Monday, November 5, 2018

A Home Fit For A Prime Minister

I left off yesterday here at the shores of Kingsmere Lake. I wanted this shot of the steps, and I liked having people in the shot.


I headed back up the slope towards Kingswood. This view includes the pergola and the garage.


My path led me on towards Moorside, the other residence built after Kingswood. Another of these signs stood along the path, with another quote from King: 'Apart and alone with God, with nature.'


Here we see Moorside at a distance, across the meadow. King had become Liberal leader after Wilfred Laurier's death, and would become the Prime Minister in 1921, a post that he held, with a couple of interruptions in which the post was in the hands of Tory opponents, until 1948. While his in-town residence at Laurier House was fine for entertaining guests and conducting business, the cottages of Kingswood weren't enough for a rising government leader, and so Moorside was built, more of a proper home on the estate. King was a gentleman farmer here at his estate, gradually shaping the land as time and opportunity allowed, adding gardens and follies to his property.


Closer to the house, I noticed the birdhouse across the path. This is not the only one on the grounds at the estate.


Here are two views of the house. King hosted visitors, including friends and world leaders, and worked  from his office when here on the weekends or in the summer.


This view from the verandah looks towards the gardens, which I'll show tomorrow. Inside the house on the ground floor is a tea room, which was open- something else to be seen before I'm done here. I've been here on numerous occasions, and for whatever reason I was under the impression that the rest of the house was staff only, but that's not the case. Some of it is a museum to King, with the rooms preserved with artifacts from the man himself.


Some of those items are on the ground floor in what would have been the main entrance in King's day. One of his hats, comic books about him from the period, and tools from the estate are in a display case.


Above them in the case are photographs and telegrams tied to King. The photograph at the left features Jacques Greber, the landscape architect King hired to devise a new urban plan for the National Capital Region. The photograph at the left is from the Quebec Conference in 1943. At left, King is sitting with the governor-general at the time, Alexander Cambridge, the Earl of Athlone. Franklin Roosevelt is in the centre, with Princess Alice, the Earl's wife beside him, and Winston Churchill at the right.


Upstairs, rooms are open for viewing, furnished as they were in King's time.


The study particularly appealed to me. Period newspapers and portraits of King are among the items here. Other pictures on the wall are those that belonged to King.

40 comments:

  1. He had a good taste ! I would like to live there !

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  2. A comfortable house in a pretty natural place.

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  3. The people in the first shot create a nice silhouette. I could sit on that porch with a hot coffee or tea for a very long time.

    Janis
    GDP

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  4. Mooreside looks like the perfect gentleman's residence William, more comfortable than flashy over the top!

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  5. Hello, it is a beautiful home. I love the yellow color. Gorgeous home and property! Happy Monday, enjoy your day and new week ahead!

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  6. I think I really like King. I know I like his style, which is warm and welcoming. I think anyone would be grateful to visit whether a grand dignitary or more common folk. Quite a time to be PM, too...

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  7. I enjoy your glimpses into history! I'll do the locations out here, and you do Ottawa. Between us... :-)

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  8. @Gattina: so would I!

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Tom: definitely.

    @Marianne: it is indeed.

    @Janis: I certainly agree.

    @Grace: quite true.

    @Eileen: thank you.

    @Jeanie: I get the impression of King that if he were to walk into the room, I'd like him a lot.

    @Maywyn: thanks!

    @Jennifer: thank you!

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  9. Very nice tour. Thanks for the wonderful pictures. :-)

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  10. I like how the upstairs looks -- very authentic and pleasant.

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  11. Such a pretty house. I like the fact that it looks like a ranch house and not huge stone castle.

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  12. Such an interesting place, interesting man and good looking home
    MB

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  13. Beautiful house, and I like the quote. Interesting information.
    Have a wonderful week!

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  14. All very interesting and adding to our knowledge.

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  15. Good choice to make a photo of the silhouettes near the lake.

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  16. @DJan: you're welcome.

    @Anvilcloud: it feels very much like a home.

    @Sharon: yes, it feels quite comfortable that way.

    @MB: I definitely agree.

    @Lea: thank you!

    @Red: thanks!

    @Jan: I thought so.

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  17. Another beautiful and informative post, William !

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  18. That house is gorgeous, even today. And the grounds are spectacular In that first photo, is the man about to dive into the water?

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  19. Oh, hehe, I thought it was a statue in the first pic - but a real person is even better!

    One day... I´ll have a verandah and a cat (or two).

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  20. A wonderful view from the verandah!

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  21. History lives in your post! Well done, William

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  22. Very informative post and a lovely tour. Thank you, William.

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  23. Prime Minister was fortunate to have years to work and plan, the political cycles were longer - a two edged sword. Fall is the time to visit. Domestic builds have characteristics that slot them into nationalities, very similar with unfamiliarities.

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  24. It's a marvelous house and grounds. I love the word paneling in the last two photos.

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  25. Oops, I meant "wood" paneling. :(

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  26. I must go there one day! It is a lovely place, William.

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  27. Sure had a lot of catching up to do, William. I backtracked to see images of the buildings and the grounds and the cottage was my favorite place along with that classic manual typewriter. Admittedly, the views were none too shabby as was the main house.

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  28. @Karl: thanks!

    @Lowell: it looks that way, but no.

    @Iris: I think he or she must have spotted something of interest in the water.

    @Marleen: definitely!

    @Cloudia: thank you.

    @Bill: you're welcome.

    @Julia: back then it was possible to hold onto a leadership even if an election didn't go as you expected.

    @Catalyst: I love the woodworking in there too.

    @RedPat: you should see it for yourself!

    @Beatrice: thank you!

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  29. Fascinating history ~ you do the photographing so well ~ beautiful place ~ like the grounds too!

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  30. Such a pretty house.
    I would like to visit that place one day.

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  31. so story book ... love all details. ( ;

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  32. It is a beautiful home.
    Lovely seeing your photographs and reading the information.

    All the best Jan

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  33. @Carol: thanks!

    @Kay: it is!

    @Jenn: definitely!

    @Catarina: it is well worth seeing.

    @Karen: so do I.

    @Beth: I agree.

    @Jan: thank you!

    @Klara: indeed!

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