The Merry House - 1821

On September 2nd 2008, the Town of Magog acquired the Merry House, the pride of our Architectural Heritage. Located on the corner of Merry and Main Streets, the oldest house of urban Magog was built by its founder, in 1821. It was part of a large estate that included all that part of Magog situated on the north bank of the Magog River. Stategically located, the site was seriously considered by promoters to build condominiums or other commercial businesses and the house threatened to disappear.

Before proceeding with its acquisition, the Town acted wisely and hired a Quebec firm specialized in cultural heritage and museology to evaluate the architectural and cultural value of this historic building, erected almost 200 years ago. Their conclusion was that the property is an exceptional jewel highly representative of the built heritage not only for Magog but for the Eastern Townships as a whole.

Thanks to the Memoirs of Ralph Merry IV, son of Ralph III, founder of Magog, the exact date of its construction is known. The following entries are found in his personal diaries for the year 1821:

• July 21 : Our house Is raised; it was brought from Capt. Lufkin’s today.
• July 23 : For the above house, frame & shingles to cover it, I gave my note for $40 a few days ago.
• August 25 : Draw stones for our cellar. Think about building and fixing our house in wich I have undertaken to go forward.
• Sept. 1st : D. Young finishes our cellar wall. We have 2 men underpinning the house and they allmost (sic) finish.
• Sept. 17 : We have part of our furniture in the new house and begin to live in it yesterday. There was not a board on it til (sic) the 3rd of this month.

On November 9th, he praises the Lord with the following : Think how I was prospected in building our house, feel thankfull and receive sacred joy anon. Surely I have cause of gratitude for the success we had in building wich we suffered so much for… We have now 2 rooms that are comfortable and another which will do to live in when the weather is not cold.

Ralph Merry III, Patriot of the American Revolution, arrived at the Outlet on March 20th, 1799, with his wife and their eight children. They lived in a log cabin they built until the raising of their home in 1821. Ralph III (1st generation), around 1823, transferred the property to his son, Ralph IV (2nd generation), with the understanding that he would take care of his aging parents as long as they lived. About a year later, Ralph IV transferred his responsabilities and the house to his younger brother Benjamin, who lived there for a certain number of years. Because of an interruption in Ralph IV’s diaries, we are unable to determine how long Benjamin lived in the house and exactly when the next occupant, his nepew Ralph V (3rd generation), moved in until his death in 1887. In his will, Ralph V transmitted the property to his daughter Florence (4th generation) who occupied the homestead until she died in 1928. She had designated her brother Horace and his wife tenant for life and the house could not be sold until they both departed this world. Horace passed away in 1931 and his wife in 1942.

Their daughter, Annie Elizabeth (5th generation), who had married Dr. Marston E. Adams in 1922, acquired and occupied the property in 1944. The couple had a daughter, Gene Adams (6th generation), who lived there until her marriage to Rev. Leonard Baird, in 1948. Annie died in 1948 ans the following year Marston married Nellie Broadbent. Following Marton’s fatal ski accident in 1951, Ernest Fields, Nellie’s brother-in-law, became co-owner with her and later with his son Garth, who with his wife Joy, the present owners and occupants, bought the Merry property in 1989.

The eventual outcome of the house and the part to be played by the Magog Historical Society are presently under discussion. The goal pursued by all parties involved is the preservation of this valuable asset, including its historically rich content, and to make the whole accessible to our local and regional population as well as to the many visitors of our most beautiful region.

Maurice Langlois
Magog Historical Society
2009