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Peter Shaver arrived in Etobicoke from Ancaster in 1830 and acquired 200 ares of land on the west side of Highway 427, between Bloor Street and Rathburn Road. Completed in 1852, the house is Georgian in style and is built of red and yellow brick with a picturesque verandah across the front.
In 1874, Applewood’s most famous resident, James Shaver Woodsworth, was born to Peter’s daughter, Esther Josephine, and her husband James Woodsworth. Later, James Jr. lived in Winnipeg and was elected MP in 1921, working tirelessly to implement social reforms. In 1932, he was the principal founder of the CCF (Co-operative Commonwealth Federation) political party, forerunner to today’s NDP.
On September 25, 1980, the house was moved to its current location at 450 The West Mall in Broadacres Park. Multiple severe cracks developed in the brick structure during the move, and for awhile it looked as if the house could not be saved. However, with the help of a new contractor, a restoration was successfully completed
