Mackenzie King Estate

I haven't posted much, if anything about our trip to Ottawa over the August long weekend. It is time to fix that!

On Sunday we decided to cross the river into Quebec and visit Gatineau Park - a wedge of land measuring 361 square kilometres to the northwest of Canada’s Capital Region. It is a nature lover's paradise and clearly loved by those in the region. we were more interested in visiting a historic site - the home of Canada's longest serving Prime Minister.

William Lyon Mackenzie King was Canada’s 10th prime minister. During a career that spanned some fifty years — almost half of that as prime minister — King guided Canada along the path from semi-colonial status to complete autonomy. King was also one of Canada's most interesting figures who was known to speak and have conversations with his mother AND dog long after their respective deaths.

A native of southwestern Ontario, Mackenzie King first visited the Gatineau Hills in 1900, shortly after his arrival in Ottawa, where he was a public servant. He fell in love with the wilderness scenery he discovered there and, in 1903, bought a small piece of land on tiny Kingsmere Lake where he built a cottage, Kingswood. In time, he purchased more land and finally owned 231 hectares south of the lake, three summer cottages and a year-round residence. From 1903 to 1928, he spent virtually every summer at Kingswood. He spent his free time building, landscaping and maintaining his estate.

In 1928, Mackenzie King was in his third term as prime minister, and more certain of his political career. He moved to Moorside, a large elegant cottage where he received guests such as Winston Churchill and Charles Lindbergh. At Moorside, King expressed his romanticism, laying out formal flower beds, gathering a collection of picturesque ruins from Canada and abroad and tracing trails in the forest that can still be enjoyed today.

The ruins were my favourite part of the estate, imported from places near and far to beautify the landscape by framing the scenery. I love the fact that these man-made works manage to blend into the beautiful natural setting. The ruins pictured below are both historic and whimsical.

Canada’s connection to Great Britain is represented by the British Speaker’s coat-of-arms. But King also prized Canada’s growing independence from the Imperial government. His grandfather, William Lyon Mackenzie, had led an unsuccessful rebellion in 1837. The fireplace shown above (rescued from the ruins of Canada's first Parliament which had burnt to the ground) contains three square stones from the rebel’s printing office.

Comments

[bellini]

Ontraio and Quebec are steeped in history Jerry.

[Barb Cabot]

Thank you for the historical background on this estate. Lovely grounds. I would love to explore this area of the world sometime.

[Kayte]

Oh, I hope some of this makes the questionnaire for Canada Day next year as I read it all, so I think I can get something on this right next year! Very nice read/fun to see it and learn about it.

[sandi @the whistlestop cafe]

Thanks for the trip! Maybe one day I will get there... you think?

[JDeQ]

True bellini - and to think we rarely spend time exploring it.

When you come up Barb be sure to let us know. We'd be happy to play tour guide.

I'll have to remember that Kayte - a 'gimme' question for YOU!

Not as long as Italy exists Sandi . . . :-)