Wednesday, January 24, 2007 

Blog Guelph: Matthew Bell - Life Carved in Stone


Churchfront, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

This will be the third set in the three part series about one of Guelph's talented stonemasons, Matthew Bell. My thanks go out to photographer Cool Baby for feeding me this incredible story.

To view part one and two of the Matthew Bell series, please check through the January archives by clicking on the link in the right hand sidebar. Part one appeared on January 15th. Part Two was posted on January 17th.

Matthew Bell carved the front of The Church of Our Lady Immaculate.

In my opinion, this in itself more than sums up Matthew Bells impact on our community.

There is a myth that he died from a fall while working on the church but there is nothing to support that story in the historic archives of the church or the Guelph Mercury.

Sue Richards



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Blog Guelph: St. Boniface Cathedral, Maryhill, Ontario


St Boniface cathedral,Maryhill,Ont, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

Gil Stelter, Guelph's go to history guy, claims that St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church was the only church designed by Matthew Bell. Built in 1877, it stands on the highest elevation in the area - a 10 minute drive north west of Guelph.

Sue Richards

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Blog Guelph: St Boniface Main Entrance


st boniface main entrance, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

According to Cool Baby, there are three sets of the carvings like the ones on either side of the door, running all the way up the front steeple.

Sue Richards

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Blog Guelph: The Mysterious Lady, The Burglary and The Lost Love.


The Mysterious Lady, The Burglary and The Lost Love., originally uploaded by cool-baby.

This story comes from the brochure put out by the Woodlawn Cemetery.

" The mysterious lady appeared at the cemetery one morning, placed by an unknown benefactor (sometime between 1903 and 1905).

The statue has been attributed to Matthew Bell. It was one of the statues stolen from the grounds of 40 Albert street. The house at one time had belonged to Bell.

The Grundy family, the owners at the time of the theft, spent summers in Kincardine. While they were away several carved figures were stolen from the grounds.

Local lore speculates that an unknown admirer placed the statue at the grave of Clara Snowden (d 1903 aged 36 yrs).

The limestone statue would have probably been carved during the winter months from a block of soft limestone selected from Bell's own quarry on Water Street."

Sue Richards

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Blog Guelph: The Bell Family Plot


The Bell Family plot, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

Matthew Bell died on June 28th, 1880. He rests, with his family, in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Guelph.

It is believed he carved the stone as the detail and motifs are the same as many of his buildings. Sadly, four of his ten children died during the 1870's.

The cemetery can be accessed off Westmount Road in Guelph.

Sue Richards

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007 

Blog Guelph: Matthew Bell - A Stonemason's Story continues...


cityhall1, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

On Monday I introduced the Guelph stonemason Matthew Bell by showing off the homes he built and lived in. Thanks to our Flickr photographer Cool Baby - our exploration of Matthew's body of work continues with todays series.

The rather gruesome face is perched over the right hand side window on the main floor of Old City Hall. The mayor's office window is directly above. It's pretty evident that carving such a piece would require incredible talent .

Having worked in the arts for 25 years in this town, I can proudly claim that creative talent is an asset that Guelph continues to have - in spades!

Sue Richards

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Blog Guelph: Guelph City Hall


cityhall2, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

This fine fellow - thought to be Zeus - hangs out over the front entrance to Guelph's Old City Hall.

Sue Richards

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Blog Guelph: 25 Manor Park Crescent


25 manor park crescent, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

Bell's first house sits beside this stone mansion. Cool Baby dug up this tidbit of information from Heritage Guelph.

" Built circa 1857 for Arthur Wells, “Manor Park” is one of the principle stone residences in the City of Guelph. Built from limestone quarried on the property, the house, which faces the Speed River, originally occupied a 10 acre site known as “Wells’ Grove” under the ownership of Arthur Wells."

Sue Richards

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Blog Guelph: Portico at Johnston Green


Portico at Johnston green, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

Stone Road and Stone Road Mall were both named after the Stone family. This portico - which is likely the most photographed structure at the University of Guelph thanks to the thousands of annual graduates that pose between its pillars - was the front portico of the Stone family home. Matthew Bell did the carvings.

Sue Richards

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Blog Guelph: 264 Woolwich Street


264 woolwich, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

This historically designated gem appears abandon midway through extensive renovations. Apparently some issues emerged.

Matthew Bell did the stonework. Canadian author Jean Little lived her for a time.

Sue Richards

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Blog Guelph: 93 Wyndham Street


93 wyndham st, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

Next time you're downtown, take a gander at the stonework above Robinson Flowers on the north end of Wyndham Street, east side of the Street. Matthew Bell - busy man that he was - is listed as the masonry contractor.

I find it inspiring to review this man's body of work and wonder if he had any awareness of the impact his skill and talent would have on future generations - let alone that he would be spun through the blogosphere on Blog Guelph.

There's more Matthew Bell work to come. Big cheer goes to Cool Baby for inspiring us with this fascinating photo enhanced story.

Sue Richards

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Monday, January 15, 2007 

Blog Guelph: A Story About Matthew Bell


Matthew Bells' first home in Guelph., originally uploaded by cool-baby.

Blog Guelph would like to start the week off with a series of photos that focus on our architectural heritage.

Matthew Bell arrived in Guelph sometime after 1850. According to Cool Baby - to whom this series of photos and research is credited - Bell appears on the 1871 Guelph census as a Stonemason from England. Our local King of History, Mr. Gil Stelter has written that Bell arrived in Guelph from Newcastle.

This house, located at 281 Water Street was the first house built by Bell in 1856-60. Cool Baby tells me that this photo is part of an inventory of photos stored at our main library. CB did a funky edit job on the image to erase an unfortunate addition.

Sue Richards

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Blog Guelph: 281 Water Street 1974 and 2006


Why we need heritage building protection laws, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

Photographer Cool Baby attempts to illustrate why the City of Guelph could do with a good set of heritage building protection laws by presenting a before and an after shot of 281 Water Street.

Recently while on one of those meandering Sunday walks, I ended up in this backyard - not realizing any of the historic significance of my location - yet curious about the large squared limestone chunks strewn about.

Apparently the house was used as the servant quarters for 25 Manor Park.

Sue Richards

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Blog Guelph: House of Heads


house of heads, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

Bell's second house - The House of Heads - sits beside the John McCrea House/Museum on Water Street. According to Cool Baby, Matthew Bell lived here.

Sue Richards

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Blog Guelph: Detailed House of Heads


house of heads (detail), originally uploaded by cool-baby.

Not the most cheerful lot of heads - a total of eight unknown grimacing guys adorn the Water Street House of Heads. Perhaps these dudes were former employers of Bell.

I wonder if Bell realized that he was contributing to Guelph's cultural heritage as he did his carvings.

Sue Richards

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Blog Guelph: 40 Albert Street


40 albert, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

Directly behind the Water Street House of Heads, you'll find Matthew Bells third home, now known as the 'Bell-Carlton House'.

Sue Richards

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Blog Guelph: 49 Albert Street


49 albert st, originally uploaded by cool-baby.

Here Bell changes his artistic focus from grimacing men to bovine heads and a wreath like motif. Cool Baby notes that this is the same relief work that can be found on the Johnston Green Portico at the University of Guelph - yet another work of art by Matthew Bell.

The Matthew Bell series will continue.

Sue Richards

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Monday, September 25, 2006 

Blog Guelph: I Spy


moo : where in guelph?, originally uploaded by vw-busman.

VW-Busman is at it again with his "where in Guelph" contest. Click on the picture and leave your educated guesses as to where this head can be found in town. Apparently you can win big prizes.

Here's a convoluted hint for you. This is a bull, not a steer. I know this for sure BECAUSE of where Mr. Moo is located.

Sue Richards

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For more great Guelph photos try these links: Downtown Guelph, University of Guelph, The Guelph Hillside Festival or The Guelph Lake Conservation Area.

On the other hand, you may be curious about what Guelph looked like last October or maybe Spring.

Indeed you may be the type that would love to wade through our deep and refreshing archives. There are over 2,000 terrific Guelph photos, taken by a growing tribe of fantastic photographers, currently available. For digging purposes, try using the Google Search tool below (be sure to toggle Blog Guelph).

Or check out the Blog Guelph archives located below the fold of this blog in the right hand column and appropriately titled: Blog Guelph Archives.

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