George Douglas Fergusson was born in 1822 at Balthayock, Scotland, the sixth son of Adam Fergusson and his wife Jemine Johnson Blair. He came to Canada with his father and stepmother in 1833. He and his brothers were educated at home by Rev. Patrick Bell, inventor of the reaping machine, who had accompanied them from Scotland. George later received a secondary education in Oakville, but eventually joined a lake boat and sailed the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes before settling down. For a time, he partnered with his brother James in the shipping business out of Port Dover.

 

George and James married nieces of the Honorable John MacDonald of Gananoque. George married Charlotte Legge. They lived in Port Dover until 1850, when a rift developed between the co-founders of Fergus—Adam Fergusson and James Webster—leading Webster to move to Guelph. Desiring a family member to oversee his Fergus interests, Adam hired George.

 

Contrary to popular belief, Adam never lived in Fergus, preferring instead to reside at Woodhill, near Waterdown. He considered Fergus an investment property and had no desire to live in the community. James Webster, on the other hand, was known as the “beloved founder” and spent the first 18 years of the settlement’s history as its resident mentor, builder, and mender. He spent a considerable amount of his family’s money to ensure settlers didn’t go hungry or without a roof over their heads. There was even an effort in the 1870s (after Adam’s death) to rename Fergus “Websterville.”

 

George and Charlotte moved into a small stone cottage at the corner of Breadalbane Street and St. Andrew Street, with a promise from his father that a larger, more prestigious dwelling would be built. Some of Adam’s money funded the first enlargement of the house, but he died in the late 1860s and had no influence on later additions. In 1860 the cottage was expanded into a larger home, and by 1879 it had been enlarged into the handsome dwelling that stands today. The only remaining feature of the original cottage is its rear wall, now incorporated into the back of the present home.

 

The building is an excellent example of architectural style prevalent in Ontario during the 1870s. Ironwork for the verandah and fence, along with marble for the fireplace, was imported from Naples, Italy. The stair banisters, newel posts, and formal doors were crafted from walnut.

 

The house boasted several fireplaces and five graceful chimneys. Heating relied on wood, which was stored in a large two-story shed. Two men were kept busy cutting wood all winter, as the high ceilings, long halls, and design of the house made it difficult to heat.

 

The name Mapleshade came from three rows of maple trees planted along Breadalbane and St. Patrick streets. The property once included formal gardens, manicured lawns, and a large stable housing driving horses and carriages.

 

George Fergusson was an astute businessman who managed his father’s interests with a sharp eye and sharper tongue. Consequently, he was not well liked by villagers, who envied that “he never did an honest day’s work—just walked down the bank with his gold-headed cane swinging, making everybody step out of his way.”

 

He was also quite strict at home. Though he wanted a large family, he refused to be bothered with babies until they turned two. Until then, all the children were kept in a large nursery. On their second birthdays, they were finally allowed to sit at his table. He was particularly harsh with his daughters, who had few freedoms in his presence.

 

George played a significant role in bringing the first railway to the village and became the first vice president of the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway. He also started the Lockman Sewing Machine Company, housed in a five-story stone building across from his home. The company employed up to 40 people and produced 200 machines a week. Additionally, he served as agent for the Bank of Montreal, which ceased operations upon his death in 1895.

 

George and Charlotte had ten children: Neil Legge I; Neil Legge II; Rebecca Harriet; Jemima Charlotte; Adam David; George Tower; Robert Blair; John James; Georgina Hobson; and Margaret Fraser. The couple, along with at least three of their infant children, are buried in Belsyde Cemetery, Fergus.

 

After George’s death, Mapleshade was rented out for several years. The Gow family and the Blacks of Blackburn Estates were among its notable tenants.

 

In 1922, Mapleshade was sold to Dr. Norman Kyle, who installed new plumbing, electricity, and an oil-burning furnace. The current front door of the Fergusson Room Pub once led to Dr. Kyle’s office, while he and his wife used the back door as their main entrance. Surgeries were performed in a large upstairs room at the top of the stairs.

 

Following Dr. Kyle’s death, the property was owned by Donald Sinclair Sr. and Thomas Tippen. Tippen was the first to consider turning Mapleshade into a hotel, but was unable to secure a license, as Fergus remained dry under the influence of the tea-totaling Beatty family.

 

In 1950, Mapleshade became a nursing home under the direction of the Dyer family. In 1975, Philip and Jean Cardinal purchased the property, recognizing its potential as an English-style country inn. After restoring the building, they named it the Breadalbane Inn—after Adam Fergusson’s uncle, the first Earl of Breadalbane.

 

In 1996, the Cardinals retired and sold the Breadalbane Inn to the Egger family, who have preserved its original character, charm, and reputation for excellent food.

 

Today, the Breadalbane Inn—long considered a gem of Fergus architecture—continues to serve the community and play a significant role in local history.

 

(Researched and written by Patricia Mestern)