Description of Historic Place

The Tom House, located at 82 Wellesley Street, is situated on the southwest corner of Wellesley Street and Elgin Avenue West in the Town of Goderich. The property consists of a two-storey brick Georgian style residence that was constructed in 1888.

The property was designated by the Town of Goderich in 1990 for its historical and architectural value under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (By-Law 9 of 1990).

Heritage Value

The Tom House is associated with its first owner, Mr. John Elgin Tom, who arrived in Goderich in 1886 as the Public School Inspector for West Huron, a position he held for 42 years. During this time, he was noted for his great influence and untiring exertion in the advancement of education in Huron. After his death, in 1930, his wife Margaret lived at the residence until 1943.

Constructed circa 1888, the Tom House is a good representation of a late Georgian Style. Typical of this style, the home is notable for its iron cresting, decorative brackets and fascia boards under the soffit, and the decorative fretwork around the centre gable. The turn-of-the-century metal roofing tiles are of note as is the design of the square bay on the north side of the structure.

Source: Town of Goderich By-Law 9 of 1990.

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of the Tom House include its:
- two-storey brick construction
- iron cresting
- decorative brackets and frieze
- fretwork around gable
- metal roofing tiles
- two brick chimneys
- square projecting bay on north elevation
- centre gable
- brackets under the overhanging eaves