The Honourable Elmer MacFadyen, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs, today announced seven new designations under the Heritage Places Protection Act. The seven properties designated are Doucet House in Rustico, the Summerside Law Courts, the Honourable George Coles Building, the J. Angus MacLean Building, Province House, Customs House and D.E. Clarke’s General Store at Orwell Corner Historic Village.
The designations provide legal protection for the structures and ensure that any changes, repairs and alterations respect the historic character of the buildings.
“Prince Edward Island has a long and proud history which is celebrated in both our people and structures across the province,” said Minister MacFadyen. “This designation recognizes the importance of such structures to our history and helps to ensure their protection and preservation.”
Six of the structures are public buildings which are well-known to Islanders. The seventh (Doucet House) is a rare Acadian log home built in approximately 1770. Under the terms of the Heritage Places Protection Act, designated places cannot be demolished or altered without the prior approval of the minister.
Designated properties are drawn from the Register of Heritage Places, are reviewed by an advisory board and go through a process for public consultation and comment before designation by the minister. Designation is one of a number of measures available under the Heritage Places Protection Act to recognize and maintain the heritage architecture and landscape of the province.
BACKGROUNDER
Heritage Places Designations -- June 2004
Doucet House
The Doucet House of Rustico is a rare Acadian log home built in approximately 1770. The home was probably built by early Acadian resident Jean Doucet with the help of his neighbours. Research suggests that religious services were held there during the late 1700s. The building was moved in 1999, to avoid demolition, and painstakingly restored in the winter and spring of 2003. Doucet House, currently owned by the Friends of the Farmers Bank of Rustico, opens to the public in late June 2004. Due to its age, the quality of the restoration work and, more importantly, its association with the Acadian people and the early Roman Catholic Church on the Island, the building has been designated.
Summerside Law Courts
The Summerside Law Courts, or the former Prince County Courthouse, was built by Thomas Beattie in 1874. It was the first federally-built building on the Island after Confederation. The building has undergone significant renovations throughout the years. It is one of few examples left of urban 19th century public buildings that is still used to house the courts. Due to the building's architecture, its contribution to the history of the area and role in the judicial history of Summerside and the province and its importance to the street scape of Summerside, the Summerside Law Courts has been designated.
Honourable George Coles Building
The Honourable George Coles Building or the Law Courts Building was designed by well-known Island architect Thomas Alley and completed in 1876. The courts were housed in the building until 1976, when a fire destroyed the interior of the building and the courts were moved to Water Street. The structure was renovated, and its name was changed to the Honourable George Coles Building. It currently houses the Public Archives and Records Office and provincial public offices. Due to the Hon. George Coles Building’s association with the province's judicial history, its architecture and its important place on Queens Square, the building has been designated.
J.Angus MacLean Building
The J. Angus MacLean Building or the former Union Bank Building was designed by local architect Thomas Alley and completed in 1872. It served as the bank’s headquarters until financial difficulty, resulting from involvement in the building of the Prince Edward Island Railway, which resulted in the amalgamation of the Union Bank with the Bank of Nova Scotia in 1883. The building now houses Elections PEI and Provincial Government offices. The J. Angus MacLean Building has been designated due its architecture, its association with the economic and industrial history of Prince Edward Island and its importance to the street scape of Great George Street.
Province House
Province House, or the former Colonial Building, was completed in 1847 by Isaac Smith and a host of local craftsmen. The building housed the Legislature, the Supreme Court, and government offices. The Colonial Building was the site of the historic Charlottetown Conference held in 1864 and was the seat of the provincial government prior to and after Confederation. The building has been designated due to its architecture, its association with Confederation as well as its important role in the history of the province and the nation.
Customs House
Customs House was designed by local architect David Stirling and built in 1867-1868 to house the Bank of Prince Edward Island. The bank was later acquired by the Bank of Nova Scotia. The Federal Department of Marine and Fisheries eventually took over the property, but it was later obtained by Holland College and, finally, the province. Because of the building's architecture, its role in the economic history of the province and its importance to the area's street scape, Customs House has been designated.
D.E. Clarke’s General Store
D.E Clarke's General Store of Orwell Corner Historic Village was opened in 1864. It was originally two houses joined together to make one. The store provided the necessities of life to the early population of Orwell and once housed a post office and a dressmaking shop. The building, and other structures in the area, were restored as part of the Orwell Corner Historic Village which opened July of 1973 as part of the Centennial 73 celebrations. D.E. Clarke's General store was designated because it is a rare surviving example of a general store from the 1860's, and due to its age and good condition.