Sunday, November 4, 2018

Kingswood And Kingsmere Lake

Picking up where I left off yesterday, this is the main cottage at Kingswood. Set on the hill overlooking Kingsmere Lake, it was first built in 1903 when William Lyon Mackenzie King started buying up land here, and then expanded in 1916 and 1924.


The cottage was open, so I headed inside. By 1924, the finished cottage had three small bedrooms, a breakfast room, a large living room, and a kitchen. The main entrance to the place goes into what in 1903 was the original kitchen, but today is a lobby. The kitchen is actually the extension to the left of the door. Below is one of the bedrooms, with artifacts from King's mother, who visited from time to time until her death in 1920, and stayed in this room. 


This is a view of the living room- note King's typewriter. On inclement days he would work from here, with ready access to the spacious verandahs outside.


I stepped outside to go down to the lake, and photographed across to the guest cottage.


And here's a view of the main cottage, with that verandah. I can imagine King sitting there on a breezy fall afternoon, watching the lake down the slope.


I went down to the lakeshore. One of the quirks of Gatineau Park includes private cottages within its bounds, and so some of those are on the opposite shore of Kingsmere Lake. The fall colours were in their glory.


King had a boat house built down here, and it's still here. It was used to store his canoe, and as a change house when he or his guests wanted to swim. 


When I was here in May with Tom and his wife, the fiddleheads in this spot were just starting to grow for the season. Now they were done for the year.


Kingsmere Lake is an absolute beauty, especially this time of year. You can see why it would have appealed to King.

42 comments:

  1. Rather an unspoiled paradise. The smaller buildings do less damage to the environment. And what a priceless view of the lake. I remember those boat houses from my youth in Minnesota. I loved them as I love the boats and the water and the fishing and swimming.

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  2. I absolutely can see why it appealed to King, and to most people lucky enough to be there ✨

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  3. It must have been a special place for King to escape to, and so far removed from his official duties - a place where he could nodoubt relax and enjoy nature around him.

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  4. A house by a lake, that sounds very appealing to me.

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  5. ...the lake looks wonderful with the fall colors!

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  6. It's a beautiful lake that would appeal to most people. Lovely fall colors, too. :-)

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  7. The house and the location are wonderful, mr. King had a good taste.

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  8. That is one cozy cottage! And the color is perfect.

    Janis
    GDP

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  9. Fall is looking very pretty up your way.

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  10. It is a beautiful lake. Nice fall colors too
    MB

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  11. Hello, the cottage is pretty. I like the views of the lake and trees, lovely place. Happy Sunday, enjoy your day. Have a great new week ahead!

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  12. I didn't know that King was independently wealthy so that he could by up so much property. You're giving me information I didn't know.

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  13. @Lowell: it was quite a place for him to settle in.

    @Grace: definitely.

    @Rosemary: this place would have felt like home.

    @Joan: me too.

    @Tom: it does!

    @DJan: I thought so too.

    @Jan: he did indeed.

    @Janis: the colour was stunning.

    @Sharon: very much so.

    @MB: I agree.

    @Eileen: thank you.

    @Red: some of it would have been inherited, but he did spend some years in private practice as a lawyer, and tha was quite lucrative.

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  14. what delightful place ~ so serene and idyllic ~ great photos ~

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

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  15. I like the inside of that cottage! Lovely Autumn colours as well.

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  16. I could move in there right now. It reminds me a bit of my cottage up north with the pine walls and the fireplace. So cozy!

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  17. Those are lovely cottages. I love the large verandah! And the view of lake is incredible!

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  18. The perfect place for a writer or artist. I would love to sit on the verandah admiring the view.

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  19. What a beautiful location. Yes, I can imagine sitting on that verandah.

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  20. What a great place to call home. A beautiful cottage and a lake, you can't beat that.

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  21. That looks all very nice and thank you for your always pleasant comment on my blog.

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  22. Very Nice. Love that fireplace.

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  23. Que linda e aconchegante esta casa e a paisagem circundante é magnífico com o belo lago a emoldurar a paisagem
    Um abraço e uma feliz semana

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  24. so fancy. great weekend!! enjoy it! ( ;

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  25. @Carol: it's a beautiful property to explore.

    @Marleen: so do I.

    @Jeanie: it's certainly highly appealing!

    @Tamago: it's a wonderful lake.

    @Fun60: it's a good sized living room, I thought. He would have spent a good amount of time in there.

    @Catalyst: it's a centering sort of place, I think.

    @Bill: quite true!

    @SC: you're welcome!

    @Happyone: so do I.

    @Sandi: I do too.

    @Gracita: thanks!

    @RedPat: it is!

    @Francisco: thanks!

    @Beth: thank you!

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  26. Such a beautiful spot, lovely scenes of the lake.
    Sitting in my chair, I've enjoyed reading your post and looking at your photographs.

    Enjoy the remainder of Sunday, and have a great new week ahead.

    All the best Jan

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  27. A dream, I am living in that cottage in those beautiful surroundings. What an idyllic place. Great photos William!

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  28. A fire in the fireplace would feel nice right now.

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  29. It's nice to get a peek inside. I think it was closed for the season the last time you were here. What a lovely place!

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  30. There couldn't be a lovelier place in which to conduct your affairs of state! How beautiful -- this time of year especially i would imagine.

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  31. Oh, thank you, I always love to see how others live(d) - funny btw... translated my name is Emperor and my boss´s name was translated King :-) (Kaiser - König).
    That lake is beautiful!

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  32. Beautiful cottages and gorgeous lake view!

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  33. A cottage with a view! Gorgeous. I can imagine the good times, the pleasant times spent near the water.

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  34. i can hear the birds and critters now. are there any loons? we have found those so peaceful to listen to in the evening. while camping. ( :

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  35. I like this bed in the second picture.

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  36. @Jan: thanks!

    @Denise: it would be quite a dream!

    @Revrunner: on a day like today, yes!

    @Kay: yes, we were about a week early for the buildings to open up back in May, but the grounds were open to explore.

    @Sallie: in autumn it is outstanding. I couldn't have asked for a better day to visit.

    @Iris: it definitely is.

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  37. @Nancy: indeed!

    @Jennifer: yes it is.

    @Catarina: he would have enjoyed it.

    @Italiafinlandia: very much so.

    @Beth: It wouldn't surprise me if loons turn up on that lake.

    @Klara: so do I.

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