Tay Valley Township Recognizes the Heritage Allan Farm

Amongst the first land allotments of the Perth Military Settlement 

The first historic property to be recognized in Tay Valley Township for the New Year was announced earlier this month by the municipal Council.  The heritage Allan Farm on Allan’s Side Road in North Burgess Ward has been operated by five generations of the family.

The founders of the farm, John and Ann Allan, arrived at the Perth Military Settlement in 1816, amongst the first of the European settlers from Scotland to receive government land allotments.  The beautiful stone farmhouse, at 620 Allan’s Side Road, was added in the 1840s.  A significant historic feature of the property is the Allan family’s first home, a two-story log building, still standing not far from the present residence. 

The Allan Property also provided land for the #7 North Burgess one-room schoolhouse in 1874.   In 1968, it was consolidated with other area schools into the central Glen Tay School.  One of the Allan daughters, Euphemia, taught at the school in 1900. 

One of the later owners, Andrew A. Allan, operated the heritage Ritchie-Adams sawmill in the 1960s, when it was one of two last water-powered mills in the township. 

The Heritage Properties Recognition Program acknowledges Tay Valley Township’s long and diverse indigenous and settler history, and the wealth of heritage properties that define our community.  Properties eligible to receive recognition include buildings that have historic or cultural significance to the community, structures such as monuments, cemetery markers or bridges, and heritage landscapes and archaeological sites. This program is commemorative and carries no legal restrictions for properties. Please note that these are private properties.  For further information please visit https://www.tayvalleytwp.ca/HeritagePropertiesProgram/.

For further information about the program contact:
Laurie Hudson-Craig, Corporate Administrative Assistant
Tay Valley Township
217 Harper Road, Perth, ON, K7H 3C6
613-267-5353 ext. 110
corporateassistant@tayvalleytwp.ca

Presentation of Heritage Certificate to the Allan family by Tay Valley Township Reeve Brian Campbell (Photo by David Zimmerly)