Langton House making way for new hospice
Ribbons were tied to a fence surrounding Langton House on Tuesday after a ceremony that bid farewell to the 1868 Victorian home.
Hospice Peterborough is demolishing the former Trent Universityowned property at London and McDonnel streets to construct a new building for its Care Centre.
The decision to raze the house came with a heavy heart for hospice staff. They’d purchased the property with the intention of renovating the space, hoping to keep as much of the house’s original charm as possible.
But as construction moved ahead, several unexpected challenges came into play. There were poor soil conditions, structural issues, bat colonies inhabiting the building and harmful substances inside.
That left Hospice officials with the tough decision to tear down the house and start anew.
Yet before that should happen, they wanted to give the community a chance to say goodbye to the iconic home.
Tuesday ’s ceremony marked the end of an era for the 149-year-old house.
“It’s important to recognize that this building has a history,” said David Kennedy, Hospice supportive care counsellor.
Hospice staff, volunteers, community members and Trent staff tied ribbons to the construction fence surround the house after an Indigenous smudging ceremony. Some wrote notes on their ribbons, others left them blank.
Hospice staff invites anyone who’d like to tie a ribbon to the fence to do so.
“We hope the whole community will come out and place a ribbon that means something to them,” said Alison Casey, Hospice manager of development.
Anne Langton House was apart of Trent for nearly 50 years.
When Trent was created 1964, Catharine Parr Traill College was an all women college. All of its buildings on London Street were named after prominent settler women.
Langton House was a residence for women at the college.
Michael Eamon, principal of Catharine Parr Traill College, tied a ribbon to the fence after the ceremony Tuesday.
“It has such great memories as a place of happiness and of care,” Eamon said. “For me, it’s a sad day but also a happy day to know that Hospice, another place dedicated to love, care and support will be in this space.”
The principal said it was unsurprising Hospice would hold a ceremony to say goodbye to the wellknown house.
“They understand what it is to say goodbye,” said Eamon.
Langton House was the quintessential building of Traill College and a quintessential symbol of the care, Eamon said.
Although the house itself won’t remain, the land on which it stood will continue to represent what Langton House once did.
“Now for generations it will continue to be a space of support and care,” Eamon said.
The demolition of the house has set back the date of completion for the Hospice Care Centre. Originally slated to open at the end of March, Casey said Hospice is unsure of its new opening date.
She wasn’t sure when demolition would begin, but said the ribbons will remain on the fence during construction.