Commemoration
Build in 1899-1900, this eclectic mansion evokes the opulent lifestyle of Canada’s industrial elite at the turn of the century. Designed by American architect A. W. Fuller, it was the spacious residence of Senator George T. Fulford (1852-1905), who made his fortune in patent medicines. The remarkably fine period interior includes most of the original furniture, fixtures, dinnerware, linens, and objets d’art. The grounds, of which significant elements survive, were landscaped by the prestigious Olmsted Brothers’ firm.
Background
The house was one of many estates that the rich of that time had built in Brockville. It is decorated in the Beaux-Arts style. Much of the original grounds were sold off to finance maintenance of the house by the descendants of the Senator. It is now a museum.
This, and the other large houses in the area, show that Brockville had come a long way by the end of the 19th century. It had become a home to the rich and powerful. But the 20th century saw it fall behind as improved transportation allowed commerce to bypass towns such as Brockville.