Alderside Cottage

Alderside began as a small log cabin built by the founder of Dwight, Edmund J. Gouldie, in 1881. The cabin was sold to one of the original settlers of Dwight; Reverend William Alexander (W.A.) Stewart became Dwight’s first Baptist minister and founder of Dwight’s first church, the landmark Stewart Memorial Church. The cultural heritage value of Alderside is associated with the importance of Reverend W.A. Stewart and his family in the development of the community and church.
Alderside is representative of the early vernacular style of construction used during the settlement of Lake of Bays and the many communities that developed around the lake. The original log cabin was readapted in the 1890’s and in 1906 with a veranda and additional rooms to accommodate the growing family and their guests.
The family cottage contributes to the understanding of the early settlement of Dwight as it holds many original pieces of furniture and family items that provide examples of life as it was over a hundred years ago. Alderside remains in the Stewart family in essentially the same state as it was in 1906. The cottage is a focal point of the family properties as it is rich in history and associative meaning for both the Stewart family and the community of Dwight.
Designated October 12, 2010