Former MacWilliams Hotel, O'Leary

     The other day I was in O'Leary and stopped to take a few photos of this old house on Main Street.  
     This was the home of the Pate sisters ( L.A.W. Norma June; Marcia, high school teacher; and C.W.A.C. Patricia Joan - all three were veterans of WWII ).  Norma Pate was the last to live here - she died a year ago (see Obituary below).  Last summer the contents were sold at auction.  Word around town is the house will be torn down when the estate is settled.

    The following information about this house comes from, "Threads of our Past: History of O'Leary, 1837-1992"  pages 52-53.
     "In 1915 Percy Turner had a home built to his specifications by Harry Williams who constructed a very fine house in O'Leary.  In 1917, Percy Turner sold his house to James Malcolm MacWilliams and moved to Charlottetown.  Later in Life, Mr. Turner became involved in civic politics and became mayor of Charlottetown for a short term.
    In 1935, Lulu MacWilliams, wife of James Malcolm MacWilliams, decided to venture into the motel business.  Because the MacWilliams house was so large, it easily served the needs of home and hotel.  The clientele consisted of commercial travelers who stayed only 2 or 3 nights.  The hotel could accommodate eight to ten people and would be completely filled by the first part of the week.  The hotel was comfortable, well furnished and had a pleasing atmosphere.  Guest would hurry off from the train at night to be sure to get a room here before it filled up.
    The hotel operated for 12 year until 1947  when it was sold to Jean Pate and her family."

     This magnificent house was built by Henry Wellington "Little Harry" Williams (1866-1934) - he was one of the best carpenters in Prince County in the 1890's and early 1900's.  
     "Little Harry was born in Poplar Grave, P.E.I. - he came from a family of distinguished master carpenters and shipbuilders.  His grandfather, Edward William, was a ship carpenter at the Port Hill shipyards and his maternal Ellis relatives were long involved with shipbuilding in England and in Port Hill.  Little Harry apprenticed under builder George Gard of Alberton before moving to Massachusetts where he worked and studied architectural design.  He married married Effie Ellis (1870-1957) of Conneticutt in 1893.  They later returned to Prince Edward Island and built many impressive buildings in Western P.E.I." cf. http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=19165
     To see more of Little Harry's work see a previous entry in this blog...  http://peiheritagebuildings.blogspot.ca/2011/09/st-johns-anglican-church-ellerslie.html

     My Great-Aunt Orilla MacNevin (1915-2001) worked here as a maid in the late 1930's.

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NORMA PATE OBITUARY.

Born: Boston on June 24th, 1925  Passed on: February 27th, 2013

At the Palliative Care Unit of Community Hospital, O'Leary, on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, of Norma June Pate, O'Leary, aged 87, veteran of World War, having served in the RCAF (WD), both in Canada and England. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, June 24, 1925, daughter of the late Peter and Jean (Parsons) Pate. Norma is survived by her brother Peter (Marion) Pate, Ottawa, ON., and sister Betty Pepich, Chicago, Illinois. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.  Predeceased by her parents, sisters Marcia and Patricia and brother-in-law Eugene Pepich. Resting at the Ferguson Funeral Home and Chapel, O'Leary, with visiting hours Saturday, March 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral service Sunday, March 3, at 2 p.m. in the chapel. Comrades of O'Leary Royal Canadian Legion will hold a service of remembrance for their late comrade Saturday evening before visitation at 5:45 p.m. Interment to follow at a later date in the Bloomfield United Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials, in memory of Norma, to the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) would be appreciated.  www.fergusonsfh.com

cf. http://www.inmemoriam.ca/view-announcement-351198-norma-pate.html

Cox's Hotel, Souris

     I came across the Cox Hotel recently - here's some information about it...cf.

http://www.edu.pe.ca/paro/exhibits/display.asp?acorn.1.4

PARO Acc. 3466/HF74.285.1.10 / Main Street, Souris, P.E.I., circa 1921

     The Seaside (aka Seaview) Hotel or Cox's Hotel was operated by A. Clifford Cox from at least 1914 into the 1950s.

     Morley Acorn opened a photography shop on Main Street in Souris in 1914. In 1916, fire destroyed the shop and its contents including Acorn's glass plate negatives. By 1926, Acorn was established in the W.B. Leard Building operating a tobacco and sundries shop, photography studio and gas pump.

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     The following photo cf. http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/rppc-cox-hotel-souris-prince-edward-95635818

(RPPC) Cox Hotel, Souris, Prince Edward Island. (1925)

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THE CHARLOTTETOWN PATRIOT, TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 1932
OF LOCAL INTEREST:   A quite but very pretty wedding was solemnized at St. Columba's Church, East Point on June 1st when the Rev. Father Ronald Macdonald united in the holy bonds of matrimony.  Eileen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aeneas Baily, Elmira, to Walter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Allan Macdonald, Souris East.  The bridge attended by the sister of the groom Catherine Macdonald, and the groom was alby supported by his cousin Roy Macdonald.  the bride was charmingly attired in sand with matching accessories and the bridesmaide wore rreen.  The groom looked lovely in a suite of navy blue, and the groomsman in a light brown suite.  After the marriage ceremony the happy couple motored to Souris where a sumptuous wedding breakfast awaited them at the Cox Hotel.  then they motored to Charlottetown and had a love dinner at the Revere Hotel, returning that night to their future home in Souris, where they will reside, with the best wishes from their many relatives and friends for a happy and prosperous future.

cf. http://www.caimbeul.org/newsitems/pei_news_1912_1935.html

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     The following images come from an Island Magazine Article about Souris.  http://vre2.upei.ca/islandmagazine/fedora/repository/vre%3Aislemag-batch2-175/OBJ

Main Street looking east, late 1920's.  Outside the Cox (later Seaside) Hotel, chairs were provided for guests.  This building, construction by William Sterns as a store, is now the Cheverie Inn.  West of it is the Ferguson house, and eastward is a gas pump outside Leard's store where the photographer attended to the travelling public.


Bathing Beauties, c. 1920.  This friendly group, which today seems unadventurous both in costume and depth of penetration of the ocean, probably consisted largely of tourists from the Cox Hotel, which had a large bath-house on the shore nearby.  The raised arm points   towards the Stone Hotel with its several chimneys.
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     I believe the hotel was in the area today where there's a 1-storey building and a park/gazebo on Main Street across from Town Hall - see below.  I photographed the images below on my computer screen from Google Streetview website (70 Main Street, Souris ( www.maps.google.ca )).  In the second old photo up of the streetview you can see the railing on the far left of Town Hall and down the street beyond the hotel is the old building that I believe is still there today as you can see in the images below.

Stanhope-by-the-Sea Resort destoyed by fire!!

     The resort caught on fire while staff were getting it ready to open next week.  Here's an article and photographs from the CBC PEI website.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2013/04/23/pei-stanhope-resort-fire.html

April 23, 2013, 8:01pm

     Firefighters remain at the scene of a fire at the Stanhope Beach Resort and Conference Centre on Prince Edward Island's north shore.

     Four buildings were destroyed including the main building and conference centre. The main building included the kitchen, dining room and guest rooms. Some smaller buildings are still standing.

     Fire Marshal Dave Rossiter said the resort doesn't have sprinkler system.

     Owner Danny Murphy and his brother Kevin Murphy were on the scene.

     People were working inside the lodge when the fire broke out, but everyone got out safely. Many staff remained on site, milling around in disbelief as the fire consumed one of the oldest resorts on P.E.I.

     Five fire departments were called to the blaze.

     There is no word on the cause and crews said they expect to be dousing the flames overnight.

     The resort was supposed to open May 3 for the season.

    Police are asking any non-essential traffic to stay away from the area.

Below are photos from Historic PEI on Facebook - no source was noted.

Stanhope by the Sea is a registered property with P.E.I. Historic Place

http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=5368

Above image - cf. Meacham's 1880 Atlas of Prince Edward Island

      Stanhope by the Sea is valued for its association with the development of the tourism industry in PEI; for the Gable-Ell style construction of the original house; and for its contribution to the surrounding community of Stanhope. The first building to be on the site was a crude log house constructed in 1789 by Cornelius and Isabelle Higgins.

     In 1855, the property was owned by Angus MacMillan who built a new house on the site which he called "Pleasant View". MacMillan incorporated the former Higgins' log cabin into his new structure. An 1880 engraving of the property shows the architectural style as an extended Gable-Ell design. MacMillan opened his home as the Point Pleasant Hotel in June 1878. The Charlottetown Patriot newspaper said his hotel could "board some 25 people" who could enjoy "surf bathing, fishing and shooting... unequalled in the Dominion" all at moderate prices. This was one of the first resort hotels in the province which promoted these activities to tourists.

     By the 1920s, the hotel was known as Stanhope by the Sea and it now had been expanded to include a ball room, billiard room, smoking room, sitting room, and tennis courts. Guests often arrived by train at York station and took a horse and buggy, and later a car, to the hotel.

     Today, the original MacMillan hotel has been modified with many additions, as the resort complex has many guest rooms with modern amenities.

     Source: PEI Heritage Advisory Committee Files

front page of The Guardian, April 24, 2013

www.theguardian.pe.ca

Below c.f. Facebook:

Another view posted of Stanhope Resort Complex in Stanhope, PEI burning April 23, 2013

— Photo credit Janice B. Burrows.

Gregor's-By-The-Sea, Brackley Beach

     My brother Kerras came across this postcard of Gregor's Hotel a while ago - it's amazing to think not one of these buildings (some were moved) remain as you see them here - information below will explain that it was bought by the Government of Canada /Parks Canada and the site completely cleared.

   The postcard measures 9"x6".

     I found the information below on the Prince Edward Island Public Archives and Record Office along with this photo.

     cf. http://www.gov.pe.ca/archives/onlineexhibits/display.php3?ipn=5&cat=6

PEI PARO Acc. 3038

Gregor's Hotel, Brackley, circa 1920s

     Ewen Houston ran a boarding house from about 1891 under the name of Seaside Hotel.  During the early 1900s, the Gregor (Charles & Walter) family took over, and in 1914 expanded to 25 rooms and renamed it Gregor's-by-the-Sea.  The hotel was known for its warm hospitality and farm fresh cuisine.  It was operated by the Gregor family until 1953, and for the twenty years by Jack and Lorna Cameron (Moore).  In 1957 the Hotel advertised a 22-room hotel and cottages, a private nine-hole golf course and driving range, ponies, dining room and close access to fishing and tennis courts.  Rates were $6.50 to $10.00 per person per day.  Parks Canada eventually acquired the property and in the 1970s the hotel was leveled.

    Also there is information about Gregor's Hotel on the IslandLives project website - see http://www.islandlives.ca/fedora/repository/ilives%3A267924-00035-p_0021/TEI/TEI%20Page%20Fragment
     Here are a few facts about the Gregor Hotel from the article:  The National Park was established in 1937; in 1973 the Federal Government bought the property - the Gregor home was moved and the hotel furnishings auctioned off - the other buildings were either moved or demolished; another property purchased by the Government in 1982 was the Lodge operated by Sadie, Elaine & Willard MacCallum - here too was an auction and the buildings demolished.

Queen Hotel, Summerside

The Journal-Pioneer newspaper in Summerside regularly publishes pages from the past - this one was Nov. 6, 1959.  For more information about the Journal see: www.journalpioneer.com

The information about the Queen Hotel mural comes from the following:

 www.wyattheritage.com/mainsite/historic/murals.asp?MuralID=Acadians

The Acadians of Summerside and the Queen Hotel

From the earliest years of Summerside, many men and women from the outlying Acadian communities came here to find work. They were employed as truckers, seamen, fishermen, farmers, carpenters, coopers, tinsmiths, stone masons, maids, dressmakers, and washerwomen. Through the years, they advanced to more lucrative and prestigious occupations.      Among Summerside’s first Acadian entrepreneurs were Frank Perry (François Poirier) and his wife Annie Arsenault. In 1899, they opened the popular Queen Hotel that served the community for half a century. This 35-room hotel, described as “one of the most comfortable and homelike hotels in Maritime Canada”, was located south of the Journal-Pioneer next to the railroad track, today the Confederation Trail.      Standing on the Queen Hotel’s steps are Aubin E. Arsenault and Joseph Gaudet. Aubin E. Arsenault (1870-1968) was Summerside’s first Acadian lawyer. He was also the first francophone elected to town council where he sat from 1906 until 1908, the year he was elected to the Legislative Assembly representing 3rd Prince. In 1917, he became Premier of the province and in 1921 he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island.      Joseph J. Gaudet (1880-1933), better known as “Joe Bunn”, was born in Summerside. As a young man, he worked as a trucker and then opened a local restaurant business. In 1908, Gaudet operated one of the first movie theatres in Summerside, “The Happyland”. In 1922, “Joe Bunn” Gaudet opened the Capitol Theatre on Central Streets.      Today, one third of Summerside’s population claims Acadian ancestry. The most common Acadian names in the city are Arsenault, Bernard, Blacquiere, Blanchard, Cormier, DesRoches, Doucette, Gallant, Gaudet, Perry (Poirier), Peters (Pitre), Richard, Sonier, and Wedge (Aucoin). Mural Artist: Arno Freitag – 2000 Location: The north wall of the Summerside Seafood Supreme building on corner of Queen St. & Harbour Dr.

North Shore Hotel, Malpeque

     I was to the annual winter lecture series by the Architectural Institute and Conservation last evening at Beaconsfield Carriage House in Charlottetown.  The topic was Spotlight on Streetscapes of Malpeque presented by Sally Blake-Hooff, a former resident of Malpeque.   Below is an image of a hotel mentioned in the lecture.  Sorry - I don't have credit for the photo source below - it was from a local history I believe.
     The hotel was abandoned for years - many people wanted to buy it and move it off the Bearisto property but the owner wouldn't hear of it - finally it was torn down in the 1980's.  My friend Arnold Smith recalls walking through the hotel prior to it's demolition and was surprised that it had wooden bathtubs.     

Below is information from:    http://www.archives.pe.ca/peiain/fondsdetail.php3?number=1030124&lang=E&fonds=Acc4948

 Detail for fonds Acc4948 

     The Beairsto family lived in Malpeque, Prince Edward Island. George (1786-1864) and his wife Margret Riley Beairsto built North Shore House in 1810. Their son Benjamin Beairsto (1817-1894) married Anne McNutt (1823-1903) and became the second owner of the North Shore House hotel. In 1888, they added the third storey. Benjamin was a Justice of the Peace, and he performed many marriage ceremonies in his home. His son George F. Beairsto (1853-1923) married Emma Ramsay (1865-1962), and they were the third owners of the North Shore Hotel and farm. Their son Ralph Beairsto (1897-1972) married Bertha Buxton (1896-1949) and became the fourth and last of the Beairsto family to own and live at the North Shore Hotel and farm. After Bertie's death, Ralph and his mother moved to Charlottetown.

      This fonds consists of records belonging to the Beairsto family of Malpeque, Prince Edward Island. The records include Benjamin Beairsto's magistrate book (1851-1869) and a North Shore House Hotel ledger (1889-1903), the back section of which was used as a diary by Ralph Beairsto, documenting farm life (1933-1938). A small notebook diary for October 1920 to January 1921 has also been attributed to Ralph Beairso. The fonds also contains a post-1888 photo of North Shore House Hotel and a newspaper article about the hotel (1972). Also, the fonds consists of a book that appears to have been used by at least three individuals as a diary, including a young woman attending college in Charlottetown, an unidentified individual (April 1912), and another individual (April to June 1913, 1938-1940). The handwriting for the 1913 and 1938-1940 entries matches that found in other diaries in the fonds which have been attributed by the donor to Ralph Beairsto. The book also includes loose papers listing names, household and farm item, and prices. The fonds also includes a ledger listing names of individuals hired and method of payment (1893-ca. 1935) and as well as accounts (1935-1949). Finally, there are two crayon portraits [1880-1899] of the second generation to own and operate North Shore House, Benjamin Beairsto and his wife, Ann MacNutt.

     Benjamin Bearisto 1817-1894 married Anne McNutt 1823-1903 - they were the second owners of the North Shore Hotel.  In 1888 they added the third floor to the building.  Benjamin was a Justice of the Peace and performed marriages in his home.  Info cf. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mnrrvn/McNutt-Anne-1823.html

Albion Terrace Hotel 1876 Alberton

Recently my brother Kerras bought this poster from Wendell Oliver of Alberton.  The Albion Terrace Hotel was built in 1876 by George Gard.  It was located on Poplar Street in Alberton.  Wendell didn't know the year of the poster - possibly in the 1930's.  I searched multi-year calendars and found the years 1927, 1932 and 1938 all had Thursday Nov. 3rd.  In 1944 the Albion Terrace Hotel was turned into Western Hospital.  It was demolished in the late 1990's to make way for a new hospital.

The following photo of Albion Terrace Hotel as Western Hospital was taken about 1950 and came from the following website  http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/pm_v2.php?id=record_detail&fl=0&lg=English&ex=00000551&rd=133305

For more information about the builder of Albion Terrace Hotel was George Gard ( see  http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=16421 )
George Gard was the son of Samuel Gard of Mill River. He learned cabinet making at an early age and moved to New York where his skills were employed in many elaborate houses. George eventually returned to Alberton where he constructed a new home, saw mill, and a window and door factory. During his career, he built twenty three homes, the first Alberton High School, the Albion Terrace Hotel (now part of Western Hospital) and the second St. Peter's Anglican Church in Alberton which was destroyed by fire in 1927.

Victoria-by-the-Sea - Walking Tour

Here's another walking tour brochure of the seaside village of Victoria.

 

Speaking of Kate and William at Dalvay

The Royal couple were at Dalvay-by-the-Sea this afternoon for lots of festivities.  The magnificent hotel was built in 1894 by a rich oilman from Cincinnati, USA.  The house has been used as a Hotel in the 1930s.  The house was used in the movie Anne of Green Gables as the White Sands Hotel.  Check-out their website:  http://www.dalvaybythesea.com/.  Here are a few photos from today.

Below:  The rounded dining room is a spectacular place to view the splendor of the property.

The owner was telling us today that they have a guest staying there now who has been coming to their hotel every year since 1973.

Below:  Prince William is presented a bottle of champagne following his win of the friendly drag boat race between he and his wife Kate.

Below:  By the front door - the stone gives that old country feel.

Below:  Standing by the front door looking across the lawns to Dalvay Lake.



Spectacular Barachois Inn, Rustico

OK - it's time to pull out some of the more impressive heritage buildings on Prince Edward Island.  Here is Barachois Inn located in Rustico.  The Inn is operated by Judy & Gary MacDonald and their family who offer the very best of Island hospitality in this historic home!!  The house was built by Joseph Gallant in 1880 and is located on Church Road in Rustico (don't get Rustico confused with North Rustico).  To the north of the house, across Church Road, is St. Augustine Catholic Church built in 1838, and to the right is Rustico Bay.

The Barachois Inn was built in the Mansard or Second Empire style.

For more information about Barachois Inn go to their website -  http://barachoisinn.com/

Below is MacDonald House, a new 4-unit building to accommodate more guests at Barachois Inn.  I prepared the drawings for this new building in the same style as the main house but in 2-storeys.  The house has a main entry foyer to the rear with a library in the middle overlooking the gardens.  There are two accommodation units on each floor.  The building was constructed by Greenleaf Construction in Clyde River - the workmanship is excellent.

Below: The Entry Foyer

Below: Premium Suite 5 Main Floor

Below: Luxury Suite 8 Second Floor