Do you know what is Sault Ste. Marie's second oldest residence?
If the answer is 'No', read on.
From the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:
Located at 10 Kensington Terrace, the home of Wemyss Mackenzie Simpson was known as Upton House and was constructed circa 1865 making it the second oldest residence in the city.
Upton House displays a Georgian style of architecture with Regency influences.
It is similar in design to Bishophurst, built in 1874 as the home of Bishop Frederick Dawson Fauquier, the first Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Algoma.
Similarities can be seen in the verandas, the box-like structure of the main house and the low-hipped roofs with smaller projecting wings.
Wemyss Mackenzie Simpson was born in London, England in 1824 and came to Canada in 1841 as an employee of the Hudson’s Bay Company and served as last factor for the post of Sault Ste. Marie.
He was postmaster and first Member of Parliament for Algoma after Confederation.
He acted as guide and interpreter for the Red River Expeditionary Force in 1870 and in 1871 was named Indian Commissioner for Rupert’s Land.
In 1853 he married Annie Ironside and after her death, he married her sister Eliza Ironside.
Wemyss and Annie had 14 children.
He died at Fort Monroe, Virginia in 1894.
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