Haszard-Cannon-Montgomery-Adams-MacDonald House, St. Eleanor's - Demolished

     I received this note today from Summerside resident Roxanne Hately-Leard.  Much thanks for bringing this to my attention and for providing additional information!    
     "John E. MacDonald House... I took this picture a week ago Friday.  to my dismay, it was torn down this past Monday.  It had been condemned.  It was also known as the Loman Adams house.  This was an old house.  I think it had been moved from North Street, St. Eleanor's.  It sat across the street from St. John's Anglican cemetery.  Thought you would be interested in this.  Enjoy your blog.  I think many more will after the article in the news." 
     The house was located at 45 South Drive in St. Eleanors.

      The following information about this house comes from Sketches Of Old St. Eleanors. 1973. Page 30

      “Thomas C. Cannon, son of Fred and Mary Lane Cannon set up business on the corner dealing in oysters which at one time sold for $5.00 per barrel.  He also sold flour and other goods.  His residence was erected by Haszard previous to 1856.  An oyster house was located on the opposite corner (Bernards).  The house was sold to R. H. Montgomery and in 1917 to Loman Adams who moved from Birch Hill to St. Eleanor’s in 1913.  The house was moved later as the corner lot was suggested as a suitable location for the Soldier’s Monument.  This house is now the residence of John MacDonald, the exterior architecture has remained much the same as the original.” 

     This is amazing - unknowing I'm related to this property through the Cannon and Compton families.  Here's some Cannon genealogy from www.islandregister.com

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Thomas Compton Cannon b. May 10 1836, St. Eleanors, PEI., m. Nov 23 1863, Amy Ellen Craswell, b. ___ 1842, d. Sep 20 1877.  Thomas died Dec 09 1887, St. Eleanors, PEI.

Children:

i   Gertrude Cannon m. John Porter.

ii  Minnie Cannon m. Stanley Compton.

iii Maude Cannon m. R. H. Montgomery.

iv  Bertha Cannon m. John Creswell.

v   Fanny Cannon.

vi  Arthur Cannon m. Elizabeth Cameron.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

     Here's more information about R.H. Montgomery from Prince Edward Island Family Trees  http://www.janedyment.ca/ppl/e/c/ce7808543961d04b5cd5134f6ce.html

R. H. Montgomery

Age 66; 

Residence Summerside; 

Born Porthill.  Father Donald Montgomery. Mother Christie Woodside; 

Date of Death 19 March 1929; 

Entry Number 288

Source RG19/s2/ss6: Death registration books, 1929

Marriage

Groom's Name Robert Hodgson Montgomery; 

Groom's Residence Summerside; 

Groom's Status Bachelor; 

Bride's Name Amy Maude Cannon; 

Bride's Residence St. Eleanors; 

Bride's Status Spinster; 

Date of Marriage License or Bond 15 August 1898; 

Date of Marriage Ceremony 17 August 1898; 

Officiant's Name John M Withycombe; 

Source RG19, Series3, Subseries4: Marriage Licenses, 1898

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    I keep finding more information...this house is in the 1880 Meachams Atlas plan and in elevation.

Below is St. Eleanor's Corner from the 1863 Lake Map.

Door Knobs, Unhappy Wife, Great Fire

     Here's an interesting story, as it is, about a Colonel Compton, who was granted Lot 17 by the King of England. 
     Col. Harry Compton, a widower, came to Prince Edward Island in 1803 with his son Thomas, daughter and maid Eleanor (who St. Eleanor's was named for).  He encouraged many English settlers to emigrate and settle the lands in Lot 17 - the areas known today as Summerside, Linkletter, Miscouche, Sherbrooke and St. Eleanors.
     Col. Compton's son Thomas (age 22) married Hannah Jeffery (age 20) on Nov. 10, 1810, five days after she landed on Prince Edward Island from the Isle of Wight, England.  Later in life Thomas became a Major and MLA in Prince Edward Island's Legislature and is also credited with giving Summerside it's name while visiting a friend at Green's Shore.
      Col. Compton didn't live on the Island long, he died in France some years later - there's speculation he died as a result of poisoning by his young wife.
     As the years passed and the story was told from generation to generation, one would wonder if the stories of the father and son were blended.
     This story appears in the history of St. Eleanor's called, Sketches of Old St. Eleanors, 1973.

     This house on St. Peter’s Rd in Charlottetown called “Oakwood” is reputed to be similar to the one burned down, but is not identical.

A Fascinating Story as told by William R. Brennan.

“I know not the truth as it may be I only know the tale as it was told to me.”

            A Col. Compton of England married a young lady, she was said to be the most beautiful girl in all the land.  When the Col. Received a grant of land in Prince Edward Island, there was much persuasion to induce his lovely wife to leave her native land to come to a new country to live.
            She at last promised her husband that if he would first come and build her a fine home, completely furnished, that she would come with him to settle in the new land.  When everything was in readiness they sailed for Prince Edward Island.
            After crossing the Atlantic and sailing through the Gulf of Richmond Bay, they anchored their vessel off the shores of North St. Eleanor’s.  The young couple walked together from the shore through the fields some distance to their new dwelling.  He was indeed proud to show her this new home with beautiful furnishing, some of which came from England and some from New England.
            He showed her through the downstairs going from room to room and then they inspected the upstairs.  After everything has been explored the two went outdoors to view the garden and surroundings, and when this was done, he asked his beautiful wife how she liked her new home.  She replied, “The only thing I like about the place are the doorknobs.”
            The Col. then turned, went into the house, removed all the doorknobs , tied them in a string bag, returned to the outdoors, handed his wife the bag with knobs, then immediately he set fire to the new dwelling and all the furnishings.
            That winter they lived in Bedeque and suffered many hardships in the long cold winter.  They were compelled to sell some of the family jewellery to buy the necessities of life.

An old St. Eleanor's House

This old house was located on the west side of South Drive in St. Eleanor's, not far from Route 2 Highway.  This house was demolished near 20 years ago.  I recently came across the photo in my large collection of photos of Island Buildings. 

This house is in the Island-ell style with elaborate running gingerbread gable trim. The detailing reminds me of the following houses - see below.

The Sutherland House, Seaview (photo 2009) - a large restoration has since been undertaken.

http://www.bidefordparsonagemuseum.com/  A local group undertook the restoration of this house and opened it as a museum.  My brother Kerras (www.birchgate.ca/kerras) made all the exterior trimmings for this house using old photos and reminent pieces to accomplish the original look.

http://www.gov.pe.ca/peimhf/index.php3?number=1015695&lang=E