Built in 1894, this house is of the Queen Anne Revival style. It is designated under Part 1V of the Ontario Heritage Act by the Town and the Province as being architecturally and/or historically significant.

"The houses in this area (of Pelham Street), were built in the early 1900s on land once farmed by Henry Giles. He bought 25 acres here in 1843 and built his homestead near to the ravine. Henry died in 1871, and sometimes later his house burned down."

"There are three houses on this part of Pelham Street associated with the Kinsman family who ran the Kinsman's store on the south-east corner of Hwy 20. Earnest Kinsman, the third generation proprietor of the store, lived at 1550. Next door (1548) was the home of Jesse McCombs owner of McCombs Nursery. Number 1544 was built for Fred Kinsman, the second generation owner of Kinsman's and the village postmaster."

"The house at 1522 has a long history. It was built in the mid-nineteenth century, and occupied by Danson Kinsman, who came to Fonthill from Nova Scotia and started the Kinsman's store in 1862. His son, Fred, was born in this house. From 1895-1923 it was the Baptist Church parsonage, and after that the home of Harry Brown a veterinarian and the local Sheriff." Historic Walking Tour of Fonthill. Tour 2. Pelham Historical Society. 2006.

"Fred Kinsman: merchant, Fonthill, was born on the 14th of October, 1862. He is a son of Danson Kinsman whose biography precedes this one. His father having been so long in business, our subject has from his earliest days been associated with mercantile life. He had been given a liberal education at the Fonthill public school and the Welland high school, and in addition to the business experience he had acquired at his father's store, had filled an engagement with a Toronto dry goods house, so that it was under the best of auspices that he succeeded to the business at Fonthill in February, 1884. He now does a very extensive trade, always keeping large stocks of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, etc. He is a young man of the strictest integrity, and is much respected by his customers and the business community. He is an adherent of the Baptist church. // DANSON KINSMAN, postmaster, Fonthill, was born in the township of Cornwallis, King's County, Nova Scotia, on the 23rd of April, 1813. His parents were Benjamin Avery and Mary (English) Kinsman, both natives of Nova Scotia. The father was a descendant of the English family of Kinsmans who crossed the Atlantic in the "Mayflower." Our subject received his education in his native province, and was married there on the 19th September, 1839, to Elizabeth, a daughter of John and Abigail (Foster) Douglas. In 1850, Mr. Kinsman, accompanied by his wife and four children, removed to this province and settled at Fonthill, where he engaged in mercantile business. He has continued to reside here ever since, with the exception of four years, which he spent in the United States. In 1864 he was appointed postmaster at Fonthill, a position which he still holds. His general store business was always conducted on an extensive scale, and his honor and uprightness, together with his genial disposition, make him a popular man in the society in which he moves. He has for many years been a consistent member of the Baptist church, and is one of the substantial pillars in the branch of that denomination in the village which he has so many years made his home. He was appointed a justice of the peace many years ago, but has always refused to take the oath of office. He has six children, viz : John Douglas, who holds a position of trust with a large insurance company in New York City; Avery, who is a resident of Rochester, N. Y. ; James is a traveler for a hardware manufacturing company in Philadelphia; Anson travels for a Detroit dry goods house; Hattie, the only daughter, is the wife of Torrence Lamb, of Brockport, N.Y.; and Fred, the youngest son, conducts mercantile business in Fonthill, in which he succeeded his father in 1884." Niagara Genealogy, scroll down to Danson Kinsman and Fred Kinsman http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~onniagar/welland/pelham/pelham_bios_all.htm

Private Residence, not open to the public

Fred Kinsman House
1544 Pelham Street
Fonthill, Ontario
Municipality Town of Pelham

Mary Lamb
Archivist
Pelham Historical Society
PO Box 903
Fonthill, Ontario
L0S 1E0
Email mblamb@sympatico.ca