About
Montgomery's Inn
The Inn
Architecture
Furnishings
Thomas Montgomery
and
Family
Chronology
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Montgomery's Inn
was
built about 1830 for Thomas and Margaret Montgomery. East and south
wings
(containing a new bar room and a second kitchen) were added to the
building
in 1838. The Inn was surrounded by a large profitable farm, which
provided
food for the Montgomery family as well as the customers at their hotel.
The
Montgomery family ran the hotel for about 25 years, until mid 1859s.
The
land was farmed by the family (and later by tenants) until the 1940s.
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Architecture
The Inn is of an architectural style known today
as
"Loyalist" or "late Georgian". When it was built, it was called
"Classical,"
as it was inspired by ancient Greek and Roman architecture. Features
such
as the centre-hall plan, the symmetrical balance of the building, and
the
fanlight over the front door are typical of this style.
The Inn is built of rubble stone. Originally,
the
stone was covered with pebble dashed stucco and finished, or "coined,"
on
the corners to give the appearance of cut stone
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Furnishings
Montgomery's Inn has been restored to look as it might have
appeared when business was at its height - between 1847 and 1850.
The furnishings in the museum are either donated or purchased
pieces of Canadian, American and English origin. They have been chosen
to reflect the lifestyle of a middle-class Irish farm family. Where
period antiques are
not availible or too fragile, reproductions have been used. Few objects
from
the original occupants remain. After Thomas Montgomery's death in 1877,
the
contents of the building were sold at an action by his descendants, and
the
building was rented to various tenants.
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Thomas Montgomery
and
Family
Thomas Montgomery (1790 - 1877) was born in Ireland. Family
tradition holds that he came to Canada when he was about 25 years old,
and spent his
early years working in the salt trade and as a surveyor.
In 1829, Thomas married another Irish immigrant, Margaret Dawson (1808
- 1855). The couple had 7 children, but only 2 sons, William (1830
- 1920) and Robert (1837 - 1864) survived to adulthood. Over
the years
the household also included various servants and farm labourers.
While little is known about Thomas' early life, it is clear
that
by age 40 when the Inn (with its stone construction and fine
architectural features) was built, he was prospering.
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Chronology
1830 - The main part of the Inn is built
1838 - East, and south wings are built.
1877 - Thomas Montgomery dies. The property passes to his son, William,
who rents it to tenant farmers.
1946 - The Inn is sold to Presbyterian church and renovated.
1958 - The first meeting of the Etobicoke Historical Society.
1962 - The Inn is purchased by developer Louis Mayzel, with plans to
demolish the building and build an office tower on the site.
1962 - Mayzel sells the Inn to the Etobicoke Historical Society at a
cost.
1962-64 - The Inn is rented to various community groups.
1965 - Control of the building is turned over to the
municipally-appointed Etobicoke Historical Board, beginning several
years of public debate over the future of the building.
1975 - The Inn is restored and opened as a municipally-owned historic
house museum.
1975 - to date - The Inn is open year round for tours, the tea room,
and
special events
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