Dr. Jones Frame Barn
Original Building
London Township
Middlesex County
Circa 1900
This big red barn is originally from the farm of Casey Bakema, located on the east shore of Fanshawe Lake at Look-Out Point in London Township. The barn was used by Bakema’s father in his mixed farming operation. It is built of post-and-beam construction using white ash. The barn was dismantled before its 1963 move to the Village and was reconstructed during the winter of 1969-1970. Today, the barn is used for a multitude of purposes, including special events, education programs, and winter storage of large agricultural equipment.
The barn’s adjoining driveshed was added in 1973 and features hand-hewn timbers. The frame barn therefore combines traditional and 20th century construction. The driveshed of the barn contains equipment such as a Leonard-Ball automatic engine, a road grader, and a horse drawn sleigh.
A Rural Doctor’s Farm
Though many rural doctors lived on farms, their time was generally dedicated to their medical practice. Doctors had little time to maintain a large farm, so they often rented large portions of the land to local farmers, thereby subsidizing their income. In most cases they only set aside enough property for their home, barn, some livestock, and gardens.
A horse and buggy were a rural doctor’s typical transportation. In 1898, the first automobile arrived in Ontario. Although a car could get a doctor to a patient faster, it was unreliable on dirt roads that could be made impassable by inclement weather. In the winter, a horse-drawn sleigh was essential to reach their patients and could cut across fields.
Building restoration supported by Western Fair Association Community Enhancement Fund.
A rural doctor standing beside his horse-drawn wagon. Courtesy of Richmond Hill Public Library
Dr. Jones Barn, formerly known as “Miller Barn,” at the Village, circa 1990. Many of the farm implements surrounding the barn in this picture are now displayed in drivesheds around the Village or inside the Jury Barn. Image courtesy of Ross Breadner, London and Middlesex Heritage Museum Archives
Dr. Jones Driveshed, originally called the “Freele Driveshed,” at the Village, circa 2009. London and Middlesex Heritage Museum Archives
Display of various plows and other equipment inside Dr. Jones Driveshed, circa 2012. London and Middlesex Heritage Museum Archives
In the late 1800s, road graders like this one became available to maintain the dirt roads around towns. The early graders required both horses and operators. Horses eventually were replaced with tractors, powered first with steam, and later with gasoline or diesel engines.
Horse drawn sleighs were necessary to traverse the country side during Canada's snowy winters.