Welcome to our Inn

Designed by Architect Robert Gage and built for Charles Leopold Parmenter, construction on this stately mansion began in 1874 and was completed for occupancy in 1877. The home was originally named the Woodview Villa, due to the fact that the home was located on King’s Highway #2 directly across from the old Machar’s Woods. Upon completion in 1877, the majestic Woodview Villa was surrounded by lavish stonewalls, ornate wrought iron fencing and meticulously landscaped gardens and manicured lawns. The Prelude – In 1869 Charles Parmenter and another gentleman, Mr. Bulloch, joined forces in a manufacturing endeavor to produce wrenches and mops. The firm was called Parmenter & Bulloch and would be a pillar of industry within Gananoque (albeit under different company names) for more than 145 years until the firm known as Acument Global Technologies closed in 2009. Parmenter & Bulloch continued to expand over the years and in 1884 they began the manufacture of tubular rivets. In 1889 Charles died at the young age of 43. After his death, the Parmenter & Bulloch company continued to grow, and later became the leading supplier of rivets and bolts in the building of American and Canadian WWI and WW2 aircrafts. Charles’ wife, Maggie, kept Woodview Villa as her residence, however she later moved to Toronto to live with her parents. When Maggie died in the summer of 1902 at the age of 52, her body was brought back to Gananoque and buried along side her husband in the nearby Willowbank cemetery. In 1903, Thomas Dempster was reported to have paid $3,500 for “the residence and grounds on King Street”. Mr. Dempster also purchased from Mrs. Paramenter’s estate the five lots in the rear, fronting on First Street, for another $1000. The Woodview Villa remained a private dwelling until April 1946 when it was taken over by the partnership of Daniel P. Delaney and William F. Koepke who began running it as an Inn. Subsequently, Mr. Delaney and his wife took full ownership and added the Garden Suites in the early 1950’s. Shortly after, the Inn and Restaurant were given the name ‘ The Athlone Inn and Restaurant’, which remained the name until closing in 2014. Today your hosts, John and Steve, give a nod to this grand lady’s former history and glory by celebrating her original name. Welcome to The Woodview Inn.