Foley House
Encyclopedia
Foley House, located at 45 and 47 Main Street, Westport, Ontario
, Canada
is of significant historical note because of its connection to Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald
. Perhaps because of the Foley family acquaintance with several Fathers of Confederation
, the Foley family played a prominent commercial role from this home and mercantile situated at the high water point of the Rideau Canal
.
The Foley House is a grand Victorian era house built in 1867, the year of Canadian Confederation
, for Declan Finbar Foley and his wife Mary Ann Buckly. Six generations of Declan Foley’s descendants enjoyed the well built home, made three bricks thick and of the best available materials.
, Ireland, one of five children. After his father's death in 1836, Declan and his sister Bridget emigrated to live with their uncle Rev. Patrick Foley in Ogdensburg, New York. Traveling to Kingston, Ontario
, where brother John, had entered the Regeopolis College, Declan spent a few years employed by the Honorable John Hamilton http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/Documents/UFN/default.asp?ID=s002 . Declan's move to Prescott, Ontario and his marriage to Mary Ann Buckly of the township of Beckwith, near Almonte in 1846 was the beginning of a new branch of the Foley family. In 1851, after spending five years with his brother Michael, who owned a general store in Chicago, Declan was drawn to Westport by his brother John, who was a circuit Priest. It was the beginning of the era of the Foley's of Westport.
The Westport, Ontario
waterfront had become a thriving commercial center, with the steam ships Rideau King and Rideau Queen http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/tourism/big/big_14_rideau_steamer.htm ferrying people and supplies between Ottawa
and Kingston a safe distance away from the St. Lawrence River and the perceived fear of American attack. Declan established a mercantile and forwarding business with docking at the base of his property.
The general store opened by Declan Foley, and continued by his son John, operated from 1867 until 1945. The store supplied the Westport community with such diverse items as farm equipment, building supplies, mortgages, fabrics, eyeglasses and medicinal products.
Although Declan and Mary Ann had many children - sixteen within twenty-two years - four children died in their youth. All of the children were highly educated. And several Foley descendents played prominent roles in Canadian government and in religion. The youngest daughter of Declan, Mary - known as "Birdie"- loved nature and was a talented painter. Of course, no young lady of that time would be encouraged to sell her art; such talent was considered a private gift. As a result, many of Birdie's paintings, in handsome frames, hung in the Foley drawing room for over 100 years.
In 2001, the disheartening task of dispersing home and contents rested on the shoulders of Mrs. Ursula Gilhooly, great-granddaughter of Declan Finbar Foley, bringing to a close the era of an early settler and prominent founding family of Westport. The well built home, resting on a Canadian Shield
granite base remains today in much the same condition as when it was built. Wallpaper imported from France in the 19th century still adorns a wall in the living room and furniture once belonging to Sir John A. Macdonald
ht can be found in the parlour.
Sir John Alexander Macdonald
The Foley House, has been used for many political and charity events through the years. In 1992, the 125th anniversary of Canada’s confederation was celebrated with a special toast to Sir John A. Macdonald. He is reported by Foley descendents to have stayed with his friend Declan Foley during his many trips between Ottawa
and Kingston. It was Sir John’s friendship with Declan Foley that led to several items of Macdonald family furniture becoming fixtures in the Foley House.
Thomas D’Arcy McGee was one of the fathers of Canadian confederation. In 1866, within feet of the site of the Foley House, he is reported to have given an impassioned soap box speech in favour of confederation. Just two years later he was shot dead on the steps of his home in Ottawa.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/on/bellevue/index_e.asp curator, a resident of Westport. The home was sold out of the Foley family in 2002. In 2008 the house sold again and is currently being converted back into a single family estate.
Westport, Ontario
Westport is a village in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It lies at the west end of Upper Rideau Lake, at the head of the navigable Rideau Canal system, between Kingston and 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...
is of significant historical note because of its connection to Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
. Perhaps because of the Foley family acquaintance with several Fathers of Confederation
Fathers of Confederation
The Fathers of Confederation are the people who attended the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences in 1864 and the London Conference of 1866 in England, preceding Canadian Confederation. The following lists the participants in the Charlottetown, Quebec, and London Conferences and their attendance at...
, the Foley family played a prominent commercial role from this home and mercantile situated at the high water point of the Rideau Canal
Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal , also known as the Rideau Waterway, connects the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on the Ottawa River to the city of Kingston, Ontario on Lake Ontario. The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States and is still in use today, with most of its...
.
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
, for Declan Finbar Foley and his wife Mary Ann Buckly. Six generations of Declan Foley’s descendants enjoyed the well built home, made three bricks thick and of the best available materials.
Foley Family
Declan Finbar Foley was born 1819 in Youghal, County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland, one of five children. After his father's death in 1836, Declan and his sister Bridget emigrated to live with their uncle Rev. Patrick Foley in Ogdensburg, New York. Traveling to Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, where brother John, had entered the Regeopolis College, Declan spent a few years employed by the Honorable John Hamilton http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/Documents/UFN/default.asp?ID=s002 . Declan's move to Prescott, Ontario and his marriage to Mary Ann Buckly of the township of Beckwith, near Almonte in 1846 was the beginning of a new branch of the Foley family. In 1851, after spending five years with his brother Michael, who owned a general store in Chicago, Declan was drawn to Westport by his brother John, who was a circuit Priest. It was the beginning of the era of the Foley's of Westport.
The Westport, Ontario
Westport, Ontario
Westport is a village in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It lies at the west end of Upper Rideau Lake, at the head of the navigable Rideau Canal system, between Kingston and Ottawa....
waterfront had become a thriving commercial center, with the steam ships Rideau King and Rideau Queen http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/tourism/big/big_14_rideau_steamer.htm ferrying people and supplies between Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and Kingston a safe distance away from the St. Lawrence River and the perceived fear of American attack. Declan established a mercantile and forwarding business with docking at the base of his property.
Although Declan and Mary Ann had many children - sixteen within twenty-two years - four children died in their youth. All of the children were highly educated. And several Foley descendents played prominent roles in Canadian government and in religion. The youngest daughter of Declan, Mary - known as "Birdie"- loved nature and was a talented painter. Of course, no young lady of that time would be encouraged to sell her art; such talent was considered a private gift. As a result, many of Birdie's paintings, in handsome frames, hung in the Foley drawing room for over 100 years.
In 2001, the disheartening task of dispersing home and contents rested on the shoulders of Mrs. Ursula Gilhooly, great-granddaughter of Declan Finbar Foley, bringing to a close the era of an early settler and prominent founding family of Westport. The well built home, resting on a Canadian Shield
Canadian Shield
The Canadian Shield, also called the Laurentian Plateau, or Bouclier Canadien , is a vast geological shield covered by a thin layer of soil that forms the nucleus of the North American or Laurentia craton. It is an area mostly composed of igneous rock which relates to its long volcanic history...
granite base remains today in much the same condition as when it was built. Wallpaper imported from France in the 19th century still adorns a wall in the living room and furniture once belonging to Sir John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
ht can be found in the parlour.
Prominent Visitors to the Foley House
The Foley House, has been used for many political and charity events through the years. In 1992, the 125th anniversary of Canada’s confederation was celebrated with a special toast to Sir John A. Macdonald. He is reported by Foley descendents to have stayed with his friend Declan Foley during his many trips between Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and Kingston. It was Sir John’s friendship with Declan Foley that led to several items of Macdonald family furniture becoming fixtures in the Foley House.
Thomas D’Arcy McGee was one of the fathers of Canadian confederation. In 1866, within feet of the site of the Foley House, he is reported to have given an impassioned soap box speech in favour of confederation. Just two years later he was shot dead on the steps of his home in Ottawa.
The Foley House Today
In 1997, the great, great-granddaughter of Declan Foley converted the mercantile into The Foley Arms (then, Remy’s Westport) restaurant and pub at which patrons are served while seated at the original 1867 sales counter. The Foley House looks much the same today as it did when it was constructed. The residence has been maintained and improved under the guidance of Sir John A. Macdonald homestead, Bellevue HouseBellevue House
Bellevue House National Historic Site of Canada was the home to Canada's first Prime Minister Sir John Alexander Macdonald from 1848 to 1849. The house is located in a residential neighbourhood bordering the Queen's University student housing area in Kingston, Ontario...
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/on/bellevue/index_e.asp curator, a resident of Westport. The home was sold out of the Foley family in 2002. In 2008 the house sold again and is currently being converted back into a single family estate.