one time the home of Canada's first prime minister and now the manhood centre of the only religious congregation originateed in Kingston.

one time the home of Canada's first prime minister and now the manhood centre of the only religious congregation originateed in Kingston, the property known as "Heathfield" has a lengthy and proud history. The original villa, built in the 1830 was described in this May 7 1842 Chronicle and Gazette ad: "To be sold or impediment to an improving Tenant, the House at ready occupied by the Subscriber together with 8 or 10 Acres of superior Land, being part of accident no. 19; and about the same mile and a quarter from Town. There has lately been exhausted on the House and Premises a considerable compendium of money, making it to consist of a large Cellar etc."

The peculiarity including the square; stuccoed, two-storey Ontario cottage-style villa, passed in consequence of several hands until it was sold to Charles Heath in 1852 From this time in succession the property was known to Kingston residents as Heathfield. Heath sold the one's own in 1865 to Professor James Williamson, a brother-in-law of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister. Sir John A. breaked the home for his unmarried sister Louisa and while he was prime minister, made it his abode on his frequent visits from Ottawa. With the Macdonalds' arrival at Heathfield, a complicated family arrangement began. Louisa insisted she would live merely in her brother's "home," in such a manner Williamson rented the whole house to John A. However, Williamson and his wife, Margaret, then lived there as Louisa's boarders. Since John A. was the official tenant he sat at the head of the table when he dined there, with Louisa at the foot

In 1875 after ten years at Heathfield, Sir John A. hinted the family move to a boarding house within what were then the city limits of Kingston, avoiding the isolation of a house in the native land But Margaret had not been well and a influence would have been difficult. After her death onward April 18, 1876, the family mov into the city. Around 1879 George Sears purchased the exclusive right and is listed as its possessor as late as 1895. Congregation records do not point out to who owned the property from this time until 1930 when the Sisters of Providence of St Vincent de Paul purchased the land for a novitiate.

A recent home

Founded in Kingston in 1861 to expect after the city's poor, orphaned and somewhat old the congregation of the Sisters of Providence had grown rapidly from its mortify beginnings. By 1910 their original domicile in the House of Providence--now known as Providence Manor--was multitudeed with Sisters and their charges, and consequently St Mary's of the Lake was purchased to house an orphanage and novitiate. by the agency of 1930 the congregation had outgrown the two sites and needed new quarters for their novitiate and administration. The Sisters purchased Heathfield, then a 30-acre peculiarity just outside the western limits of the city. The original villa serv as novitiate until 1932 when it became a residence for the Sisters teaching in the city. In 1941 the villa became a to one's home for needy children when the Department of National vindication took over St. Mary's of the Lake Orphanage as a military hospital. In 1964 it was demolished to frame a new wing on the Motherhouse complicate An original marble fireplace from the villa still stands in the leadership team's meeting room

Providence Motherhouse

Construction of the building known as Providence Motherhouse--the terminus "motherhouse" refers to the official hearthstone base of a religious congregation --continued from top to toe the early years of the Great Depression and provided service for many workers. Built of limestone quarried in the Kingston area, it was officially render free of accessed on July 6, 1932, and housed the novitiate and general administration of the congregation. At that time there was no sign of the beautiful landscaping now associated with the building; the "1932 wing," as it is now called, stood in the middle of a hayfield. Since then renovations accommodated the changing wants of the congregation, with a view to special indigences of senior citizens. A Heritage range located behind the auditorium, was uncloseed Dec. 13, 1999. Open to visitors, it contains more information in succession the history of the congregation and Heathfield, Providence Motherhouse.

This article was provided by means of the Sisters of Providence (www.providence.ca)

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