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Eaton Hall (King City)
Encyclopedia
Eaton Hall is a large house in King City
, Ontario
, Canada
, built in the Norman
style for Lady Eaton
in 1937 on a 700 acre (2.8 km²) parcel of land (once the Fergueson farm). Lady Eaton and her husband, Sir John Craig Eaton
acquired the land in 1919 on recommendation from their friend Sir Henry Pellatt
, who owned the nearby Mary Lake
property. Lady Eaton moved into Eaton Hall following the demolition of her city mansion, Ardwold
. The house is adjacent to a body of water named Lake Jonda (a combination of the first three letters of her son John David Eaton
's first and middle names), and nestled within the temperate forests of King Township
. Upon completion, it contained 72 rooms. It became a beloved gathering place for the Eaton Family
, owners of the Eaton's
department stores based in Toronto
.
Design was started in 1932 by architects from the firm of Peter Allward and George Gouinlock. Construction was completed in 1939 and was carried out by John W. Bowser
.
, the property was used as a convalescent hospital and rehabilitation centre for the Royal Canadian Navy
.
After Lady Eaton's death in 1970, the land was sold to Seneca College
, which was then a provincially-funded community college
. It established its King Campus operations on that land in 1971, using Eaton Hall as its administrative facility. In 1977, a new facility was built for the expanding college, and Eaton Hall became a Management Development Centre until 1991, at which time it was converted to a public hotel
and conference centre.
, and the final scene of the award winning film A History of Violence
.
King City, Ontario
King City is an affluent, unincorporated village in King Township, Ontario, Canada, located just north of Toronto. It is the largest community in King Township, with 1,629 dwellings and a population of 4,902.-History:...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, built in the Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
style for Lady Eaton
Flora Eaton
Flora McCrea Eaton, Lady Eaton was the wife of Toronto department store president and heir Sir John Craig Eaton.- Life and career :...
in 1937 on a 700 acre (2.8 km²) parcel of land (once the Fergueson farm). Lady Eaton and her husband, Sir John Craig Eaton
John Craig Eaton
Sir John Craig Eaton was a Canadian businessman, and member of the prominent Eaton Family.Sir John was the youngest son of Toronto department store magnate Timothy Eaton, and his wife, Margaret Wilson Beattie Eaton. John was born in Toronto...
acquired the land in 1919 on recommendation from their friend Sir Henry Pellatt
Henry Pellatt
Major-General Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, C.V.O. was a well-known Canadian financier and soldier....
, who owned the nearby Mary Lake
Mary Lake Augustinian Monastery
The Mary Lake Augustinian Monastery, also known as Mary Lake Monastery, Mary Lake Shrine, or simply Mary Lake is an Augustinian monastery in King City, Ontario, Canada. The campus is nearly , residing on Keele Street, just north of 15th Sideroad . It is part of the Province of Saint Joseph...
property. Lady Eaton moved into Eaton Hall following the demolition of her city mansion, Ardwold
Ardwold
Ardwold was the residence of Sir John Craig Eaton and Lady Eaton of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Sir John was the youngest son of Timothy Eaton, the founder of the T. Eaton Company Department Store, or Eaton's, and he inherited the business and became its president upon his father's death in 1907...
. The house is adjacent to a body of water named Lake Jonda (a combination of the first three letters of her son John David Eaton
John David Eaton
For other people named John Eaton, see John Eaton ."John David Eaton was the second son of Sir John Craig Eaton and Lady Eaton of Toronto....
's first and middle names), and nestled within the temperate forests of King Township
King, Ontario
King is a township in York Region north of Toronto, within the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada.The rolling hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine are the most prominent visible geographical feature of King. The Holland Marsh, considered to be Ontario's "vegetable basket", straddles King Township...
. Upon completion, it contained 72 rooms. It became a beloved gathering place for the Eaton Family
Eaton family
The Eaton family of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, were owners of the Eaton's department stores, a national chain that was founded in 1869, and became bankrupt in 1999. At the family's height, their net worth was around $2 billion...
, owners of the Eaton's
Eaton's
The T. Eaton Co. Limited was once Canada's largest department store retailer. It was founded in 1869 in Toronto by Timothy Eaton, an Irish immigrant. Eaton's grew to become a retail and social institution in Canada, with stores across the country, buying offices across the globe, and a catalogue...
department stores based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Design was started in 1932 by architects from the firm of Peter Allward and George Gouinlock. Construction was completed in 1939 and was carried out by John W. Bowser
John W. Bowser
John W. Bowser was a Canadian construction engineer most notably the project construction superintendent for the Empire State Building.Bowser was born in Whitchurch township, Ontario, Canada, present day Aurora in 1892...
.
Further uses
During WWIIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the property was used as a convalescent hospital and rehabilitation centre for the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
.
After Lady Eaton's death in 1970, the land was sold to Seneca College
Seneca College
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology is a Canadian public college in the greater Toronto area. Seneca College is currently Canada's largest college with approximately 108,000 students.-History:...
, which was then a provincially-funded community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
. It established its King Campus operations on that land in 1971, using Eaton Hall as its administrative facility. In 1977, a new facility was built for the expanding college, and Eaton Hall became a Management Development Centre until 1991, at which time it was converted to a public hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
and conference centre.
Filming location
Many movies and television programs have been filmed at Eaton Hall, including Mrs. WinterbourneMrs. Winterbourne
Mrs. Winterbourne is a 1996 romantic comedy/drama starring Shirley MacLaine, Ricki Lake, and Brendan Fraser. The film is loosely based on Cornell Woolrich's novel I Married a Dead Man, which has already been filmed in Hollywood as No Man of Her Own starring Barbara Stanwyck, and in Bollywood as...
, and the final scene of the award winning film A History of Violence
A History of Violence (film)
A History of Violence is a 2005 American crime thriller film directed by David Cronenberg and written by Josh Olson. It is an adaptation of the 1997 graphic novel of the same name by John Wagner and Vince Locke...
.
External links
- Eaton Hall website
- Eaton hall - King City, Toronto and Ontario Ghosts & Hauntings Research Society.