Today in "history" (1999!) actress Bailee Madison was born. She looks so much like our daughter/sister and we love Good Witch on Hallmark so we thought this would be the perfect Halloween historical house to look at today. The show is a little bit like Gilmore Girls for those who haven't seen it and the inn is "Grey House." The fictional Grey House in the town of Middleton is actually the historic house Foxbar in Ontario. It is a 19th century itlaliante style grey house in the town of Dundas, built by Scottish stonemasons. The house was owned by two different families before becoming a home for disabled children.
Today it looks like it does above, but the production team rescued the house from destruction (below).
The house was built in the 1840s for prominent lawyer Alexander Robertson. The stone the masons used was local from Ontario and was used in other houses and buildings throughout the historic town. A variety of types of stone can be found in the nearby Niagra region. You can find photos of the historic interiors here, but for this article we will look at the house today via Hallmark. The house is privately owned by an investor and his wife and rented out as a set.
The house is primarily furnished in the Victorian style, perfect for a "witch" house. Original woodwork has been carefully restored. The below shows the stairs and more woodwork. The following are from set designer Marian Wihak's portfolio.
The kitchen is a reverse tuxedo witch butcher's block couters it appears. The upper cabinets seem original while the lower may be modern with a traditional look.
The breakfast room is below, with some impressive built-ins. Windows appear to have been restored.
The formal dining has columns that are decorated for the party scene which are either a faithful repro or original as well.
Next and last is a living area which is painted the same Victorian red.
We love the arched doorways and windows of this historic Scottish-built house. It is nice to know that houses like this are being saved from demolition and even more exciting to get to see them on TV!