In 1904, Edward M. Young, a lawyer and County Clerk purchased six acres of land overlooking historic Picton Harbour from the estate of Reverend William Macaulay, founder of Picton. Young mortgaged the land for $4500 and hired Kingston architect William Newlands to design a home.
Young named the estate for his wife, Clara, who was the daughter of canning magnate Wellington Boulter. A suitable home for the prominent couple, ‘Claramount’ was later transformed into a tourist home.
At the time of its purchase by the present owners, Chris and Norah Rogers, in 2001, Claramount was an apartment building, and home of the Prince Edward Cruising Club.
The Rogers were determined to restore Claramount to its former glory. Luckily, the original architect’s drawings were preserved in the Archives at Queen’s University. They revealed that about one third of the plan was never executed—the part which would have afforded views of the bay and grounds stretching down to the water. That wing of the mansion has now been added and houses two of the suites, the dining room, kitchen, and spa treatment rooms.
Claramount has been furnished with antiques and tasteful reproductions. It also showcases some of the owners collection of original Canadian art.
