Tower Manor Lodge

Submitted by: Donna Wootton

Hike reference: 11.9 km Plainville area

The original structure, Wolf Tower, was built circa 1838, by the Rev. George Wilson Bridges, an Anglican Clergyman. It was a six-level octagon tower with an underground entrance. The Tower was made of wood, then roughcast giving it a blue-grayish appearance.

Wolf Tower was named by Catharine Parr Traill.

The tower was named Wolf Tower by Catharine Parr-Traill during a visit the year it was built. Wolf tower was given to Thomas and Catherine Parr-Traill to live in, for one year, rent-free in 1846. Catherine Parr-Traill started a book initially entitled “Canadian Crusoes” (later called “Lost in the Backwoods") at Wolf Tower. She used many of the landmarks, including the Big Stone (Valley of the Big Stone) from the ravine and hills south of the tower.

Bridges sold Wolf Tower to James Finlay. The Tower burned to the ground in 1856. Finlay built Tower Manor house circa 1857. Finlay moved to Greenville, South Carolina in 1873. Finlay sold Tower Manor to Richard Robinson Nurse, a farmer from South Monagahan Township (25 miles to the north) in 1874. Around 1904 the house became a guest Lodge under Richard Nurse's son John and his wife Ella.

John and Gail Andersen took possession in 1985. To this day they continue to manage, own and operate their successful venture, Tower Manor Lodge. The owners take an interest in the history of their building and property and are eager to learn more about it and answer some curious questions, especially about subjects like "The Tower Manor Poem”. Who was the Author of the poem? It’s signed by  "E. Keele", who could be a man or woman. They also don't know what inspired the writing, or the exact time when the poem was written. The Tower Poem was published in a newspaper around 1918.

A copy of the old clipping was found in the Guest Register. Also in the register was a newspaper clipping in response to the publication of the poem. It was titled "Reminiscences of the Tower".  It was written and signed: Mrs. Clinton Atwood , "Ashelworth", Lakefield, Ontario, Nov. 8, 1918.