Tim Horton's/DeWolfe family residence

Location: 370 Main St.

Now, Tim Horton's, on this land used to stand one of Wolfville's most famous houses, the DeWolfe family residence.

Built in 1817 by Judge Elisha DeWolf for his son, Thomas Andrew Strange DeWolf, this house featured a circular driveway, drawing room and parlour. It had a stable and carriage house, as well as, gardens and an orchard.

The house was not only a family home, but it had been used as a school too. It later become Wolfville's museum, which was run by the Wolfville Historical Society, formed by Rosamond DeWolf Archibald. However, the Wolfville Fruit Company wanted the land and the house was moved (to what is now 10 Harbourside Dr., and the location of The Anvil Beverage Room), but when that land the house was moved to then became slated for development, the Historical Society could not afford to move the building again and so it was demolished.

The Historical Society purchased Randall House and it became their museum and meeting spot, in 1949. As of today, the Historical Society and Randall House are both facing being lost, as the lack of community interest in sitting on the Historical Society board and lack of volunteerism at the museum, are proving to be too costly to maintain.

This is an example of how important heritage buildings, even ones belonging to founders of a town, can be lost.

Photos:

1. The building, as of July 2023
2. DeWolf house, at it’s original location