Ste. Anne's
- Shelley Irving
- May 4
- 3 min read
Submitted by: Shelley Irving
Hike reference: 15.4 km Ste. Anne’s West Loop
The Families that shaped Ste. Anne’s over 225 years
The Massey Family — Early Settlers, 1802–1900
In the early 1800s, Daniel Massey Sr. moved his family from New York to Upper Canada, drawn by the promise of affordable farmland. Their homestead in Haldimand Township grew into a successful farm and later became the birthplace of the Massey industrial legacy. The War of 1812 reshaped the family’s fortunes: Daniel and his sons served in the militia, and his son Samuel died during this period. Responsibilities shifted to fourteen-year-old Daniel Jr., who later founded the enterprise that evolved into Massey Manufacturing. Throughout the 19th century, the Masseys expanded, reorganized, and rebuilt through drought, deforestation, and economic hardship. By the early 1900s, however, rising agricultural pressures and financial strain led the family to sell their remaining properties, including the stone house known as “Sunnyside.”
The Jayne Family — New Beginnings, 1901–1919
In 1901, Loyalist descendant Simon L. Jayne purchased former Massey land and built a red-brick farmhouse, incorporating hand-hewn timbers believed to come from earlier Massey structures. Simon married Nora L. Tinney and, in 1907, acquired Sunnyside from the Massey family, though he and Nora continued to live in their own farmhouse. Their time here was marked by both hard work and personal loss: the couple’s infant twin sons died in 1911, and they had no surviving children. Simon sold parts of his property over the following years and eventually moved east of Cobourg with Nora. After her death in 1935, he returned to his childhood home. The Jayne family’s connection to Sunnyside ended in 1919 with the sale of the estate.
The Keeler Family — Faith and Resilience, 1919–1939
William and Elizabeth Keeler, also descended from United Empire Loyalists, purchased Sunnyside in 1919. Known for their strong church ties and community spirit, the Keelers farmed the land and often housed young Baptist ministers-in-training. Their sons, Alvin and Bill, grew up working the property; Bill later lived in an apartment created within the stone house. The Great Depression brought significant hardship, as falling crop prices made it difficult for local farmers to pay taxes or mortgages. By 1934, the municipality allowed residents to cover part of their taxes through labour on public works. Through these challenging decades, the Keelers remained devoted stewards of Sunnyside until its sale on the eve of the Second World War.
The Blaffer & Corcoran Families — From Country Estate to Healing Retreat, 1939–Present
In 1939, American philanthropist and heir to the Texaco fortune, Sarah Campbell Blaffer purchased the Sunnyside property and transformed it into a Cotswold-inspired country estate using reclaimed stone and expert craftsmanship. The home—nicknamed the “Grafton Castle”—became a lively gathering place for family, artists, neighbours, and even members of the Royal Norwegian Air Force during WWII.
After years of declining use, the estate was rediscovered in 1981 by Carl and Nan Corcoran, who began a major restoration with their seven children. Their efforts evolved from a family renovation project into a beloved bed and breakfast and, ultimately, one of Canada’s leading destination spas. Today, under Corcoran family leadership, Ste. Anne’s continues to grow as a place of rest, renewal, and community connection.
Other notable mentions…
The road names Massey, Finley, Hoskins, McLean, Grills, and Clouston, along with The Scot’s Line, all share the similarity of being named after early settler families in Northumberland County, Ontario. Several of these names—McLean, Finley, and Clouston, and the very designation of The Scot’s Line—reflect the strong presence of Scottish settlers who established farms along particular concession lines. In contrast, names such as Massey and Hoskins trace to English origins, showing that the area was shaped by a mix of British immigration rather than a purely Scottish population. Together, these road names highlight both the shared pioneer heritage of the region and the cultural differences among the families who helped build here.
More reading:Bob Homme: The Friendly Giant, submitted by Jodi DeJong