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1974 Mrs. A. Lishman Elizabeth Richardson's home on 95 Kingston Road E. Pickering Village was first purchased by her Grandfather, Gervas Cornell, born in 1805. He was a pioneer settler on Lot 9, Con. II and a relative of Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University in New York State. Gervas bought 3 acres of land , in 1855 on the south side of the Kingston Road midway between what is now the Greenwood Road and Church St. Here he built a home for his retirement. He was a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and chose the land very wisely. To the East on the hill was the Canada Yearly Meeting House. Across the way was the hill on which Pickering College was finally opened in 1877 and directly South was Pickering; Station on the Grand Trunk Railway where the first train from Toronto to Oshawa stopped in 1856. On the property was a small house built by the previous owner. Gervas Cornell used this as the west side of his house. The house as it now stands is simple in design but its plainness is relieved by the beautiful neo-classic doorway. The dormer window and double porch with plain railings are later additions. The summer kitchen of board and batten construction was a very necessary part of early living. When Gervas Cornell moved into the house with his wife Hannah Taylor Cornell the household consisted of an unmarried daughter Mary Ann (Aunt Annie, as she was always called in later years) and the youngest son, Walter. Walter was a very clever boy and obtained a First Class teaching certificate. He taught in the first public school in Pickering between the years 1872-1875. Unfortunately he developed "consumption" and died in January 1877 at the age of 26 years. A few months later his father also died. William Valentine Richardson, who was married to Sara Cornell moved with their family from his