The history of the Pearse House goes back to 1830 when three Pearse Brothers came to Canada from England via the USA. John Pearse, the second of the three brothers, established a homestead and built a Sawmill on a 200 Acre Site near the Rouge River. James Pearse Jr. built the Pearse House in 1869 on a site, which in present times, overlooked Meadow vale Road and the Metro Zoo. The house was enlarged in 1893 and again in the 1920's. This house is a typical example of Ontario Farm Houses of the period.

In the 1930's the land and house was purchased Dr .Jackson; the creator of Roman Meal Bread; and later the Metro Zoo as part of their land acquisition for the New Metro Zoo. In the early 1990's it was moved to its present location, was totally renovated, and has become the Information Center for The Rouge Foundation and provides office space for other groups ( ie Rouge Valley Naturalists. )