Estevan Lodge facts for kids
Estevan Lodge is a beautiful old summer house. You can find it in the Reford Gardens in eastern Quebec, Canada. It is located in a region called Bas-Saint-Laurent.
The Story of Estevan Lodge
Building a Summer Home
Estevan Lodge was built in 1887. It was made for a very important businessman named Sir George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen. He was a rich man who helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway. The name "Estevan" was a secret code word Sir Stephen used for his private messages.
The house is located near the Mitis River. For a long time, it was used as a special place for fishing trips. After his wife passed away in 1896, Sir Stephen felt too sad to fish there anymore. He did not have children of his own. So, he let his friends and family use Estevan Lodge. Many rich American businessmen loved to visit Estevan Lodge for fishing. One of the most frequent visitors was Sir Stephen's niece, Elsie Reford.
Changes Over Time
In 1926, Elsie Reford decided to make the house bigger. She hired an architect from Montreal named Galt Durnford to design the changes. The grand front doors are made of strong wood from British Columbia. Much of the inside of the house also uses this wood.
The second floor of the house was changed to create private rooms for Elsie and her husband, Robert Reford. It also included a sewing room for Elsie and a darkroom for Robert. The kitchen was made larger, and the building was extended to create more space for the people who worked there. In total, Estevan Lodge has 37 rooms!
For many years, the house was known as Villa Reford. But after it was fixed up in 2003, it was given its original name back: Estevan Lodge.
What You Can See Today
Today, the second floor of Estevan Lodge has a special exhibit. It tells the story of Elsie and Robert Reford, Sir George Stephen, and the history of the house and the area. You can see old photographs of the Reford family in the darkroom. You can also enter Elsie Reford's room, where some of her belongings and clothes are on display. The tour continues into the rooms where the staff lived. These exhibits show what life was like in the region around the late 1800s.
Every summer, Estevan Lodge also hosts new art shows. These shows often feature botanical art, which is art about plants. They also explore the history of the gardens or show the work of different artists.
The rooms on the ground floor used to be bedrooms. Now, they are used for all sorts of events. People hold meetings, meals, weddings, and conferences there. The dining room is still used for eating. The Villa Estevan restaurant offers visitors food with flavors and colors inspired by the gardens.
