Dear editor:
In the article about Glencairn (“Town seeks to honour destroyed Glencairn,” The Lake Report, July 24), journalist Dan Smeenk errs in saying that the Ontario Heritage Trust attributes Glencairn — built in 1832 by John Latshaw — to Robert Hamilton Sr.
Not so! He died in 1809. His mansion was damaged in 1812 during the Battle of Queenston Heights.
As I wrote in a letter to The Lake Report (“Letter: ‘Diastrous’ Glencairn fire took national historic site,” April 22), Glencairn was built for John Hamilton (born 1801, died 1882). John was the youngest son of Robert Hamilton Sr. and became a successful businessman, legislative counsellor and senator, transferring his home (with wife Frances MacPherson and children) and business to Kingston in 1844.
Robert Hamilton Sr.’s estate (land holdings) wasn’t distributed to the four sons, three stepsons and daughter until 1823, when John was 21. Alexander (the third son) had Willowbank built by Latshaw in 1834.
Reginald and Jean Porter were the previous owners. Her book “Glencairn Hall: A Grandfather’s Legacy” is full of errors. Betsy Masson wrote a page of corrections to which I added many. The book is in the Queenston Library.
As I wrote before, I was surprised that the Porters had not installed fire sprinklers, as he had professionally restored Glencairn.
Elizabeth Oliver-Malone (Archives at Willowbank)
Queenston
