Waverly (London, Ontario)

Waverly was commissioned by Charles Goodhue, a founding member of the London Club (a gentlemen's club) and a Freemason. The son of George Jervis Goodhue, a lawyer and entrepreneur identified as London's first millionaire,^[1] Goodhue had received his inheritance in 1880,^[9] ten years after his father's death.^[10] At the time, Grand Avenue was a favoured location for new upper-class London homes. Waverly was built there,^[9] on 5 acres (2.0 ha) of land that had been owned by George Goodhue.^[11] It was named after George Goodhue's house on Bathurst Street,^[12] which had, in turn, been named after Sir Walter Scott's 1814 novel Waverley.^[13]

Initial drafts were completed by the British architect Hamilton Tovey,^[1] who was married to Goodhue's sister, in 1881.^[9] These were subsequently modified by George F. Durand, a local architect who finalized the design.^[1] Durand retained the original floorplan, but extensively modified the external elements with Goodhue's approval.^[9] In their survey of Victorian architecture in Southwestern Ontario, Nancy Tausky and Lynne Distefano write that Tovey's initial design that followed High Victorian principles of emphasizing "massiveness through simple, broad lines", while Durand had installed diverse details to minimize unoccupied space.^[9] Waverly was deemed the largest of the city's private residences at the time of its completion in 1882.^[1]

Goodhue died in 1890, leaving a wife and two children.^[12] In 1893, the estate sold the house to Thomas Smallman,^[3] who had established the Imperial Oil Company and worked with the London Life Insurance Company.^[1] As newer buildings in the area had been built larger,^[14] during his ownership, Smallman commissioned a rear addition and multi-turreted belvedere.^[1] The 1897 additions were entrusted to John Mackenzie Moore and his partner Fred Henry, who worked on them circa 1897.^[15]

These additions emulated the style of the existing building, including its double-tiered tower roof. They also resulted in the main entrance to the building shifting to the north side, across the Traction Creek.^[16] As a consequence, much of the internal architecture of the building was also modified. A former study was transformed into the main entrance hall, which also provided access to a ballroom. The drawing room was made into a library, while the previous entrance on the south face was provided a porte-cochère while still being reduced to secondary status.^[17]

Thomas Smallman died in 1918. His wife and daughter Eleanor remained at the house, and after Mrs. Smallman died in 1933, Eleanor remained with her husband Claude Morgan.^[18] The couple added parquet floors and wooden ceilings.^[14] Other additions included a conservatory as well as a porch,^[1] which covered part of the Durand-built facade.^[17]

Eleanor and Claude Morgan occupied the mansion until 1948, after which time it was sold to the Shute Institute.^[6] Operated by doctors Wilfrid and Evan Shute, the institute conducted research into Vitamin E and its potential health benefits while simultaneously treating patients.^[19] The Shute Institue remained at Waverly for several decades,^[1] during which time it maintained the mansion and its architecture.^[3] Evan Shute died in 1978, with his brother following four years later, and their institute moved to Princess Avenue.^[20]

In 1986, Waverly was in the process of being converted into a retirement home,^[14] and operations began under Diversicare Canada Management Services in 1987.^[6] A new wing was commissioned for the home.^[1] Built on the southwest and intended to hold residential rooms, the new wing was designed to emulate the style of the existing architecture. However, Alice Gibb of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario describes it as "unfortunately ... the dominant feature of the complex" due to its size,^[21] and Tausky decries the addition's blocking of the Moore-built facade. The internal elements, including carved wood ceilings and silk brocade, were retained.^[17]

On March 18, 1996, Waverly was designated by the City of London under the Ontario Heritage Act through By-Law L.S.P-3271-156.^[1] A historical plaque was unveiled on the site on December 6, 2001. While remaining operational as a retirement home, Waverly has been opened to the public during doors open events.^[6] As of 2026^[update], the facility is operated by Comfort of Living under the branding Waverley Mansion.^[22]