A Home Fit for a Doctor

The Doctor’s House as seen from Queen Street, Almonte

Almonte’s first doctor, Dr. William Mostyn, arrived in 1858. He found a rapidly growing town and a booming mill industry. Dr. Mostyn saw that the town had large homes that were being built from local limestone for its most prominent citizens.

In 1867, the doctor began building his own home and office from the same locally quarried stone. He chose to build his home in a part of Almonte known as Irishtown. Located on the north side of the Mississippi River, it became known as ‘Professional Alley’. This was because the home of Judge Jamieson, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, and the Minister’s home were close by. When Dr. Mostyn built his house alongside these significant people, it symbolized the value the community placed on its doctors. This sentiment would persist for every doctor who graced the Doctor’s House.

View of ‘Professional Alley’ from across the Mississippi River, Almonte. The house on the far left is the Doctor’s House.

The Doctor’s House and the surrounding ‘Professional Alley’ reflected the idea that Almonte was a hub of industry. The property featured the main house with two stories, each with their own fireplace. The office was attached to the rear of the house, and the property had the means to stable a team of horses. There was also a garden and a lawn that overlooked the river.

Death notice for Dr. D. P. Lynch, Almonte Gazette, August 1911

When Dr. Mostyn passed away in 1881, his practice and home were taken over by Dr. Denis Patrick Lynch. Dr. Lynch went on to practice for thirty years in the house. In 1911, Dr. John Francis Dunn bought the home and practice for $3,000 after the death of Dr. Lynch. The last doctor to live in the Doctor’s House in Almonte was Dr. Frank Murphy. Then, after his passing in 2020, the home was sold to a young couple who were new to Almonte.

The Doctor’s House, 2023