A D1

Date of the items: 1906-2006

Physical description: 8 cm

Title: Peterborough County House of Refuge

Creator: Kim Krenz

Repository: Trent Valley Archives

Reference number: TVA Fonds 406

Scope and contents: Fonds consists of records and historical research notes compiled by Kim Krenz related to the history of the Peterborough County House of Refuge, and its successor Rosemere Manor. The House of Refuge operated from 1906 to the 1970s, when Rosemere Manor was established as a senior’s residence around 1979.

Access Conditions: No Restrictions

Finding aid: None, see file listing below

Accruals: No further accruals are expected

Custodial history: These records were created by Kim Krenz from 2005 to 2006 in the course of his research on Rosemere Manor. His account was published in the Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley in the November 2006 issue, along with other stories that related to the formation of the House of Refuge. The records were donated to the Trent Valley Archives on 7 February 2014.

Biographical sketch: Ferdinand Henry (Kim) Krenz was born in Peking (Beijing), China on June 26 1920 to American parents Henry F. Krenz and Julia St. Clair. Although he received his public school education in China, he travelled widely for his post-secondary education, graduating from the University of Rochester, the University of Toronto, and the University of Edinburgh. He began his career as a scientist working in the field of atomic energy as part of the Montreal Project during the Second World War, and later at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and Canadian General Electric. He also worked at Lakefield College School, serving as their Head of Science for seven years.

He retired in Lakefield in 1980, where he finally pursued his passion for writing. He has written several works, including “Miss Moore” and “Deep Waters, Canada’s Nuclear Adventure” and wrote a weekly column in The Lakefield Herald for several years. He was also a devout member of St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in Lakefield, where he filled many roles. He was married to Kathleen DeWitt Coleman for 64 years, but had no children. He passed away on March 19 2021 at the age of 101.

Related fonds at TVA: There are several fonds at TVA with materials related to Anson House, a similar institution within the City of Peterborough. They include F35 Anson House; F48 Anson House Project; F455 Anson House Treasurer; F456 Anson House Board of Directors; and F457 Anson House Auxiliary.

Access Points:
Lakefield, Ontario
Rosemere Manor
Peterborough County
Kim Krenz
Preston Family
Richard McCarthy

List of Files:

0. Donation form
1. Preston Family [The House of Refuge was built on the former Preston farm.]
2. House of Refuge Land arrangements
3. Reports and bylaws, 1903-1906
4. House of Refuge, census 1911
5. Historical research on House of Refuge
6. Historical Research on Rosemere Manor; Includes sketch map of the property created by Kim Krenz
7. Survey and planning documents, 1978-1981
8. Survey and planning documents, 1987-1993
9. John Deremo and Hattie Williams, 1938
10. House of Refuge Photo Collage. All photos by Roy Studios, 6 photos
    1. Rosemere Manor and outbuilding, 1906
    2. Group picture of the men
    3. Group picture of the women
    4. Group picture of the staff and their dog
    5. Two toddlers
11. Peterboorugh County House of Refuge, 7 photos
12. House of Refuge, Board of Management, 1907, 1 photo, 1 xerox; Collage includes portraits of R. N. Scott, P. McNulty and Robert Shaw
13. House of Refuge people, 2 vintage prints, 6 other photos
    1. Howard Beavis
    2. Group at the Henry Beavis house: Ella, Howard, Ken Beavis; Grandpa and Grandma Beavis; and housekeeper, Mrs Fitzgerald
    3. Tea at the House of Refuge
    4. Richard McCarthy
    5. Early resident with canoe paddle [perhaps Benjamin Haines]
    6. Two toddlers
    7. photo of newsclipping showing June and John Turner MPP withe Eileen and Vern Tewsley, the owners of Rosemere Manor, along with Gordon Joy, reeve of Smith Township, 1981.
    8. Scroll of presentation, 29 November 1978, to Albert and Lila McConnell for 25 years managing the House of Refuge.
14. Rosemere Manor, Remembrance Day, 2006, 3 colour photos
15. House of Refuge / Rosemere Manor, photographs on CD [The photos have been transferred to the TVA computers.]
16. Wellington County House of Refuge; Copy of photo, c. 1892, of the Wellington County House of Refuge, together with an email suggesting sources for research on Houses of Refuge.