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McMartin House, 125 Gore Street. McMartin House is constructed of brick, dramatically highlighted in stone as a decorative trim for its quoins, lintels, a belt course between levels and keystones. There is no known architect and the home was built under the personal supervision of its owner. The workers and materials are said to have come from the United States. The building’s singularly attractive three cupolas crown the striking hipped metal roof. Locally, these have been the main architectural signatures for the home for years. The twin chimneys on each side are typical of its roots in Georgian Classicism. The elliptical transom of the main entrance and the second-storey bay are exquisite, if somewhat complex, examples of the late Loyalist style of white metal glazing bars following the radiation lines of the ellipse. After Mr. McMartin’s death in 1869 the house was owned by a number of different people until, in 1972 the building was donated to the Ontario Heritage Foundation (now the Ontario Heritage Trust) which also owns IngeVa. The OHT keeps the building in good repair and regular meetings of a seniors’ crafts group ensure that the building remains a viable part of our community. This building is one of three National Historic Sites in Perth.
Photograph, c1870 from the archives of the Perth
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