Artist
GEORGE P. RICKARD
(CANADIAN, -2002)
"Swartz Tavern, c. 1850, Commissioners Road, Westminster Township"
Date1986
MediumPen and Ink
SupportBoard
Dimensions42 x 53 cm
Credit LineGift of Mr. Raymond Crinklaw, London, Ontario, 1993
Object number1993.036.016
Label TextGeorge P. Rickard’s drawing depicts Swartz's Tavern. Bartholomew Swartz built the tavern around 1822 to serve stagecoach travellers. In 1874, it became the Guthrie House. English philanthropist Dr. John Middlemore operated it as a receiving home for impoverished British children he chose to place with Canadian families. More than 2,000 came to London by the time the Guthrie House closed around 1900. Although criticized, child emigration schemes like Middlemore’s saw some 100,000 British “home children” come to Canada by 1939 when the programs officially ended. In 1975, the London Fire Department demolished the structure, located at 871 Commissioners Road.
NameDrawing
MCCORMICK MANUFACTURING COMPANY
