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rykbrown/taylor_of_dawn_mills.htm
Location: Take the main highway (21) towards Dresden from Thamesville. Look for county road 15 which reads "Dawn Mills" right from the highway. It is 5km east of Dresden.