100 Years of "Anne of Green Gables"

 UXBRIDGE ONTARIO - Hidden Gems

The small hamlet of Leaskdale was home to a famous Canadian Author “Lucy Maud Montgomery”, who had her first book “Anne of Green Gables”, published 100 years ago. She resided in Leaskdale from 1911 to 1926 and here, as the wife of Rev. Ewan Macdonald a Presbyterian minister, is where she would write 11 of her 22 best selling novels.

Designated as a Provincial Historical site in 1965 and a National Historic site in 1997 the home along with St. Paul's Presbyterian Church are quickly becoming a significant part of the venues that attract tourists to Uxbridge.

The Historical plaque erected on the front lawn of the Manse property reads as follows:

"LUCY MAUD MONTGOMERY"

In this house the author of "Anne of Green Gables" lived for fifteen years, and here wrote eleven of her twenty-two novels, including "Anne of the Island" (1915) and "Anne's House of Dreams" (1916). Born in 1874 at Clifton, Prince Edward Island, she was educated at Charlottetown and Halifax. From 1898 to 1911, she lived at Cavendish, P.E.I., and there began her career as a novelist. In 1911 she married the Rev. Ewan Macdonald, a Presbyterian minister, and came with him to Leaskdale. They moved in 1926 to Norval, and nine years later to Toronto, where she died in 1942. Mrs. Macdonald was awarded the O.B.E. by King George V in 1935

Events Calendar 2008

April 17th - "100 Years of Anne" Celebration, with the Penguin book launch sponsored by Blue Heron Books and featuring Budge Wilson author of "Before Green Gables" in Leaskdale

May 10th - 2nd Annual Antiques Festival at the church and manse in Leaskdale

June 20th, 21st, and 22nd - "100 Years of Anne" Festival in Uxbridge along with a Garden tour and Strawberry Social in Leaskdale

July and August - Wednesday Workshops and Teas at the Historic St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in Leaskdale

November 28th - Floral Christmas Afternoon Workshop and an Old-Fashioned Christmas Concert/Carol Sing in the evening at the Historic St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in Leaskdale

Other interesting sites

The Royal Canadian Mint is offering a commemorative 2008 25 Cent Coin, with a coloured picture of "Anne" for $19.95 CAN.

Feb 12, 2007 - In the format of a letter to Dear Lucy Maud: Carola Vyhnak , a Toronto Star staff reporter tells us, “Lucy”, about some of the current happenings with the old manse and around Uxbridge.