Eldon House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eldon House |
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| Location | 481 Ridout Street North London, Ontario Canada |
| Area | 11 acres |
| Built | 1834 |
| Original use | Residential house |
| Current use | Museum |
| Architectural style(s) | Georgian |
| Owner | City of London |
| Website | www.eldonhouse.ca/ |
Eldon House is a special historic house and museum in London, Ontario, Canada. It's known as the oldest house in the city where a family lived continuously for a long time. The house and its land were later turned into a public park called Harris Park.
The Harris family, led by Captain John Harris and his wife Amelia, lived here from 1834. They owned it for 125 years! Captain John Harris named the house after someone he admired, the Earl of Eldon.
Today, Eldon House is a museum. You can take tours to see what life was like long ago. They also have fun events throughout the year. These include celebrations for Canada Day and a special Victorian Christmas. The museum also joins in city-wide events about history and culture.
The museum works with important groups like the CMA. It also connects with the CHIN and the Virtual Museum of Canada.
Contents
Discovering Eldon House History
Eldon House is a beautiful old building. It was built in 1834. The house was originally on a large piece of land, about 11 acres.
The Harris Family Arrives
Captain John Harris and Amelia Ryerse got married in 1815. Amelia's family was well-known in Canada. John and Amelia had twelve children together. Ten of their children grew up right here at Eldon House.
On September 10, 1834, the family moved into their new home. They lived there for over a century! The Harris family was very important in London's early days.
Generations of the Harris Family
After Captain John Harris passed away, his three sons took over the house. Their names were John Fitzjohn, Edward William, and George Becher. Edward William added more rooms to the house in 1877.
Later, George Becher Harris and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Lucy Ronalds (called Lucy), became the owners. Lucy had a very interesting family background. She was the great-grandchild of a famous plant expert and a fur trader.
Lucy inherited a lot of money and family treasures. This allowed the family to go on an amazing trip around the world in 1897! Many of the cool things they collected are still on display at Eldon House today.
The Last Harris Owners
After George died in 1923, his oldest son, George Henry Ronald Harris, became the owner. Ronald was a mining engineer. He traveled to many places like British Columbia, Quebec, and Africa for his work.
Ronald brought back many interesting souvenirs from his travels. Some of his collection, especially old weapons from Africa, can be seen at the museum. Ronald lived in Eldon House with his wife Lorna and their three children. His older sister, Amelia, also lived there.
In 1959, after Ronald's sister passed away, his children decided to give the house and its gardens to the City of London. This is how Eldon House became a museum for everyone to enjoy.
Recognizing Eldon House
An official plaque from the province of Ontario was placed at Eldon House. This plaque helps everyone remember how important Eldon House is to Ontario's history. It celebrates its role in preserving the past.
