3647, rue Peel
John Kenneth L. Ross was the son of James Ross. The latter had built this house in 1909 for his son at his wedding. After completing his university studies, the young man was directed by his father's finances and family businesses: the factory tram the Montreal Street Railway, the railway company Nova Scotia and the Dominion Coal in which the son became assistant manager. On the death of his father in 1913, John Kenneth inherited his father's house in front and settled. He squandered the immense fortune he had inherited. Beautiful, smart, athletic, he was the darling of the Square Mile. His passion for horse racing and sailing led him into bankruptcy in 1935. He was buried at sea according to his wishes.
The son of John Kenneth, Jack inherits the house in 1913. He also was an avid horse. He bought in Ireland and England and owned farms in Quebec, Toronto and even Maryland. One of his horse named Sir Barton won several races. It was near bankruptcy, sold the house and moved into an apartment after which his wife left him. He then went to Jamaica and there remarried, became deputy governor of the island and remained there until his death in 1951.
The second Baron Shaughnessy, a friend, bought the house. The latter was director of the Canadian Pacific Railroad and also worked for the Imperial Tobacco Company.
In 1961, the house was purchased by the Marianopolis College who set up its administrative CEGEP. Then it was McGill who became owner in 1976 to house an annex to its law school.
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