Arts & Culture
Dominating one wall in the Back Hall of London’s oldest home is a mounting of a huge tarpon, a magnificent silver game fish.
It was caught off the Florida coast in the late 1800s by Milly Harris, last owner of Eldon House, and dwarfs the antelope skulls brought back from African safaris by Milly’s brother, Ronald.
This bit of one-upsmanship was apparently typical of the sibling rivalry that existed between this otherwise very close brother and sister.
If angling for trophy fish was viewed as an unladylike pursuit for a young, unmarried woman of Milly’s social position, imagine how London’s chattering classes looked her playing ice hockey.
Milly, obviously, marched to her own drummer, staying single and active into her 90s.
Eldon House, 175 years old this year, was in the Harris family from 1834 until 1959.
When it was donated to the city in 1960, it came with the bulk of its furnishings.
Self-guided tours are available, but some visitors drop over on their lunch hour simply to admire the 19th-century Victorian gardens, which overlook Harris Park. The heritage magnolia tree is a picture in early spring.
Phone 519-661-0333, visit www.eldonhouse.ca.
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