The Grimsby Historical Society is hosting a presentation tonight, April 9, 2026, to explore the history of the McQuesten family and their long-time home, Whitehern Historic House and Garden.
The event will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Major Refrigeration Peach King Centre. The session will highlight the family’s influence on the growth of Hamilton, including their contributions to local industry, education, and regional infrastructure.
Whitehern, located at 41 Jackson Street West in Hamilton, served as the family home for three generations from 1852 until 1968. Originally built in 1848 for Richard O. Duggan, the property was purchased by Dr. Calvin McQuesten four years later. The site was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1962, recognized for its preserved 19th-century architecture. Following the death of the last of the five unmarried McQuesten siblings in 1968, the home was willed to the City of Hamilton and later opened as a museum in 1971.
The presentation will detail the family’s legacy, including the work of Mary Baker McQuesten, who managed the family’s finances and supported her son Thomas Baker McQuesten’s political career after being widowed in 1888. Thomas Baker McQuesten served as the Ontario Minister of Public Works and Highways between 1934 and 1943. During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of the Queen Elizabeth Way and several major international bridges. Beyond his role in transportation, he was instrumental in the relocation of McMaster University to Hamilton and the creation of the Royal Botanical Gardens.
This event marks one of the first opportunities for the historical society to utilize the meeting spaces at the Peach King Centre, which recently underwent a $36.7 million expansion and renovation. The facility officially opened its new wing on January 24, 2026.
