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Limehouse outhouse elevated to privy council The outhouse behind the former Gowdy home in Limehouse within a few weeks has been elevated from a derelict, doorless, unused three-seater privy to a pay facility. Next time people see this privy they'll have to pay admission—at Black Creek Pioneer village! When the Credit Valley Conservation Authority took over the property, on the Black Creek in the village, word of the unique charm of the old outhouse spread around. Donald Webster of the Royal Ontario Museum declared it a classic piece of early Canadiana. His scholarly pronouncement set its age as 130 years (which Limehousers doubt. ). Russell Cooper, manager of Pioneer Village, also came to admire the structure. And last week, when the Credit Valley Conservation Authority met to decide what to do with the privy, they decided if it's THAT valuable they'd better retain ownership. They'll LEND their outhouse to Pioneer Village. First county seat "Possibly it's the first county seat", suggested one of the authority members. Said another, "Possibly this should be handled by the Privy council. " And indeed this small building it is not your ordinary, everyday backhouse. It is resplendent with fancy mouldings, front and side windows. It started life as an elaborately built overdoor, which went over the front door of the Moore and Gowdy house in winter to cut the draughts and cold. One year it went around to the back instead of the front, with a back wall and three seats added to it. The old Gowdy home, one of the stateliest around when it was built in 1871, has been completely demolished in the past few weeks by Stefan Skelin, who lives in the area. And now the outhouse has gone, too... but to better things. The windows broken and were replaced by sheets of plastic. The door is gone; some say it was burned for firewood by local lads. The outhouse hasn't been really operational for 20 years or so, according to neighbors. The house, becoming more and more run down, hadn't been occupied for the past year and a half. The fine old home was built about 1871 by Thomas Gowdy. John Moore lived there for 30 years, and then William Gowdy moved in July 1, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Gowdy lived there till 1942 when they moved to Acton. In its heyday, the house was home to the owners of the sawmill and prosperous lime kilns in Limehouse. Both of these business have crumbled away, and none of the Moores or Gowdys are left there. Mrs. W. Gowdy lives in the States now and this son Douglas is with MacLean-Hunter in Toronto. Thriving village When Limehouse operated at full blast there were saw mills, kilns, woollen mill, paint factory, stores and hotels. The fine limestone rock was used in the construction of Osgoode Hall, Emmanuel College, and many churches. The last lime burning in Limehouse was in 1915. So the village lives on in memory—in stately stone buildings and its most famous backhouse. The conservation authority's plans for the 176 acres at Limehouse are limited. However, they do expect to see a better roadway and picnic area there by this summer. Workmen will be around much of the time to keep an eye on things. Eventually there will be an admission charge and washrooms will be built. When this happens, a full time supervisor will be required. Authority representatives appreciate the beauty of the Limehouse location and realize it will have to be protected from too many unsupervised people. Special charm The charm of the ruined dam, mill and kilns are special attractions at this site. Safety problems have worried the authority, with the stream and huge fissures in the rocks, limiting their plans somewhat. The stream, fast flowing at this time of year, is crossed only by nimble tightrope tactics on a log. Woollen Mill burned 1889 Paint Mill built by Jas. Newton 1872 Limekilns at Limehouse.