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A few weeks later, Kelly received a call from the author’s publisher, who pitched her on writing a book. Kelly’s answer was, “yes,” and the result is Eaton Hall: Pride of King Township. The book hits shelves this month and takes readers back in time inside this iconic residence that became the centre of life for the Eaton family and many King residents.

“Every place has a story,” Kelly says. “I felt this story needed to be researched and shared.”

As a first-time writer, Kelly admits she struggled with where to start — given the amount of information she collected and the short turnaround time for the completed manuscript. In fact, she only had five months to complete the book.

Her parents gave her good advice to “write the book you want to read.”

“That made so much sense,” she says. “I did exactly that.”

The book is filled with many interesting facts about the history of Eaton Hall and all the properties that made up the estate. Kelly also investigated why the family eventually sold their home and its accompanying acres of land to the College. The $1.5 million sale was completed in 1971 and was described by the media at the time as “the deal of the century.”

Readers will also be surprised to learn that the Eaton’s had one condition in place that the College had to adhere to before they signed on the dotted line. 911������ had to promise never to take down Lady Eaton’s portrait or that of her husband Sir John Craig Eaton. Needless to say, the College kept its word and both portraits have remained on the wall in a prominent place inside Eaton Hall ever since.