The Charles Chisholm Summer Cottage home was once a part of Burlington’s original resort area located at the corner of Nelson Avenue and Elgin Street. The area of Nelson Avenue was a prime location for residents to purchase summer homes due to its close proximity to the lake where the hot and humid climate could be enjoyed during the summer months.
Built in 1886 for Charles Chisholm, this summer cottage has many features that make it a historical marvel, enhancing the existing heritage landscape that is Nelson Avenue. The house is closely associated with Charles Chisholm, one of the descendants of the well-known Chisholm family who were among the early inhabitants of the area.
Charles Chisholm was a descendant of the Chisholm family who immigrated to Upper Canada in 1773. Although much of his family’s history is well documented, Charles Chisholm is relatively elusive in the historical record. There is one account that suggest he was a carpenter and a fiddler who travelled around the area playing at dance halls on Saturday evenings (Burlington Historical Society 2004). Charles and his brother, Dudley Chisholm, bought this property that was once owned by William Bunton. Both Charles and Dudley Chisholm built homes on Nelson Avenue, likely for use as summer cottages (LACAC 1995).
The house at 455 Nelson Avenue is a single detached Victorian cottage with wood shiplap siding, which was a common and popular construction feature of the area. With its delicate gingerbread bargeboard and its pyramidal porch roof this house stands out from the rest of the homes on Nelson Avenue (LACAC 1995). The heritage features of the home have been well kept, earning a Heritage Award in 1992.
