About the Inn
and
the Montgomery Family

Montgomery’s Inn

Montgomery’s Inn was built about 1830
for Thomas and Margaret Montgomery.
East and south wings (containing a
new bar room and a second kitchen)
were added to the building in 1838.
The Inn was surrounded by a large
profitable farm, which provided food
for the Montgomery family as well as
the customers at their hotel.  The
Montgomery family ran the hotel for
about 25 years, until the mid 1850s.
The land was farmed by the family
(and later by tenants) until the 1940s.

The Montgomery Family

Thomas Montgomery (1790 - 1877) was
born in Ireland. Family tradition
holds that he came to Canada when he
was about 25 years old, and spent his
early years working in the salt trade
as a surveyor.

In 1829, Thomas married another Irish
immigrant, Margaret Dawson (1808 - 1855)
The couple had 7 children, but only 2 sons,
William (1830 - 1920) and Robert (1837 - 1864)
survived to adulthood. Over the years
the household also included various servants
 and farm labourers.

While little is known about Thomas’ early life,
it is clear that by age 40 when the Inn
(with its stone construction and
fine architectural features) was built,
he was prospering.

The Architecture

Montgomery’s Inn is of an architectural style
know today as “Loyalist” or “late
Georgian”. When it was built, it was
called “Classical,” as it was
inspired by ancient Greek and Roman
architecture.  Features such as the
centre-hall plan, the symmetrical
balance of the building, and the
fanlight over the front door are
typical of this style.

The Inn is built of rubble stone.
Originally, the stone was covered
with pebble dashed stucco and
finished, or “coined,” on the corners
to give the appearance of cut stone.