Foley House

Foley House, located at 45 and 47 Main Street, Westport, Ontario, Canada is of significant historical note because of its connection to Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Perhaps because of the Foley family acquaintance with several Fathers of Confederation, the Foley family played a prominent commercial role from this home and mercantile situated at the high water point of the Rideau Canal.

The Foley House is a grand Victorian era house built in 1867, the year of Canadian Confederation, for Declan Finbar Foley and his wife Mary Ann Buckly. Six generations of Declan Foley’s descendants enjoyed the well built home, made three bricks thick and of the best available materials.

Foley Family

Declan Finbar Foley was born 1819 in Youghal, County Cork, Ireland, one of five children. After his father's death in 1836, Declan and his sister Bridget emigrated to live with their uncle Rev. Patrick Foley in Ogdensburg, New York. Traveling to Kingston, Ontario, where brother John, had entered the Regeopolis College, Declan spent a few years employed by the Honorable John Hamilton [http://www.hhpl.on.ca/GreatLakes/Documents/UFN/default.asp?ID=s002] . Declan's move to Prescott, Ontario and his marriage to Mary Ann Buckly of the township of Beckwith, near Almonte in 1846 was the beginning of a new branch of the Foley family. In 1851, after spending five years with his brother Michael, who owned a general store in Chicago, Declan was drawn to Westport by his brother John, who was a circuit Priest. It was the beginning of the era of the Foley's of Westport. The Westport, Ontario waterfront had become a thriving commercial center, with the steam ships Rideau King [http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/r/on/rideau/pd-mp/page_03_e.asp ] and Rideau Queen [http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/tourism/big/big_14_rideau_steamer.htm] ferrying people and supplies between Ottawa and Kingston a safe distance away from the St. Lawrence River and the perceived fear of American attack. Declan established a mercantile and forwarding business with docking at the base of his property.

The general store opened by Declan Foley, and continued by his son John, operated from 1867 until 1945. The store supplied the Westport community with such diverse items as farm equipment, building supplies, mortgages, fabrics, eyeglasses and medicinal products.

Although Declan and Mary Ann had many children - sixteen within twenty-two years - four children died in their youth. All of the children were highly educated. And several Foley descendents played prominent roles in Canadian government and in religion. The youngest daughter of Declan, Mary - known as "Birdie"- loved nature and was a talented painter. Of course, no young lady of that time would be encouraged to sell her art; such talent was considered a private gift. As a result, many of Birdie's paintings, in handsome frames, hung in the Foley drawing room for over 100 years.

In 2001, the disheartening task of dispersing home and contents rested on the shoulders of Mrs. Ursula Gilhooly, great-granddaughter of Declan Finbar Foley, bringing to a close the era of an early settler and prominent founding family of Westport. The well built home, resting on a Canadian Shield granite base remains today in much the same condition as when it was built. Wallpaper imported from France in the 1800’s still adorns a wall in the living room and furniture once belonging to Sir John A. Macdonald ht can be found in the parlour.

Prominent Visitors to the Foley House

Sir John Alexander Macdonald

The Foley House, has been used for many political and charity events through the years. In 1992, the 125th anniversary of Canada’s confederation was celebrated with a special toast to Sir John A. Macdonald. He is reported by Foley descendents to have stayed with his friend Declan Foley during his many trips between Ottawa and Kingston. It was Sir John’s friendship with Declan Foley that led to several items of Macdonald family furniture becoming fixtures in the Foley House.

Thomas D’Arcy McGee was one of the fathers of Canadian confederation. In 1866, within feet of the site of the Foley House, he is reported to have given an impassioned soap box speech in favour of confederation. Just two years later he was shot dead on the steps of his home in Ottawa.

The Foley House Today

In 1997, the great, great-granddaughter of Declan Foley converted the mercantile into The Foley Arms (now Remy’s Westport) restaurant and pub at which patrons are served while seated at the original 1867 sales counter. The Foley House looks much the same today as it did when it was constructed. The residence has been maintained and improved under the guidance of Sir John A. Macdonald homestead, Bellevue House [http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/on/bellevue/index_e.asp] curator, a resident of Westport. The home was sold out of the Foley family in 2002.