A Tribute to Marie Gairns and the Lives She Touched at the Walker House

At the Walker House, one of the important figures we’re proud to highlight is Marie Gairns, the second owner of the house. In 1942, Marie purchased the house from the Walker family and continued to run it as a hotel, and later a boarding house. She continued to run it with care and dedication, later transforming it into her private residence, until a devastating fire in 1995 destroyed much of the building’s interior.

Marie Gairns was more than just a proprietor—she was known throughout the local community as a compassionate caretaker. Many of her boarders were elderly or of limited means, and Marie made it her mission to ensure they were looked after and felt at home. Her kindness left a legacy, remembered fondly by those who lived under her roof.

One particularly meaningful artifact we have on display at the Walker House Museum is a bookcase that once belonged to one of Marie’s boarders, May (née Welsh) Taylor. May moved into the Walker House in her 80s after undergoing cataract surgery, which restored much of her independence and allowed her to leave the care of her daughter.

In her younger years, May was a talented milliner, known for her skill in sewing. With her eyesight renewed, she took up quilting and created intricate pieces with fabric blocks as small as one square inch. The bookcase, made by the Malcolm Furniture Company of Kincardine and featured in its 1910 catalogue, was her most prized possession and held a special place in her room at the Walker House.

This piece not only represents a chapter in the life of May Taylor but also stands as a symbol of the nurturing community that Marie Gairns built—a place where care, creativity, and dignity thrived.

Story written and submitted by Lydia T - Walker House Museum