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Construction on the beautiful home that came to be known as Summerhill took place between 1836 and 1839. Built as a country villa for Archdeacon George Okill Stuart, it served as a hotel and boarding house initially, but was not a successful business venture. |
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When Kingston was chosen as the seat of Canada's first government, Summerhill was again called into use as a Boarding house for the Members of the Legislative Assembly, as there were not sufficient dwellings in the rest of the city to accommodate them all. As the operations of government grew, the building was then rented to the House of Assembly by the Archdeacon, and was used for committee rooms during the 1843-1844 session of Parliament. When the government offices moved to Montreal in 1844, the house was once again empty, and the Archdeacon and his wife lived there for a short time. |
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| Summerhill was purchased by Queen's University in 1854, and has served a multitude of purposes for the University. Over time, it was a school building housing Classics and Theology, and a residence for many professors. It then underwent several changes, eventually becoming the residence of the principal in the 1870s, while still housing other professors at the same time. Today, Summerhill still stands majestically amidst the new buildings of campus, and serves as the Official Residence of the Principal, and the Office of Alumni Relations. |
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- Picture derived from photo on the Queen's University Physical Plant Services website
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Message
Page / Announcement of 1st
Parliament / Canada's
1st Parliament / City Hall of the Capital |
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