Leahurst House

The oldest building on the Kemptville College of Agricultural Technology campus and the only one designated as a heritage property, Leahurst began as a farmhouse belonging to the McCargar’s, a Wesleyan Methodist family with roots in both the United States and Ireland. According to the records, Thomas McCargar bought the 100 acres in 1825 after it had passed through several hands. The land had been given first to Captain Peter Drummond of Jessup’s Rangers as a grant.

Possibly the oldest stone house in the area, Leahurst is believed to have been built in 1840. The assessment rolls describe it as a “stone or brick house” with three fireplaces and a value of 155 pounds.

Since then, it has undergone a metamorphosis. In 1918, two years after the College was started, it was renovated for the first principal, William J. Bell and his family. Work crews constructed a cellar under the entire house and added a second story. The following year, a veranda was added to the front of the house and a bedroom and balcony to the back. In 1949, the back veranda was replaced by a smaller stone veranda. Architecturally, Leahurst is distinguished by three half round dormers and a two tier tin roof.

A one-time women’s residence, Leahurst was made into a Home Management Centre for the second time in the late 60’s. Scores of Food Management students remember Leahurst as an army recruit remembers basic training. They remember the traumas of formal meals, the dropped forks and the fauxpas, the pressures of carrying on bright table conversation with teachers present. Some remember the windy nights when the doors and windows creaked. They swear Leahurst has a set of ghosts. Most recently, Leahurst had been used for faculty functions and training students in Food Management.

The name Leahurst is derived from “Lea” meaning a grassy meadow, and “hurst” meaning a grove or thicket.

In March 2004, Leahurst house became home to the North Grenville Co-operative Preschool and Learning Centre, a non-profit, fully co-operative organization run by parents and community members whose vision is to provide a first academic experience and enhanced learning opportunities to pre-school and school age children respectively.

(text copied from www.ngcplc.ca site – page no longer exists)