Ivy Hall

Ivy Hall stood on this corner as the home of John Sandfield MacDonald, a local lawyer, militia officer, founder of the Freeholder, mayor, Member of the Legislative Assembly, and First Premier of Ontario. A politically moderate reformer, MacDonald supported responsible government, the separation of church and state, and approval from both French and English for major legislation. In 1840 he eloped with Marie Christine Waggaman, the daughter of a Louisiana French patrician family. Here MacDonald and his devout wife raised six children amid constant business and political activity and lavish entertainments. Sandfield died June 1, 1872 and lies buried at St. Andrew's West, Ont. Ivy Hall was later purchased by the Diocese of Alexandria and in 1897 opened as Cornwall's first permanent hospital, the Hotel Dieu, by the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph.

Ontario · Canada