Leaskdale Manse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leaskdale Manse |
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| Presbytère de Leaskdale | |
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| Area | Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada |
| Built | 1886 |
| Owner | Township of Uxbridge (1992–2013) Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario (2013–present) |
| Designated | 1994 |
The Leaskdale Manse is a special house in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada. It was once the home of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the famous author who wrote the Anne of Green Gables books. She lived here with her husband, Reverend Ewan Macdonald, from 1911 to 1926. During her time at the manse, Montgomery wrote many of her popular stories. This house, built in 1886, became a National Historic Site of Canada in 1994. Today, it is a historic house museum where visitors can learn about Montgomery's life and work.
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History of the Manse
The Leaskdale Manse was built in 1886. It was made by a carpenter named William Gordon and a bricklayer named Valentine Brooks. The house was meant to be a home for the pastor of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church.
In 1911, Lucy Maud Montgomery and her new husband, Ewan Macdonald, moved to Leaskdale. Since Macdonald was the pastor of St. Paul's Church, they lived in the manse. Montgomery wrote in her journals that she liked the countryside around Leaskdale. However, she thought the house itself was "ugly" and didn't even have a bathroom!
Life and Writing at Leaskdale
Montgomery's three children were born in the Leaskdale Manse. Chester was born in 1912, and twins Hugh and Stuart were born in 1915.
While living in the manse, Montgomery wrote 11 of the 22 books published during her lifetime. One of her books, Rainbow Valley, is part of the Anne of Green Gables series. This story is about a Presbyterian minister and his children. It was greatly inspired by Montgomery's own life in Leaskdale.
Montgomery also wrote a lot about the manse and its surroundings in her journals. These journals were published after she passed away. In 2010, the house was restored. The people working on the project used Montgomery's own writings to help them make the house look like it did when she lived there.
Moving On and Recognition
In 1926, the Montgomery family moved from Leaskdale to Norval, Ontario. This happened because Macdonald became the minister for two churches in Halton County. When Montgomery left the manse, she wrote about how much she would miss the beautiful woods and hills around the house.
The Leaskdale Manse was recognized for its importance in 1965. The Ontario Historic Sites board placed a special plaque there. Later, in 1994, the manse was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This was because of its strong connection to Lucy Maud Montgomery's life and her amazing stories.
The Manse Today
The Township of Uxbridge bought the manse in 1992. In 2010, a group called the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario started a big project to restore the house. By 2013, this society took over ownership of the property. Today, the Leaskdale Manse is open to the public as a museum. It helps people learn about the famous author and the place where she created so many beloved characters.
About the Building
The Leaskdale Manse is located at 11,909 Durham Regional Road 1. It is north of St. Paul's Church and south of Leaskdale Creek.
The house has two floors and is shaped like a "T." This was a common design for middle-class homes back then. The outside walls are made of yellow brick. In the 1970s, white stucco was put over the bricks, but it was removed in 2001. The roof has a special cross-gabled shape. There is also a wooden porch with simple, decorative "gingerbread" style brackets.
The inside of the house still has its original layout. Most of the furniture from Montgomery's time is no longer there. Her children either sold or donated it. However, the museum does have some items and letters that belonged to Montgomery when she lived in the manse. In 2010, the manse received a large gift of old furniture from Parks Canada.
