Linda and Jack Hutton – Bala’s Museum “With Memories of Lucy Maud Montgomery”

Nominated for the ACO Public Education and Engagement Award

Bala’s Museum, officially known as “With Memories of Lucy Maud Montgomery,” is a gem located in the beautiful historic town of Bala. It occupies the original Tree Lawn Tourist Home, where the renowned author of Anne of Green Gables L.M. Montgomery dined during her 1922 vacation in the town, a pivotal two-week holiday that inspired her love story The Blue Castle.

Linda and Jack purchased the Tree Lawn Tourist Home in 1990 and embarked on an extensive restoration project. Their attention to detail has revived the building, allowing visitors to step back in time and experience the ambiance of Montgomery’s era. The museum has an impressive collection of artifacts related to L.M. Montgomery. Visitors can admire her silver tea set, explore her personal correspondence basket, and peruse rare and first editions of her books. The Huttons actively engage with the community, organizing events such as the annual Anne of Green Gables Day, while re-enactments of Montgomery’s visit to Bala transport visitors to the early 20th century, fostering a deeper appreciation for local history. A senior CBC TV producer identified Bala’s Museum as one of the very best among L.M. Montgomery Museums in Canada. The Hutton’s passion for preserving this architectural treasure has transformed it into a museum of true merit that resonates with visitors from around the world.

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