McEwen's Castle, Thessalon, Ontario, circa 1900

Description

Media Type

Image

Item Type

Photographs

Description

This is a black and white photo highlighting the "castle" built by Norman McEwan at the east end of Huron Street. The three story structure stands atop a large rock outcrop and can be seen quite easily from a distance. The photo appears to have been taken from a vantage point some distance away.

Notes

The home was built in 1897 by Norman McEwan, a brother of William and Andrew McEwan. Notes written by Fanny (Simpson) Johnson say that the house had windows facing all four directions and that the rooms were quite large. The first tenants were Mr. W. A. McEwan and family who took in boarders and later rented apartments.

It was later used as a hospital but the approach to the building made it very difficult to get the patients in and out. As there were no stairs over the rocks, you simply had to pick your way up to the house.

After its use as a hospital a few rooms remained rented out and in later years Mr. George Rhodes who owned a mill in Thessalon resided in the house with his family. He is believed to have been the last tenant.

Mr. McEwan is said to have built five other homes on Algoma Street around the same time as the castle and as of 1988 three of the five were still occupied.

The castle was believed to have been demolished in 1945 when it was said to be owned by Harry Phillips.

Date of Original