MOXHAM CASTLE

MOXHAM CASTLE
Sydney Nova Scotia

Whittier Middle School, located in Lorain, Ohio, was constructed on the site where the original Moxham Castle once stood. The castle was built in 1890 by A.J. Moxham, a Welsh immigrant who had plans to start a steel plant in Lorain. The magnificent four-story, thirty-roomed mansion had a theater on the fourth floor and a swimming pool in the basement. In 1898, the castle was dismantled stone by stone and relocated to Sydney, Nova Scotia, where it became a well-known landmark. However, in 1966, a fire destroyed the castle. The only remaining structure from the original castle is the impressive gatehouse, located on Kings Road in Sydney. Approximately 50 feet of the stone wall also remains intact. A.J. Moxham was born in Wales in 1854 and came to the United States as a young man. He lived in Kentucky before moving to Alabama, where he formed a rail making company. In 1894, he settled in Lorain, Ohio, where he built his home, known as the castle. In his mid-40s, Moxham retired from his business ventures. However, he was convinced by H.M. Whitney (after whom Whitney Pier and Avenue were named) to come out of retirement and help construct a new, state-of-the-art steel mill in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Moxham's wife was initially unhappy about relocating to Sydney, as the castle was her pride and joy. However, she agreed to move when she was promised that the castle would be dismantled and rebuilt on the shores of Sydney Harbor. During the construction of the steel mill, Moxham's son, Tom, tragically passed away in an accident at the plant. Shortly after, in 1902, Moxham and his wife left Sydney and never returned. He died in New York in 1931.  

Moxham's Castle was one of only two castles in Canada, the other being Casa Loma in Toronto. It served as a hospital for the military during World War 1 and was used as a residence for a few prominent families over the years. However, in 1966, it was destroyed by a fire and is no longer standing.