The land was originally part of a farm owned by Alex Henderson (1875 Wentworth Atlas). In 1903 it was owned by William Stuart (Imperial Atlas). W. D. Flatt, Burlington’s leading developer from 1910 to 1920, purchased the land and registered the Brighton Beach Survey in 1912. There were 75 lots and a common area of beach property, which was to be jointly owned by the lot owners. Lot 55 was sold by Flatt on May 20, 1920 to Joseph Hunter, who had the house built in the same year. In 1920 the property was registered in the names of Joseph and Edith Hunter.
It is believed that Hunter worked in the area saw mill and also at the nearby cemetery. It is across the street from the location of the original farm house. It was known as the “Big House” to the other residents, who lived in summer cottages.
In 1943 the property was sold to Mary Cascagnette. It was a rental property for some years, beginning in 1963. In 1973 it was purchased by the Palethorpe family. The senior Palethorpes now live at 491 Pearl Street, another designated property. Mrs Smyth was originally a Palethorpe.
The Big House” was the first permanent house built in the Brighton Beach Survey, developed by W.D. Flatt as a summer vacation area. Each of the property owners in the survey jointly owns an interest in the nearby beach front. The house was built in 1920 for Joseph and Edith Hunter by Alexander Milne. Located at the fork in the road entering the Survey, the house is an anchor of the neighbourhood. Although many alterations have changed the one-and-a-half-storey structure, the original charm of its Craftsman Style design remains. A panelled front door, stained glass window, brick chimney, original windows with stone sills, voussoir brick arches, wood trim, and centre front gable have been preserved. The original cedar shingle roof and Craftsman Style verandah with round columns have been replaced with asphalt roofing and pressure-treated lumber.
