On the university campus, University Avenue, Kingston across from Kingston General Hospital
Commemoration
This house, built in 1839 by Archdeacon Okill Stuart was known as “Okill’s Folly.” When the Province of Canada’s first parliament met in the nearby hospital, the members were housed in Summerhill. Leased for government offices 1842-44, it was later occupied by a school. In 1853 it was purchased by Queen’s College and served for several years as the university’s only building. During most of its history, it hs been used in part as the principal’s residence.
Background
The home was later rented to MPs when Kingston was the capital of the Canadas (1840s). At the time it was purchased for Queen’s it was the only building for the university.
The building was restored in 1984 and further in 2002 after serving various purposes for the university. It is now the oldest building at Queen’s University.