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Loretto Maryholme and Roches Point --- a unique history... |
After the War of 1812, York (Toronto) was considered vulnerable to further attack. New lands were sought by the Government. Because Roches Point, then called Keswick, "was deemed to be a safe haven" it was proposed as the capital designate for Upper Canada. An historical sign outside the gate tells the story, and if you travel down Bouchier St. you will still find a government dock.
In 1878 Sir James Edgar, MP for Ontario West Riding, and his wife Lady Matilda Edgar obtained the property.
They transferred their house in Lefroy to the new estate, but after some time moved it across the road. They constructed
a new house, but it burnt to the ground so they were forced to rebuild what is now the present structure.
They called it "The Bungalow" until they added a second storey in 1885 and re- named it "The Pines".
In 1889 Sir James died but the home remained in the family until the death of Lady Matilda in 1910.
(You can find photos and more information in a wonderful book called, My Dearest Wife, The Private and Public Lives
of James David Edgar and Matilda Ridout Edgar by Maude J. McLean and Robert M. Stamp.)
In 1912 "The Pines" was sold to the George H. Fensom family. (For a short time Mr. Fensom was a partner
in the Otis-Fensom Elevator Company.) They added the "back suite" bedrooms to the main house and later built the adjacent servants' lodge, the log cabin, and the small cabins.
In 1946 the Canadian Loretto Sisters bought the property with most of the contents as a holiday retreat house and re-named it "Maryholme".
In September 2001 Loretto Maryholme opened as a Spirituality Centre where "individuals and groups could explore and restore the energies needed for their personal and communal transformation".
On July 16, 2006 the Loretto Sisters marked the 60th anniversary of their property ownership and as a sign of their ongoing commitment to this area they planted a ginkgo tree which can live to a thousand years ...
In 2015 the Sisters and their associates continue to enjoy "Maryholme" along with the many people who come for the Centre's programs and/or to book the facilities.
In September 2016 the Loretto Sisters celebrated 70 years of ownership and Loretto Maryholme Spirituality Centre celebrated 15 years of commitment to its mission and vision.
To honour the history of this sacred space the buildings have been named:
Main building - Edgar House
Servants' lodge – Fensom Cottage
Log cabin – Blackbird Cabin (2 local First Nations men built it in 1928)
Green cabin – McMahon Cabin (Sr. Constance McMahon IBVM purchased the property with an inheritance.)
Green cabin - Dease Cabin (Sr. Teresa Dease IBVM, foundress of the Loretto Sisters in Canada and North America, arrived from Ireland in 1947 at the invitation of Bishop Michael Power. )
See a video of interesting finds during some recent metal dectecting by clicking here!
