Vine Vale Farm - 1893

With the building, and opening of one of the finest horse racing tracks, the city of Hamilton had established itself as one of the key thoroughbred horse-racing centers in Canada.

          J. M. Lottridge, president of the Hamilton Jockey Club when the race track was completed, was determined that the Hamilton area would also become renown as a location where thoroughbred horses were bred and raised in surroundings second to none.

          To that end, Lottridge purchased an already-existing farm on the west side of the Red Hill Valley and, at great expense, converted it into Vine Vale Farm, one of the most famous horse raising operations of its day.

          In October 10, 1893, as the conversion of the property was still underway, Lottridge invited a reporter with the Hamilton Times to visit and describe his farm for readers of that particular newspaper.

          The Times account, in full follows:

“Equaled by none in Ontario, and excelled by few in Canada, Mr. J. M. Lottridge’s new country home, Vine Vale Farm, offers a striking example of what unusual enterprise, backed by great wealth, can do in the way of securing all the advantages for the carrying on of a large stock farm. Picturesquely situated on the old Mount Albion road, about five miles to the southeast of the city, lying in the hollow of an elbow formed by the mountain, the location of this farm could not be improved upon. At this season of the year, the trees have taken on their autumn coloring, the foliage along the face of the mountain fairly blazing with the glories of a Canadian fall, and the whole surrounding country bathed in the bright October sunshine, all along the road winding past the farm are presented pictures innumerable to the artistic eye, and the farm and buildings appeal to the imagination of the lovers of the good things in the world. Vinevale Farm, when purchased by Mr. Lottridge last year, contained but 200 acres. Since then the glen farm adjoining, which also contained 200 acres, was acquired by Mr. Lottridge, and the whole 400 acres thrown into one immense farm, the principal features of which will be the raising of livestock. With the characteristic prudence of a good businessman , Mr. Lottridge proposes making the farm at least self-supporting, and incidentally, if his anticipations are fulfilled, profitable. Mr. J. W. Jardine, who, as former owner of Vine Vale, had considerable business dealings with Mr. Lottridge, will remain on the farm as manager, and in such capable hands the place has every prospect of success. When in running order, about November 1^st, the farm and furnishing will represent $50,000. The place is still stocked with fine fruit of all kinds, there being no less than 35 acres laid out with grape vines, all bearing. Thirteen acres in hops have for many years yielded a large revenue. General farming stock and grain will form no small portion of the products of the farm.

          The handsome brick structure, which has been reared alongside the century-old Jardine homestead, will be the home of the manager and will also be Mr. Lottridge’s headquarters, during the summer months. Large and commodious, finished in Queen Anne style, and fitted with all modern improvements, including library, bathrooms, telephone, etc., the house is a model in every respect. Force pumps keep a large supply of fresh spring water in the large reservoir at the top of the house, and an excellent system of drainage makes it a very desirable place of residence. Large lawns and gravelled driveways will make the approach to the house very pretty.

          On the farm there are five houses for the accommodation of employees, and these will be put in a first-class shape before the cold weather. The large house will be ready for occupancy about Nov. 1^st.

                   Finest in Canada

          The barns and granaries, all new buildings, are the future of the big farm and cover about an acre of ground. They are built in the form of a hollow square with a stockyard in the centre. The buildings are frame on high cement foundations and are painted a dark red. On the south side are the quarters for cattle, with accommodation for about 25 head, while the old Glen farm buildings accommodate an addition of 15 head. In these new quarters the upright posts are sanded and floor is of the finest hydraulic cement  from the Hamilton Hydraulic Cement Works, and in the interior fittings nothing has been lost sight of which will tend to the comfort and well-being of the stock. On the west side of the barns, the quarters for the trotting and running stock that is to make the name Lottridge one to conjure by in the racing world are to be found. With commodious box stalls, accommodating about 40 horses, whitewashed throughout , well-lighted and well-ventilated, and having cement floors overlaid with tamarack planking and with sewer connections for each stall, the horses will have every comfort. A long passage running the length of this end of the building has harness and brush cupboards. In the rear of the barn is a large paddock into doors from the various stalls open. The stalls will all be occupied next week. The celebrated steeplechaser Hercules is the present head of the running stud and Joe Wilkes heads the trotters. The former number twelve, usually youngsters, and the latter nine. There at present thirteen breed mares on the place, all of whom are in foal. The crack three year old Jas W., Joe Wilkes, Jardine and Vine Vale are among the trotting and pacing products of the old farm.

          The northwest corner of the square is occupied by the granary, and in this end are two rooms for the preparation of cattle and horse food. To the east of the granary are the stalls for about twenty work horses. The buildings throughout have cement floors, with every attention paid to ventilation and drainage. The roof of the entire square is supported by angle braces, thus doing away with the old plan of having many rafters across the hay lofts, and as a result men can swing a hayfork, the entire length of the loft, about 400 feet. The floor of this large place is entirely of matched boards.

          A large carriage and drive house finishes the compliment of buildings. In the former is a fireproof wash room, and in the latter a new six ton scale, and it is supplied with no less than three exits. The buildings are all splendidly put together, with every possible attention being paid to convenience as well as durability. For these as well as the house, Mr. James Balfour was the architect, the contractor for all the work being Mr. Fred W. Schwendeman, of the Hamilton Hydraulic Works. In a conversation at the barn on Saturday afternoon, Mr. Schwendeman told a Times reporter that although they had twice erected buildings at the Guelph Agricultural College, the Vine Vale barns were the finest things in that line he had ever attempted. The cost of the new barns and house will be nearly $15,000, while another $5,000 goes for fencing and drainage. The latter is all underground, and the water supply is excellent, there being over a dozen good springs on the farm .”¹

¹ “The Lottridge Stock Farm : Now Four Hundred Acres at Vine Vale : The Handsome New Buildings” Hamilton Times. October 5, 1893.

          Just over seven months later, after a long, cold winter, Mr. Lottridge invited a reporter from the Hamilton Herald, another one of Hamilton’s three daily newspapers to visit Vine Vale.

          The Herald report was shorter than that which appeared previously in the Times, but it still described vividly the farm during a visit in early May:

          “Notwithstanding his large business interests in the city, J. M. Lottridge finds time to look after his farm in Saltfleet. Yesterday afternoon, the genial president of the Hamilton Jockey club drove a trio of reporters to Vine Vale and a most delightful trip it was. The weather was perfect, just like a day in midsummer. To make the outing thoroughly enjoyable, Mr. Lottridge drove up the Jolley Cut and along the brow of the mountain, from where a grand view of the surrounding country was obtained. The descent was made by the road a short distance west of Stony Creek, which brings you right to the farm. Mr. Lottridge owns Vine Vale and the Glen farms, comprising 406 acres, but he works only the former, which consists of about 250 acres. He has made extensive improvements since he acquired the property. A large, brick dwelling and comfortable barns, painted terra cotta, have been erected. J. W. Jardine is superintendent, and he has everything in fine shape. The barns are commodious and comfortable, the floors being nicked cement. Mr. Lottridge has a cosy country house, neatly furnished where he can entertain his friends, or take a rest during the heated term. Everything imaginable is grown on the place, and if you don’t see what you want ask for it, and it will be forthcoming. There are the usual farm accessories – pigs, cows, horses, chickens, etc.

          All the horses are fat and healthy, and look as if they had been well taken care of. The youngsters were turned out in the paddock, and they enjoyed romping around.

          The pigs and cows, in fact, all the live stock look well. Mr. Lottridge considered nothing too much trouble and took great pleasure in showing his visitors all over the farm. Mr. Lottridge does not intend to go in for racing, but will sell his stock.

          The return trip was made via the Jockey club, where the horses were looked at there. The trotting track is in great condition. ¹

¹ “An Afternoon at Vine Vale : J. M. Lottridge’s Fine Farm in Saltfleet”      Hamilton Herald May 2, 1984