The Globe, July 21, 1877
BRANT HOUSE AT BURLINGTON BAY
Nestling under the shadow of Burlington Heights at the head of Lake Ontario lies the picturesque village of Burlington, once known as Wellington Square. This village derives much of its importance from its proximity to the City of Hamilton, being situated in full sight of it, and at a distance of about six miles, at the point where a neck of land runs across from the north to the south shore of Lake Ontario, forming the safe and capacious harbour of Hamilton, known as Burlington Bay. The Hamilton and North-Eastern Railroad coming from Georgetown runs along this neck of land to Hamilton, crossing the Burlington ship canal on an iron swing bridge erected by the Hamilton Bridge Company at a cost of $50,000.
Besides possessing the natural advantage of scenery caused by a diversity of shape assumed by land and water, the corner formed by the junction of the peninsula with the mainland on the north shore is also famous as having been the residence and first burial place of the celebrated Indian Chief Joseph Brant, or, as he was called in the Mohawk language "Thayendanegea.".
This celebrated adherent of the British cause during the Revolutionary war received for his services to the English Government a grant of about 10,000 acres in the neighbourhood of Burlington, of which a tract of 600 acres has remained Intact in the hands of Mr. Benjamin Eager; of this tact of laud some twenty-eight acres have been rented by Mr. J. Morris, of Hamilton.
This lot comprises the homestead, which was in the possession of Brant's grand nephew, Mr. J. Simcoe Kerr until the death of the latter in 1875. The original house built by Joseph Brant in the year 1800, of cedar logs rafted from the Thousand Islands, still remains, although no external vestige of it can be seen, as it has been surrounded by a modern edifice built in an attractive style, forming the " Brant House", a favourite summer resort of the citizens of the Ambitions City. This house is situated on the low bluff overlooking Lake Ontario and Burlington Bay. and is, from its airy and healthful situation, specialty adapted for a summer residence for ladies and children. The grounds around the house are arranged for croquet cricket, and lacrosse, while the house itself is furnished for the accommodation of about 100 guests. In this house is still shown the room in which Brant in a fit of passion stabbed his son, in evidence of which the visitor has pointed out to him the blood stains on the floor. Among other historical object are the old Council Tree, an oak of immense age, the trunk of which some six feet in diameter, remains a shattered wreck of bye-gone days. From this trunk some gnarled limbs, themselves the size of ordinary trees, stretch out About ten yards from this oak is shown a mound where Brant was buried prior to his removal to the burial ground of the Mohawk Church near Brantford. In this mound are supposed to lie the remains of about 300 warriors, the contemporaries of Brant. Returning to the Brant House, we find that the proprietor has provided, along the waterfront of about a quarter of a mile, swimming for the children, tables and benches under trees for picnic parties, and a large marquee, 60 by 30 feet, for dancing, which are provided to excursionists free of charge. Along the beach are row-boats, yachts, and bathing machines. In the house are provided temperance drinks, tea, coffee and ices for excursionists, About 50 yards from the house are the bar, billiard room, and a double bowling alley. At the west end of the house is a bowling green, overlooked by a room, where the ladies can see the doings of their "lords and master". The Brant House may be reached by the steamers Bouquet, Denis Bowen, and Armenia, which run four times daily each from Hamilton to a new dock almost at the door of the house, and by the H. & N. W. Railway, which runs trains hourly to a platform at the gate of the grounds. A culvert 30 feet wide and 6 feet deep has been constructed to allow the waters of the lake to pass the house into the bay and obviate any possible evil remits from stagnant water. Mr. Morris hopes by moderate changes and courteous attention to the travelling community of Ontario to make the Brant House one of the most popular summer resorts of the Dominion.