(Photo:Jennifer McGahan in front of the building on Main Street that she has purchased and will renovate for her business. Photo by Barry Gray.)
After over a century as a private home, the old brick house at 1495 Stittsville Main will soon become the home of Jennifer McGahan Interiors.
McGahan made the announcement last week on Facebook: “I am thrilled to announce the next big step for Jennifer McGahan Interiors Inc. We are relocating the office to our new Stittsville Main Street location. We plan to restore this important heritage building to its original, and rightful beauty in the heart of the village. We plan to be respectful and true to the bones of the building, while improving the streetscape by adding our modern design touch. Opening April 2017!”
McGahan says she loves the history of the building and the family story connected to it. She says that structurally the building is in good shape, and many original features remain. “We’re going to try keep as much as possible while we renovate. We want to keep it intact.”
The house belonged to the Lytle family for over 60 years. Cathy Lytle told reporter Devyn Barrie about the history of the house in an interview last summer: “It was built in 1900 from a bachelor and it was sold four years later to a young couple… he was a tinkerer and they raised their daughter, Evelyn. She took cancer and died and then the father died of old age and the mother died after she sold the house to my parents… she lived with my parents for five years, she had herself written into the deed, for one bedroom and three meals a day and they got along fine, until she passed away.”
The house doesn’t have official heritage designation, but it is on the City’s heritage registry, which lists buildings of historical importance.
McGahan takes possession in January, and hopes to have the renovations finished by April. I’m thrilled to hear that this charming piece of our village history will get the attention and care it deserves. Congrats Jennifer!
Jennifer McGahan has remarkable vision. I am sure her vision for this historic home will be one that Stittsville and the Lytle family will be proud of and enjoy for years to come.
It’s so wonderful to see more and more businesses bringing life back to Stittsville Main Street. Good luck Jennifer! Looking forward to your Grand Opening.
Congratulations Jen! This is very exciting for all of Stittsville.
I’ve watched this building deteriorate year after year. I am so pleased someone is going to save it from further neglect. Can’t wait to see what it will look like come April!
Welcome to the business community of Stittsville Jennifer. You’ll soon discover what a great community Stittsville is, and how “shop local” actually means something to the residents here. The people here really support the local businesses that choose to open in Stittsville. I’m thrilled to hear of your plans to restore the Lytle house while still keeping the heritage in mind. I’m sure it’s going to be a beautiful addition to Stittsville’s Main St. Congratulations Jennifer!