The plaque commemorating the Marchmont Home’s impact on the city of Belleville in the late 1800s and early 1900s. (Photo: Brock Ormond/Quinte News).
The Hastings County Historical Society continued its unveiling of plaques commemorating important moments in the Quinte region’s history for Canada’s 150th anniversary Thursday afternoon.
The Marchmont Distributing Home, active in Belleville from 1875-1925, was the latest moment in history honoured inside the Belleville Club on Pinnacle Street.
It’s estimated that the Marchmont Home, with guidance from Scottish Home Children founder Annie MacPherson and her associates, brought in 10,000 orphaned, abandoned and impoverished British children from workhouses, industrial schools and the streets of Britain.
British Home Child Group International Sandra Joyce says she has been working hard to uncover the lives of British Home Children ever since she found out her father was one in 2004. (Photo: Brock Ormond/Quinte News)
Vice President of the British Home Child Group International Sandra Joyce memorialized the stories of the Marchmont Home into three books. The most notable of these stories was Trees and Rocks, Rocks and Trees, which she says was based on her father’s life as a British Home Child. Joyce says she found out about her father being a Home Child in 2004 and has been involved with BHCGI since January 2015.
Joyce explains a bit about what happened with the British children sent to the Marchmont Home.
She adds that it’s important for people to recognize the historical significance of this home.
Joyce says that enshrining a plaque where the house once stood will catch people’s attention in the city, both young and old.
The plaque will be placed at 159 Yeomans Street in Belleville.
Some of the children who took up residence in the Marchmont Home in picture form. (Photo: Brock Ormond/Quinte News)
