HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-06-30, Page 114Page 74
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A view of the castle and the Kiely house from St: George's steeple
The Castle.....
•from page 73
balcony. The house seems to
have a freedom of plan
associated with those houses
designed to give a pic-
turesque effect,"
Henry MacDermott
acquired the site (one acre
and two rods) in March, 1861,
from William Seymour, who
held many Goderich
properties in his time and lent
on mortgage in even more
transactions. MacDermott at
this time was living
somewhere on Wellington
street. In the following year,
presumably while the castle
was under construction, he
borrowed '2,000 pounds on a
mortgage given John Mur-
phy.
MacDermott's wife, Mary,
died on June 8th, 1864, but the
family lived in the castle for
another quarter-century.
Henry died March 8th, 1889.
His will, made in 1882, con-
tains no mention, specifically
or in general terms, of real
estate. His executors,
however, sold the castle in
1903 to Jessie H. Cameron,
widow of Hon. Malcolm Colin
Cameron (he died in 1898).
Value of the estate was
stated to the surrogate court
to be only $2,047, including
household goods, furniture,
piano and paintings at $600,
and cash, $11,443. The will left
the estate to support of the
unmarried daughters, and
after their death or marriage
was to be equally divided
among surviving children.
One son, William Martin
MacDermott, had died in
1884. According to the Huron
Signal, there survived five
daughters and one son.
MacDermott senior was for.
many years deputy Master in
Chancery for Huron. A
leading churchman, it is
related that when St.
George's church on the
Crescent burned in
November, 1879, and services
were held temporarily in the
courthouse, MacDermott
would ostentatiously consult
a huge watch if the rector,
Rev. E'L.- Elwood, preached
longer than he °thought
necessary, and if the hint
were not taken, would rap on
the floor with his cane.
Of the seven MacDermott
children- five daughters and
two sons - three were born in
Ireland, the others in
Goderich, at the Castle. One
son, William Martin, died in
1884.
Jane, eldest of the
daughters, was married to
C.R. Dunsford, a banker,
whose family home was at
Bobcaygeon. He died about 10
years before his wife, who
died in Victoria, B.C. in 1934,
in her 80s. They had three
children.
Ellen, next after Jane,
became Mrs. George
Shepley, and was survived by
two daughters. Harriet
became Mrs. Starke, of Glen
Ridge, New Jersey.
Henry, Jr., born in Ireland
in 1857, resided in Goderich
until he was 92. Known about
town as Tom, for some
reason, he was employed at
one time at the fine salt plant
in the east end. Later he lived
at Hotel Bedford, taking
meals in his room. He died in
hospital in 1949.
Mary Alicia was married to
William Elliot Macara,
probably a son of the late
John Macara, of Goderich.
The wedding took place in St.
James' Cathedral, Toronto,
on Nov. 16, 1898, if a
somewhat damaged notice
has been accurately
deciphered. Mr. Macara is
described therein as
"barrister, Winnipeg." His
wife died in Winnipeg in 1946,
leaving no children.
Edith MacDermott went to,
the home of a sister, then at
Morden, Manitoba, where in
1893 she was married to a
sergeant of the North West
Mounted Police, P.W. Pen-
nefather. They had an ad-
venturous life until the officer
retired in 1922 with rank °of
superintendent and served as
magistrate in Prince Albert.
Turn to page 75•
Best Wishes
to the
Town of Goderich
on its,15Oth Birthday
Robert C. McCallum
McCallum Funeral Home
11 Cambria Rd. N.
Goderich
524-73.45
1
1827 - 1977
Congratulations
Goderich
FROM THE
White
Carnation
Holmesville
THE WHITE CARNATION
CATERING TO:
Wadding Receptions, Banquets,
Private Parties, Christmas
aafigwtsnd Paes
FOR INFORMAt10N, CaALL 4$2rtiA22s OR 482.751$