Otterville and Burgessville, Ontario in Colour Photos – My Top 10 Picks

Otterville and Burgessville

The Township of Norwich is located in Oxford County in southwestern Ontario. Pioneering families emigrated from Norwich in upper New York State in the early 19th century. Oxford County Road 59 is the major north–south highway through much of the township, including the community of Norwich proper. The local economy is largely agricultural, based on corn, soybean, and wheat production with dairy farming in the north part of the township and tobacco, vegetable, and ginseng farming to the south. Slowly, ginseng and traditional cash crops are replacing the former cash crop – tobacco, as demand shrinks.

In 1799, the Township of Norwich was laid out by surveyor William Hambly into lines and concessions and 200-acre lots. The township was divided into North and South Norwich Townships in 1855.

In 1975, Oxford County underwent countywide municipal restructuring. The Village of Norwich and the Townships of East Oxford, North Norwich and South Norwich were amalgamated to create the Township of Norwich.

Norwich includes the communities of Beaconsfield, Bond’s Corners, Brown’s Corners, Burgessville, Cornell, Creditville, Curries, Eastwood, Hawtrey, Hink’s Corners, Holbrook, Milldale, Muir, Newark, New Durham, Norwich, Oriel, Otterville, Oxford Centre, Rock’s Mills, Rosanna, Springford, Summerville, Blows, and Vandecar.

Otterville is a village in Norwich Township in Oxford County. It is located on the Otter Creek. Otterville was settled in 1807. Encouraged by local Quakers, free blacks and escaped slaves fled persecution in the United States and found homes in the Otterville area beginning in 1829. Otterville African Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery served the local black community until the late 1880s.

Architectural Photos, Otterville, Ontario
Otterville – 233 Main Street West – Neo-Colonial – gambrel roof, Romanesque-style window voussoirs
Architectural Photos, Otterville, Ontario
Otterville – Main Street West – stained glass transoms
Architectural Photos, Otterville, Ontario
Otterville – 216 Main Street – dormers, sidelight
Architectural Photos, Otterville, Ontario
Otterville – 244 Main Street East – dormer in attic, paired cornice brackets, corner quoins, dichromatic voussoirs
Architectural Photos, Otterville, Ontario
Otterville – 249 Main Street East – Gothic – verge board trim on gables
Architectural Photos, Otterville, Ontario
Otterville – 6 Dover Street
Architectural Photos, Otterville, Ontario
Otterville – 225422 Main Street West – Oddy House – constructed in 1861 – Also called Woodlawn Place which is associated with Thomas Wright, a local, prominent inventor who designed and lived in the building in the mid-nineteenth century. Wright was influenced by Dr. Orson Fowler, whose 1853 book, “The Octagonal House –A Home For All”, encouraged the practicality of octagonal dwellings. Fowler argues that these homes were easier to heat and made greater use of the sun’s rays. It is a fine example of the Regency Cottage style of architecture although its octagonal shape makes it unusual. The building is of plank construction with board and batten siding. The overall plan consists of a 45-foot octagon with a 20 foot by 20-foot wing that is situated to form a trapezoidal umbrage at the side of the house. Typical of the Regency style, Woodlawn Place features a wide roof overhang and deep fascia boards. The front door is flanked with sidelights and Doric pilasters, complimented by a simulated entablature above.
Architectural Photos, Burgessville, Ontario
Burgessville – Church Street – hipped roof, paired cornice brackets
Architectural Photos, Burgessville, Ontario
Burgessville – Church Street – Gothic
Architectural Photos, Burgessville, Ontario
20 Church Street – 2½-story tower-like bay, fretwork