Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) was a Canadian writer best known for her Anne of Green Gables novel series.
Montgomery was born in Clifton, Prince Edward Island, and at 21 months old, she went to live with her grandparents in Cavendish. At nine, she began to write, and by 16, she had published her first poem. In the following decades, she regularly published short stories in various magazines and newspapers. In 1908, 34 years old Montgomery published her first novel, Anne of Green Gables, which became her most known work.
Three years later, she married Ewen Macdonald, and the newlyweds moved to the town of Leaskdale, Ontario (today part of Uxbridge), where her husband served as the minister of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. In the 15 years, she had lived in Leaskdale, Montgomery had three children and wrote 11 of her 22 novels, including the Rainbow Valley, the 7th book in the Anne of Green Gables series, that was inspired by her life and experiences in Leaskdale. Montgomery continued publishing 500 poems, 530 short stories, 30 essays, and 20 novels.
The Leaskdale Manse, a two-story yellow brick house, was built in 1886 as the residence for the pastor of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. In 1965, the house was designated as an Ontario Historic Site, and a plaque was placed outside. In 1992, the Township of Uxbridge purchased the property, and two years later, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Since 2010, the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario has been operating the site as a historic house museum, preserving and sharing Montgomery’s story, heritage, and achievements.
The house was renovated and preserved; on display are original furnishings, artifacts, and letters from Montgomery’s time. The Leaskdale Manse hosts annual events such as historical tours, Summer Luncheon Teas, plays, and concerts.
Across the street is the Historic Leaskdale Church, the former St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. On display in the lower level are Montgomery’s journals, photographs, an exhibit about her life in Leaskdale, and miniature houses used for the production of the show Road to Avonlea. In the church garden stands a bronze statue of her, sitting on a bench.
This post is also available in:
Español
This post is also available in:
Español
