The House That Skiers Built

One small house on Harcroft Road that has been a family home for nearly ninety years started life in 1910 as a ski lodge, built to warm members of the High Park Ski Club on the slope that drops into the park behind it.

A giant stone fireplace warmed cold toes

The house at was perched on a property that sloped down into the park itself. In 1938, Bill Jacobi bought it for back taxes, newly married to Kathleen Woolley of Galley Avenue in Parkdale. It still has its original Arts and Crafts details and the giant stone fireplace built to warm the skiers. In 1955, rooms were added.

“As a child it felt like we had our own private park,” says Nancy Jacobi, who grew up here.

Nancy has deep roots in Old Toronto. In 1912, her great-grandfather on her mother’s side was an ironmonger with premises on Wellington Street — George B. Meadows’ company supplied iron stairs, balconies and fencing, including the decorative fences and gates at Queen’s Park. Her father’s family, the Jacobis made their money manufacturing shoelaces.

The Jacobi home was full of fun

Bill Jacobi adored children, organizing games and sing-songs on the front lawn, plucking his old ukulele. Nancy inherited his sunny spirit — and at Humberside C.I., she was naturally one of the most popular girls in school.

Nancy Jacobi went on to become the founder of the Japanese Paper Place, now celebrating its 45th anniversary — and one of the world’s foremost promoters of washi, traditional Japanese handmade paper.