1

The Aldred and Watts family
17 September 1924
Glencoe, Ontario, Canada

2

Annie Edith Aldred May 1st 1899 - January 17 1996

Miss Annie Edith Aldred was the youngest child of Robert James FREDERICK and Alice Amelia (Weekes) Aldred. She was borne and raised in Glencoe Ontario. Annie completed four years of continuing school (high school), where she went on to attend an art school in New York, USA, where she studied to be an artist.

Annie Aldred also had a vision. Her desire and determination to open a Tea House was not deterred after her first attempts failed. Annie along with older brother, Arnold, started a small Tea Room in the Strathburn area (a small hamlet 5 km south of Glencoe, Ontario on Longwoods Road) in 1935. Due to unanticipated length of hardships caused by the Great Depression, the business did not flourish.

3

Annie Aldred
1960
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

4

By change, Annie drove past the Little Stone House (34 km to the west of Strathburn) that was still under going changes made by Stan Gamble. Annie, with a sharp eye, envisioned the great potential the property could have as a Tea House. It did not take long for Stan Gamble to foresee the potential of an embryonic business so started the Little Stone House Tea House.

5

Steep slope roofline
1935-1955
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum

6

Stanley Gamble decided that an addition was needed to the Little Stone House to facilitate the "Tea House". The outer walls of the addition were constructed using cobblestones to adhere to the original design and a sloping roof to counterbalance the present roofline.

7

Mosaic floor to entrance of the west addition
1935-1955
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum

8

The flooring was laid with flat stone to harmonize with the cobblestones, which now made up one wall (previous outer wall) of the new addition.

9

West addition staircase leading from the main building
1935-1955
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum

10

The section of the house was named the Moravian Room after the Moravian missionaries and Christian Delaware Indians who built the village of Fairfield, 1792 to 1813, which lay cross Longwoods Road to the east of the Little Stone House.

11

West addion fireplace
1935-1955
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

12

An addition chimney was constructed to accommodate a fireplace in the Moravian Room.

13

West addition south view
1935-1955
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum

14

West addition wood box
1935-1955
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum

15

The built in wood box is visible from the outside as a stone wall.

16

West addition south view dutch door
1935-1955
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum

17

Many curious eyes are attracted to the half dutch door and the hexagon window that faces the roadway.

18

Main west courtyard arch
1935-1955
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum

19

A courtyard was constructed to enhance the individuality of the Little Stone House. Work on the courtyard began with a low stonewall extending the sloop of the roof to the west of the house.

20

North courtyard arch
1935-1955
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum

21

Two openings were gated and the third in the northwest wall gave way to the back yard.

22

Courtyard bench
1960's
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

23

Stone slab benches graced the courtyard offering a leisurely time to enjoy the beauty the Little Stone House had to offer.

24

Robert Aldred and Estella Wall wedding reception at the Little Stone House
1954
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

25

Miss Aldred decorated a wooden arch over one of the gates with flowers for a wedding, which inspired Mr. Gamble to build a stone arch over the west gate. The courtyard walls have remained in good preservation but the gates are no longer remaining.

26

Wooden covered guest book from Little Stone Tea House
1940's
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

27

Due to the uniqueness of the Little Stone House and the determination and hard work by Annie Aldred, the Tea House flourished and its reputation spread through out Southern Ontario and into the United States. Longwoods Road (Highway # 2) was the shortest direct route between Detroit, Michigan and Buffalo, New York that brought many American travelers past the Little Stone Tea House. The American Automobile Association listed the Tea House in their directory, which was a great honour to Annie.

28

Tea house guest book
1940's
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

29

Once more, Annie Aldred was faced with unanticipated events. Business declined when the United States entered into Second World War forcing the Tea House to close in 1942. Annie moved to Ottawa to take a position with the federal finance department until 1945 when Amities was declared. Not forgetting her dream, she returned to re-open the Little Stone House Tea Room in 1946.

30

Dougald McCallum and Mabel Burley wedding
1961
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

31

Upon re-opening the Little Stone Tea House, it became fashionable to have one's wedding/wedding reception on the grounds of the Little Stone Tea House.

32

Guest book for McCallum-Burley wedding
1940's
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

33

The picturesque setting of the house and the gardens added to the joyous occasion.

34

Tom Parks and Michelle Stenger wedding
1995
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

35

For many years after the closing of the Little Stone Tea House, the grounds and the house were desired backdrop for those all important pictures.

36

Tea room furniture
1940's
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

37

The Stone Tea House needed to be furnished to accommodate customers. This was at a time when goods and money were scares due to the Great Depression of 1930's.

38

Original wooden chair build by Arnold and Frederick Aldred
1940's
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum

39

Arnold Aldred and Olive Watts
1937
Glencoe, Ontario, Canada

40

Arnold Aldred and R.J. Fredrick Aldred, father and grand father of Robert Aldred, owned and operated a wood-working shop in a near by village. Although their trade worked mainly with farmers who required repairs to machinery, the Aldred's took upon themselves the task of constructing the required tables and chairs in the winter of 1937- 1938.

41

Robert James Fredrick Aldred
1924
Glencoe, Ontario, Canada

42

A few remaining pieces of furniture are in the possession of the Aldred family today, including the furnishings handcrafted by Stan Gamble during the 1940's.

43

Corner cabinet made by Stan Gamble for tea house
1940's
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

44

Note the hand carved image by Stan Gamble of the stone house on the chest drawer face.

45

Little Stone Tea House two piece furniture set
1940's
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

46

End table made by Stan Gamble depicting the log cabin
1940's
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

47

Note the image of the log cabin hand carved by Stan Gamble into the side table.

48

Original refridgerator
1940
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum

49

The 1940's refridgerator is a remnant of the hustle and bustle of The Little Stone Tea House.

50

Annie Aldred
28 July 1976
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

51

The Little Stone Tea House continued until 1958, when with great sadness, Annie Aldred closed the doors of the Tea Room for the last time. Miss Annie Aldred remained at the Little Stone House until ill health made living alone unfeasible in 1980.

52

Annie Aldred Obituary in Glencoe Transcript & Free Press
24 January 1996
Glencoe, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum

53

She took residence in a nursing home until her death, January 17th 1996. She was laid to rest in the Aldred family plot in the Oakland Cemetery, Glencoe (Strathburn) Ontario.

54

Annie Aldred cemetery marker
1996-jan-17
Woodland Cemetery, Glencoe, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum