The Stephens
By the mid 1870s, the Stephens were living in a stone house located on Mountain Street in the heart of a newly developing residential neighbourhood - the Golden Square Mile. The Stephen's property lay slightly north of St. Catherine Street, flanked by Mountain Street and Drummond Street, and encompassed a large garden. It was on this property that George Stephen decided to build a house worthy of his standing in the community. In 1880, he chose one of the most respected architects in Canada, William Tutin Thomas and the well-known local contractor, J.F. Hutchison. It took three years to erect the residence at the then-fantastic cost of $600,000. European craftsmen were brought from Italy and Scotland to build the magnificent interiors.
The architecture is based on the model of an Italian Renaissance palace. The rooms are proportioned on a grand scale. Each is finished either with hardwoods, such as oak and walnut, or exotic woods such as Cuban mahogany, rose wood and Ceylonese satin wood. Unusually, wood is also used for the cornices and ceiling trim, instead of plaster. The house has no less than ten fireplaces. With the exception of the onyx fireplace in the original drawing room, each fireplace was designed in its own nook, offering those seated by the fire a greater sense of intimacy and perhaps, privacy. Some mantelpieces are made of marble, others, rare woods, with inserts of hand-painted tiles. Beveled mirrors are incorporated, to reflect light back into the rooms. The lamps, ceiling fixtures, door handles, hinges and the radiator grilles are plated with 22-carat gold.
Everything was co-ordinated thematically, so that in each room the art tiles of the fireplaces relate to the paintings in the stained glass transom panels over the windows. The windows in the great staircase form a discourse on Love. The skylight panels contain zodiac symbols. All the materials were used with such meticulous detailing and care that the cost of reproducing the interiors today is unimaginable. There is no building in Montreal that is comparable to the Mount Stephen Club. The house resembles a small museum: rare objects and paintings are in perfect harmony with the tapestries and the fine furnishings.
When Lord Mount Stephen returned to England, he enthrusted the house to his sister Elsie and her husband Robert Meighen, President of the Lake Wood Milling Company. On October 4, 1890, the Meighens, who had three children, bought the property. Robert Meighen died in 1911 and Elsie continued to live there until her death six years later. The family lived lavishly and entertained visiting nobility. In 1890, they organised a memorable reception for the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, and in 1907 hosted Lord Northcote, retired Governor-General of Australia. A garden party was held for the Count and Countess Roberts of Kandahar, visiting Quebec during the Tercentennial celebrations in 1908, and was the occasion for the famous photograph of the side garden. Their son, Frank S. Meighen, lived in the house after his parents' death. In 1919, he was the host of a ball given for the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII.
After the First World War, the Golden Square Mile changed drastically. On the one hand, many sons of the Square Milers had died in action and, on the other, the mansions of the area were finding it hard to keep household staff, as there were greater job opportunities. The introduction of income taxes and finally the Great Depression of the 1930s forced many owners to sell their properties. The same fate awaited the Meighens.
THE MOUNT STEPHEN CLUB
Don Mar Realty Limited acquired the Meighen's house in 1926, at a time when many Square Mile mansions were being demolished. Robert Meighen's daughter, Elsie Reford and her son, Eric Reford removed the furnishings. The property was subdivided into lots and sold off, and the house was threatened with destruction.
Later in 1926, a private business Club for men was founded by Noah Timmins, J.H. Maher and J.S. Dohan to protect this sumptuous house. They gave it the name of Mount Stephen Club in memory of its first owner.
A few minor renovations were made to transform the house into a Club. Only the basement, kitchen, washrooms and the conservatory have been modified. In 1927, the upper structure of the conservatory was dismantled. In place of the cast iron and glass, limestone walls were extended to provide rooms for the members' wives, since women were not permitted in the Club.
In 1964, a new bylaw authorized ladies to come in by the main entrance, but on Thursdays only. It was only in the mid-1970s that the rule was abolished and women became equal members in the Club.
Although its environs have changed, the residence itself has lost none of its imposing image and it continues to be a benchmark in downtown Montreal. The Club is committed to preserving the original atmosphere and appearance of the house and continuing the tradition of fostering an exceptional environment where business decisions can be made in comfort and elegance and where major receptions can be held. The membership fees help preserve and maintain the building, which is now part of the Canadian heritage.
There are several private dining rooms of great charm that will accommodate parties from two to more than two hundreds. These rooms are at the disposal of members for business meetings, private luncheons or dinners, receptions and cocktail parties. The Club's unsurpassed cuisine is served in the main dining room, the bar and at private functions.
The Club organizes social events during the year such as the President's cocktail, the Game, Lobster and Oyster Festivals, a Remembrance Day mess dinner and a very elegant Annual Gala -«International Flavors», where members, their spouses and guests are invited. Members keep in touch with all the various events and activities through the Mount Stephen Editorial newsletter. Membership in the Mount Stephen Club entitles all members to the rights and privileges of affiliated Clubs around the world.