Pine Hall

Pine Hall” was built in 1848 for William Van Norman, son of Isaac Van Norman, who had immigrated with his parents Ephraim and Elizabeth Van Norman from Pennsylvania in 1799, settling in Nelson township in 1806. William’s family first lived in a log cabin, then built this large brick house, facing the old Indian trail which has since become Harvester Road. The bricks were hauled by two teams of horses from kilns in the area which is now Bronte Provincial Park. Stones collected from the farm were laid by a professional tonemason to build the cellar. In 1870 the property was bought by John Breckon. Another house owned by John Breckon (Con 2 SDS, Lot 2) is illustrated in the 1877 Halton Atlas. The building is of a brick exterior with a low gabled roof with returned eaves. The main entrance door is framed with a rectangular transom and sidelights. Windows are a combination of 12 lite and 6 plus 1 lite units.The side porch contains a classically detailed but simple pediment supported by slender, tapered wood columns. The basic design is classic Revival with a Federal influence derived from the Post American Revolution Period, and is a fine example of our American Loyalist Heritage.