After this summer, a collection of 200-year-old bricks may be all that’s left of the historic Glencairn Hall, as its charred remains are hauled off the property and the site is cleared.
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has authorized the demolition of the remains of Glencairn Hall, a two-storey estate overlooking the Niagara River that was destroyed in April by a fire of “suspicious” origins, investigators say.
The town is asking and encouraging the owner of the property at 14785 Niagara River Pwky. to donate historical parts of the site to the town, whichever parts remain intact.
Council approved Glencairn’s teardown last Tuesday with little discussion or fanfare. Coun. Gary Burroughs said he hopes they will recover bricks from the home’s brick chimneys, which survived the fire and which residents particularly cherished.
The fire destroyed most of the home’s structure, with Jim Kettles from the Office of the Fire Marshal calling it a “total loss” in April. The home received heritage designation last year.
“They’re all 200 years old,” Burroughs said of the chimneys. “If for nothing more, (they’re) a good memory piece for most of us in Niagara-on-the-Lake.”
Burroughs recommended that staff and the owner dismantle the chimneys in a “semi-safe” way to preserve some of the bricks. Council treated his suggestion as a directive to staff.
Glencairn Hall was a classical Greek-style home designed by John Latshaw and built in 1832. The property spans nearly three acres of land and was purchased last October for $6 million.
It was originally the residence of John Hamilton and later housed prominent entrepreneurs, including Erie and Niagara Railway head William Thompson and Buffalo Pottery president John Larkin.
The house also hosted notable guests such as architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
In June, Niagara Regional Police said it’s investigating the cause of the fire as an act of criminal arson. It hasn’t arrested any suspects yet.
Earlier this month, the municipal heritage committee discussed commemorating the site, possibly with a plaque. No decision has been made on this.
