Designations

Constructed in ca. 1846, The Robinson House is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act based on its unique architecture and history.

The Robinson House was the home of John Robinson, a Quaker, who emigrated to Upper Canada in 1833 from Staindrope, County Durham, England. In designing this, the Robinson Family's second home in the Oshawa area, John Robinson incorporated an architectural design on the surface more readily resembles a common farmer's barn, but when evaluated, the design is more consistent with Dutch Colonial architecture. The gambrel roof which incorporates an architecturally and structurally prominent two tiered verandah is very characteristic of Dutch Colonial design and is the feature which makes Robinson House so different from other homes of this vintage in Oshawa and Ontario.

Historically, this type of architecture is more commonly found in the New England states. Very little information is available on the application of this design in Canada with one notable exception. In 1964 Paul Sears, noted restoration architect and at that time President of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, reviewed the Robinson House project with the Oshawa Historical Society and noted that because of its architecture alone, Robinson House should be restored. Mr. Sears further commented that from his knowledge of Ontario architecture, this is only one other building of this vintage and it is located in Upper Canada Village, Morrisburg, Ontario.

John Robinson skillfully crafted this house about 145 years ago using local craftsman and materials to fashion a design not common to this area. Today, the building still stands in remembrance of John Robinson and his family in early Port Sydenham and the early lakefront development.