OLD MANSION HOUSE / HADLEY HOUSE

He reluctantly raised his eyes from the glowing circle of light that was Three Pines up to the darkness and the old Hadley house, sitting like the error that proved the point. It stood outside the circle, on the verge of the village. Beyond the pale. (A Fatal Grace, page 155, Hardcover Edition)

Not nearly as intimidating—it’s pink!—as Louise makes it out to be, the Old Mansion House serves as the inspiration for the old Hadley House in A Fatal Grace.

Situated on the eastern shore of Lake Memphremagog, the Old Mansion House was built in 1889 and once held the distinction of being “Quebec’s oldest hotel in continuous operation.” The nearly 5000 square foot Victorian Manse began its life as a coaching inn serving travelers making their way between Montreal and Boston. It later operated as a fishing and ski lodge as well as a boarding house before becoming what it is today, a vacation rental home that can accommodate up to 20 guests comfortably.

Inside the Old Mansion House you’ll find eight bedrooms, each with its own bath. Four of the bedrooms have access to balconies which offer spectacular views of the more than 2 acres of woods and spacious lawns.

Positioned perfectly just north of Vermont and a little over an hour from Montreal, the Old Mansion House is the ideal getaway where, depending on the season; fishing, skiing, sailing, and hiking are just over a hill or two away.

While idyllic, the Old Mansion House may actually hide some of the menace Louise describes so well in A Fatal Grace. Rumor has it, years ago, a young girl fell from her horse and died. If you find yourself sitting on the wraparound veranda late at night, and the moon is sitting just right, you might happen to see her galloping to and fro.

For more information about the Old Mansion House, please see www.mansionhousegeorgeville.com.

How did you picture the old Hadley House when you read A Fatal Grace?

What other structures from Three Pines stand out to you?