One of the questions we get asked the most in the Gallery is “what are those three little cabins on the grounds for?” Well, we thought that it would be a great addition to our collections blog, as the cabins have a very interesting history, and we love to share it.
Just over a decade after the death of Homer Watson, and just after the death of Phoebe Watson in 1947, the home was purchased by a couple named Ross and Bess Hamilton. Together they shared a vision to preserve the historic Watson home and the legacy of the artists who lived and worked inside it. Just months after their purchase of the home, Ross and Bess opened the Doon School of Fine Arts on May 31st, 1948.[1]
In the first year of operation, there were no cabins for students to stay at the school. They would either be billeted with the Hamiltons in the home or would stay at nearby accommodation locally. However, the school was immediately so popular that the Hamiltons built five cabins on site by 1949. The next year, two more cabins were raised on site.[2] In this year, the Hamiltons also decided to make a major investment and upgrade to the school. Behind the Coach House a large bathhouse was added. In the permanent collection we have a letter from one student that year. One line reads
“We are quite awash here now with the new bath house, showers, toilets & basins, cost Ross over 4000.00 but it was badly needed. I am staying in a cabin but some nights it’s pretty cold. Funny weather we have had to come in quite a few times.”[3]
The school was wildly popular with young aspiring artists, and the Hamiltons always taking opportunities to expand their operation. Many local historians agree that the success of the school had to do in part with the way society was generally feeling in the immediate post WWII era- generally there was a greater sense of leisure, and a greater draw the arts as a source of spiritual replenishment than there had been prior.[4] The biggest expansion of the cabins happened in the year between 1950 and 1951. During this period another five cabins were built, bringing the total number of cabins to 12. By 1957 there would be 15 cabins in total.[5] This is the most there would ever be on the grounds at one time. They sat almost in a semi-circle shape around the property, starting near the Gallery and following all the way along to where the bathhouse sat behind the Coach House.
Unfortunately, Ross Hamilton passed away tragically in 1952. It would not be the end of the Doon School of Fine Arts, which was continued under the supervision of Mrs. Hamilton. However, from this point on, there would be no more cabins added to the property, and little to no expansion of the Doon School itself.
The Doon School of Art changed ownership one more time, and then permanently closed in 1966. In 1983, all but three of the cabins were removed from the property.[6] In 1997 cabins were restored by students and instructors of the Renovation Carpentry Program, 1997-98, Conestoga College.[7] Again, later staff had more plans for the cabins. In 2000, one was expanded into a studio space for artists in residence. It was named Willow Lake Studio.[8] Today, they are in quite a state and cannot be entered. They stand as a memory to the Doon School of Fine Arts.
[1] McLaughlin, K., Baker, V., & Kerr, D. (1998). Doon School of Fine Arts. Homer Watson House & Gallery. Page 6
[2] McLaughlin, K., Baker, V., & Kerr, D. (1998). Doon School of Fine Arts. Homer Watson House & Gallery. Page iv
[3] HWHG.1997.19.2: Payne, G. (1950). Letter, Gordon Payne to Alan and Janet Van Every [Paper to Alan Van Every & Janet Van Every].
[4] McLaughlin, K., Baker, V., & Kerr, D. (1998). Doon School of Fine Arts. Homer Watson House & Gallery. Page 9
[5] McLaughlin, K., Baker, V., & Kerr, D. (1998). Doon School of Fine Arts. Homer Watson House & Gallery. Page iv
[6] Doon School of Fine Arts – Homer Watson History & Archives (no date) Homer Watson House & Gallery. Available at: https://history.homerwatson.on.ca/the-building/doon-school/
[7] Doon School of Fine Arts 1948-1966 historical marker. The Historical Marker Database. Available at: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=269518
[8] Doon School of Fine Arts – Homer Watson History & Archives (no date) Homer Watson House & Gallery. Available at: https://history.homerwatson.on.ca/the-building/doon-school/
