History of the Mayholme Land

Loyalist William May was born in upstate New York, the youngest child of German parents who emigrated from “Hoogduytsland” circa 1723. He first joined the Indian Department under Sir John Johnston, then later served seven years in Butler’s Rangers during the American Revolution. In 1784 at the close of the war, William brought his wife and five children to settle in Upper Canada where he received a Crown Grant for seven hundred acres of land in Grantham Township.

In 1801, Peter May, U. E. , as the son of a United Empire Loyalist, (William‛s eldest son) received 100 acres Lot 21 in 2nd Concession of Grantham which was situated next to his father’s land. George May, the youngest son of Peter and grandson of William, had Mayholme built in 1857, by of “The Cole Brothers, The Ten” (Mile Creek, Homer). Upon completion, in 1857, George moved his wife and baby daughter Anna Maria May into their new home.

Mayholme is the second house built on this property. George farmed the 100 acres until his death in 1891, when he willed the property to his daughter Anna May who had married Eugene F. Dwyer in 1877. Their son Leslie continued farming, selling most of the land shortly before his death in 1970. The remaining property and house were inherited by his daughter, Corlene (Dwyer) Taylor.

The house is a relatively simple Classic Revival style, having high ceilings, and no fireplaces, as it was heated by stoves. It has had few changes made since it was built, although both original chimneys have been removed. Some of the old painted floors, trim, doors and baseboards are original. The fancy wood-work on the verandah at the side of the house is the original as is the surround of hand painted glass at the front door. Still intact in the main entrance hall, is the uncovered original finish , faux painted marble, which has been conserved. This is one of the last examples of this type of craftsmanship left in Ontario. All of the furnishings have been handed down through the May family. The major change was the replacement of the woodshed to the north by a pine board and batten clad large room used for the research facility.

The original Crown Deed and Wax Seal are on display in the Library, with a photo of the house taken by an itinerant photographer about 1865. The little girl in this picture is Corlene’s grandmother, Anna, with her parents George and Anna (Leighton) May and her brother Rolland.

Corlene (Dwyer) Taylor is the fourth generation to own this house. She donated her family home and property to the Mayholme Foundation which she established. The house and property are used as a library, archives and research facility for the preservation and exhibition of historical documents and records, and the surrounding land is preserved in an undeveloped park-like setting for the facility.

The St. Catharines Heritage Committee had the designation Ceremony & Official Opening on Saturday, October 16th, 2004.