Xperience: The Mansion House

By / Food / July 30th, 2013 / 2

The Mansion House in St. Catharines, Ontario has the illustrious distinction of being one of the oldest, continually operated (licensed) pubs in Canada.

Opened in 1806 by William Hamilton Merritt, it served to quench locals’ and travellers’ thirst. In the 1800s towns wouldn’t necessarily have had a street full of boutiques. So, Merritt’s building also had to serve as his home and general store carrying almost everything a family would have needed to survive. Given that Merritt was committed to seeing the Welland Canal, an important shipping passage, constructed meant that his building would probably have also served as a meeting hall, a place in which to discuss how best to achieve that end.

Later, in the three years that marked the War of 1812, the Mansion House provided a front row seat for the curious to watch the Red Coats march by. By the 1820s, the tavern/home/store had transformed itself once again into a hotel. But, in 1859, tragedy struck. A fire that raged through much of St Catharines also significantly damaged the Mansion House. Despite the loss, it was rebuilt. The Mansion House has become synonymous with the history of the Niagara Region.

Today, the Mansion House remains a restaurant and bar, but now also includes entertainment, showcasing local and out-of-town bands while patrons indulge in modern fare.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rosemary Mantini has always loved words. When she isn't working as the Associate Editor at Tidings Magazine, she's helping others achieve their writing dreams, and sometimes she even relaxes with a good book and a glass of wine.

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