Who by the name of McGlocklin or something had a mansion in or near Onterio, Canada?

Question

A couple years back, me and my family visited Canada. I remember that while we were there, we visited a mansion. It was really big, beautiful, and well-maintained since it was built in the late 1800s, or early 1900s, with a projector screen, indoor bowling alley, and secret passages between rooms. Now, out of curiosity, I'm trying to remember who owned that place, and where it was, but my memory's a bit fuzzy. I remembered his name sounded like McGlocklin, because it reminded me of the Glock firearm, but don't remember the exact spelling, so it could be McGloclan, McGlacklon, MacLocklin, or something of the sort. I also don't rememeber his first name, exact date of birth, the exact location of the mansion, or how he acquired so much money. I was hoping someone from that area in Canada, or who visited it, and might know one of the things I don't, such as it's location, or the man's full name, or exact spelling. You can ask more questions if you want, and I'll answer if I can remember.

Answer 1

It's probably McLaughlin from McLaughlin Automobiles
http://www.mbautomuseum.com/Tour/McLaughlin.htm

History of General Motors in Canada
http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Ontario/general_motors_of_canada.htm


Robert McLaughlin had his roots in Tyrone County, Ireland. By the mid 1800's he had been "lured" to the Peterborough area of Ontario with the promise of free farm land. To clear his farm, McLaughlin built handles for his axes. To supplement his income he sold some handles at the local market. The handles went over well with the neighbours. In 1867 or so, McLaughlin built himself a horse carriage. So good was his design and craftsmanship that the neighbours, who liked his axe handles, asked him to build carriages for them.

1901 would prove a crucial turning point for Sam McLaughlin when he and his brother were given a drive in the carriage company bookkeeper's new automobile. Sam was enthusiastic over the technology and tried to talk his father into investing in the production of these horseless carriages. Robert was not so forward thinking as his sons, saying that these contraptions were noisy, smelly and dangerous and were a "passing fad".

Sam, not to be discouraged by his father, by 1907, had test driven a number of these "passing fads" and decided that he wanted to build the Buick in Canada. Robert reluctantly agreed. Sam approached his friend Bill Durant who was a partner in Buick Motor Company in the US. Bill met with Sam in Oshawa and penned a three page agreement (take note all you verbose lawyers!) which allowed Sam to build the "McLaughlin" with Buick motors. Thus was the birth of the McLaughlin Motor Car Company.

As knowledge of quality of McLaughlin's carriage spread, the more he was called upon to build. Between 1867 and 1901, McLaughlin had moved from Tyrone to Oshawa, Ontario and expanded his operation so much that he had to give it a name. By 1901 the McLaughlin Carriage Company was born. The company was owned by McLaughlin and two of his three sons. Sons, Sam and George were his partners.


Born in 1871, Sam McLaughlin, the father of the Canadian automobile industry, died at the age of 100 in Oshawa, Ontario, less than an hour drive from the site of his father's farm, where, what would eventually become know as General Motors of Canada, built axe handles.

The R.S. McLaughlin Estate
http://www.parkwoodestate.com/

You may have also seen this house since your visit and didn't even know it. Here is a list of movies that have been shot
at the estate:
Hollywoodland
Feature film
2005

Donald Trump Unauthorized
Tv Movie
2005

A Catered Affair
Tv Show
2005

Fever Pitch
Feature film
2004

Prizewinner of Defiance Ohio
Feature film
2004

Impossible Heists
Tv Show
2004

Marry Me
Tv Show
2003

Bullet Proof Monk
Feature film
2002

Chicago
Feature film
2002

Monk - The Series
Television Show
2002

Tuxedo
Feature film
2001

Undercover Brother
Feature film
2001

Rita McNeil Christmas Special
TV Special
2000

Relic Hunter
Television Show
1999

X-Men
Feature film
1999

America's Castles
Television Show
1996

Billy Madison
Feature film
1994

Answer 2

The above answer is incorrect. No bowling alley's there. I think you're probably thinking of Casa Loma in Toronto. It has all the features you describe.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/65156/why_you_should_visit_la_casa_loma.html
and http://www.casaloma.org/
It's probably the most famous of all the mansions built in Ontario and is open to the public.

Edit: By the way, I see many people using wiki as a source these days. Just last week, if you read up on African Elephants there, the article claimed they could fly, so I wouldn't be putting much faith in wikipedia anymore. Too many vandals altering the articles.

Answer 3

The place is McLaughlin House, also referred to as Parkwood Estates.

The family was McLaughlin - the founders of General Motors, Canada.

The location is just slightly east of Toronto proper, in the smaller city of Oshawa.

For more information, check the link below.

And yes ... it did/does have a bowling alley as part of its recreational features.