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St. Andrews Beacon, April 14, 1910Beautiful Summer Home—Mr. F. W. Thompson Will Have Fine Estate
What Mr. F. W. Thompson, President and General manger of the Ogilvie Milling Company, does he does well and thoroughly. This has marked his whole career, from the time that he began life as a humble bank clerk in one of the Eastern Township banks, supplementing his modest income by doing business printing on a small foot power press, until now that he has become the head of one of the biggest manufacturing concerns of Canada, a director in many of the leading industrial institutions of the Dominion, and one of the most prominent financier of the country.
This spirit of thoroughness--this desire to exce--he has manifested in the stately summer residence that he had erected near the Algonquin hotel and which he will occupy with his family during the coming month of June. Not content with having one of the most beautiful dwellings in the place, he proposes that the grounds shall be as beautiful as landscape artists and labor can make them.
He has a battalion of men and teams engaged on his place now, digging drains, building terraces and grading up for the pergola which is to be erected at the end of his flower garden and which he expects to be one of the most striking features of his estate. This pergola will be semi-circular stone structure with pillars and open sides and roof. It will be 40 feet across. Flowers, vines and shrubs will be trained up its walls. The residence has a frontage of almost 100 feet and commands a beautiful outlook. On the lower floor, entering from the broad verandah on the south west corner, there is a wide hallway which communicates with the large living room. Adjoining the living room, with an eastern outlook, is the library. The dining hall is a splendid room 17 x 30 feet, with a beautiful western prospect. There are two large guest rooms, with baths, on this floor. In the rear are the kitchen, servants' dining room, etc. On the second floor are six large sleeping rooms every one with a fine outlook. There are also two bath room on this floor. The floor above contains four servants' chambers.
The building will be heated by steam and lighted by either electric lights or acetylene gas. A large barn, with living rooms for coachmen and stable help, is now in process of erection.
The plans for Mr. Thompson's residence were prepare by Messrs. Maxwell, of Montreal, who have entrusted the carrying out of them to Mr. Wright McLaren, carpenter. The mason work is being done by Mr. Olssen, of Calais; the plumbing by Mr. Goodwill Douglas, and the painting by Mr. Albert Shaw.