The hometown of my main character in Angel of Mercy, Henrietta Steward, is Barrie, Ontario. Many real-life buildings were the inspiration for her family and friends’ homes and workplaces. Without leaving many spoilers, here are a sampling of photos that inspired places in the novel. (This post is a companion piece to my WWI Trilogy, Angel of Mercy, Those Left Behind and Adjustment Year, available wherever eBooks are sold.)
These houses were the model for the Steward home which was built in the 1890s.
This house in H Block, shown when it was nearing demolition, inspired the Bartlette home.
This duplex inspired the Bartlettes’ triplex.
A view of downtown.
The view from Court House Hill.
This is the jail, the workplace of Henrietta’s brother, Frederick. This photo appears to have been taken about 50 years after the events in Angel of Mercy, however.
The family church. Although the neighborhood looks different, the church is little changed since it was built in the 1880s.
The Steward children would have attended one of these schools.
The train station.
The bay.
Enjoy glimpses of the past? Visit my Pinterest board Barrie, Ontario.
These and many other photos also can be found on Tourism Barrie.
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Updated: 23 October 2020
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