THE THORNHILL HERITAGE Foundation announced the acquisition of their first property on Aug. 18.
Members at the foundation said they acquired a house at 7780 Yonge St., through a generous donation from Thornhill resident Katherine Louisa Keiths, who’s lived in the house since 1949. Originally built by her great-grandfather Robert West — Thornhill’s first grocery merchant — 160 years ago, the house is listed on the national archive of historical houses.
“It is the only house of its kind in all of Thornhill that has remained in the existing family from day one,” said Robb Stitt of the foundation.
According to the archivist of the Thornhill Historical Society,the property is the only neoclassical 19th century home in Thornhill, Stitt added.
The house will be known as the Robert West Heritage Centre, and will play host to the Society for the Preservation of Historic Thornhill archives collection, and will be used to hold meetings and to show exhibits organized by the group.