The Woodrow Homestead was purchased in August, 1966 by Coldwater Canadiana, a non-profit corporation, organized to preserve local history. We feel the log home is an excellent example of the workmanship of our pioneer forefathers.

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The homesteaders, Archibald Woodrow, his wife and daughter Catherine, came by sailing ship from the Island of Islay, Scotland. The rest of their family, five sons and four more daughters, were born in raised in this house.
Catherine eloped with George Borland - she climbed through a loft window near the fireplace and he was waiting at the river in his canoe. Sandy married and built the brick house which stood next to Mapleneuk Lumber, farmed there and served on Medonte Council. Bill, Jim and Neill, all bachelors, stayed on here after their parents died. The other son and the daughters all married and today many residents of the area trace their ancestry back to this homestead.

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The stagecoach used to stop near here before fording the river and continuing along the Sturgeon Bay Road to make connections with the steamer "Gore" for passage to Penetanguishene, Sault Ste. Marie and on to further points. The stagecoach road followed the old Indian Trail from the Narrows at Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching to Georgian Bay via the Coldwater River.

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As you enter the house, the room on the left contains many varied displays, some of which change frequently. A picture of Archibald and Catherine Woodrow is here, along with some of the family history. Moving on to the backroom, or fireplace room (watch your step) as this is the original door sill, well worn from many years of use.
Try to imagine here the Woodrow children, whose favourite pastime on a winter evening was to run barefoot through the snow, across the bridge to the barn and back to toast their toes in front of the cozy fire. Back down the hall and up the stairs you will find other interesting relics and displays of past years.