Fontbonne Hall

The Spencer family had been prominent in the region's burgeoning oil industry since 1863, when William's father (also named William) built the city's first refinery. Entering into business with his father, Spencer became President of the London Oil & Refining Company; a co-founder of Imperial Oil; and, was elected Mayor of London in 1892. His wife, Adalene Philips, was the daughter of a wealthy lumber merchant and the sister of the builder of the J.P. Philips Mansion in Detroit. 

Fontbonne Hall was a typical example of Second Empire architecture, incorporating a mansard roof over two stories and a basement. William and Adalene Spencer brought their family up in the house and they both died there, some fifty years after it was built. Having left it to their children, neither of them chose to live there: Their son, Major-General Alexander Charles Spencer (1887-1970), built Spencer Hall outside London; and, their daughter built the Niblett House. 

In 1951, Fontbonne was purchased by the Sisters of St. Joseph and for two years it served as their residence. From 1953, the sisters maintained it as an orphanage until 1965 when it came under the direction of Madame Vanier Children's Services, as a treatment centre for emotionally disturbed children. In 1972, Madame Vanier moved to new premises and in the same year Fontbonne was reopened by the Sisters of St. Joseph under a new program called Internos. 

The Sisters continued to use Fontbonne Hall as a place to provide shelter and help for women in need until 2002. Since then, it has been occupied by CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) and continues to provide invaluable support to the community as a mental health clinic.