Brougham Temperance Hotel
c. 1840
Originally located in Brougham at the corner of Highway 7 and Brock Street, this building is two structures joined together to form a hotel. It operated as the Brougham Central Hotel for a number of years. It was built using a vertical plank method, but unlike the Collins House that remained exposed with battens, it was covered with horizontal siding. It was donated to the museum in 1968, and restored in 2010.
This inn played a key role in society and politics. The Brougham Sons of Temperance met frequently at this inn. So did the Pickering Township Council. In the mid 1800s, James and Elizabeth Woodruff ran this inn. The east wing was the private dwelling for their young family. The main room of the private house was a combined parlour, kitchen, and dining room for the family. The south slip room represents James’ office where he would deal with business affairs. The second slip room accommodated Alphina Blandon, the Woodruff’s servant. Robert Harding, their labourer, likely slept in the inn’s stables.
As was common of taverns and inns of the time, the dining or tap room (bar) was in the front, with the kitchen in the rear. When James Woodruff first opened his inn, he ran it as a licensed tavern. He joined the Sons of Temperance shortly afterward, and changed it over to a Temperance House in April 1851. He removed the bar, and discontinued the selling of all liquor.
Did you know?
In 1879 part of the residential section of the hotel was rented out as an art gallery to Professor Wiggins for $2.00 per month. In the 1880s the hotel was used as a store and, in 1888, it became Mechen and Poucher General Store. The public rooms of the hotel were still used for the same purpose even when the building functioned as the general store.
Black and white photograph if the Village of Brougham, looking east along the north side of Highway 7. The store (previously the Central Hotel) is the first building at the left. Courtesy of the Pickering Public Library.
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Black and white photograph of the Brougham store. This building was orginally the Brougham Central Hotel. Courtesy of the Pickering Public Library.