Charlottetown

Monday, September 3
This was a good day to head into downtown Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island. It is Labour Day in Canada and many businesses are closed. The crowds are thinner, and the weather was nice for walking. I picked up a walking tour map from the Tourist booth and hit the streets.

The Water Prince restaurant, on the corner of......Water and Prince. A good place to eat, although we didn't.

This beautiful building sits next to St Dunstan's Basilica. The main building was finished in 1875 and has a few additions including the two story balcony. It is still used today by Diocese.

The two John Hamilton Grays in front of St Dunstan's Basilica.

St. Dunstin's Basilica

The beautiful St Paul's Anglican Church.

The red sandstone with contrasting lighter coloured blocks make a statement.

There were a number of these type of delivery trucks on the streets. Small and easy to park.

Province House. Now home to the PEI Legislature (or will be again when the renos are done in 2022) was home to a historic meeting in 1864 when the confederation of the Provinces was discussed. This ultimately led to the creation of Canada in 1867.

The old sandstone building is in dire need of repair. I was told the mortar holding the stones in place has pretty much disintegrated.

The Confederation Arts Centre was opened in 1964 by Queen Elizabeth. Anne of Green Gables the Musical has been running here continuously for 54 years. (Yes, we went to see it and it was GREAT!)

Town clock beside City Hall

City Hall

The Fire Department was next door to City Hall. They had this amazing old Lafrance fire engine on display.

Of course they had more modern equipment as well. (No, the Dalmation isn't real)

Another great church. Charlottetown has lots of these.

Lovely home.....read the name plaque below.....

I was really hoping the home next door would say 'retirement home for men', but alas not the case. Can you imagine the parties!

St Peter's Anglican Cathedral. It was located on All Souls Street. Appropriate!

The doors were open and beautiful organ sounds were coming from the Cathederal.

The organist was playing for anyone that wandered in. What a beautiful church.

Ornate woodwork......

.....and gorgeous stained glass windows.

Just up the road was the Lieutenant-Governors residence. Unfortunately there was a high hedge in front of the home and this was the best picture I could get. 

The homes on this street were outstanding examples of well maintained buildings 100 to 150 years old.

I had to take a second look at the plaque on this lovely home. See below.

Built circa 1823 and renovated in 1920. Almost 100 years since the remodel!! Wow!

Various styles. This more modern building was built to match the surrounding homes.

Acadian styles were plentiful on the Island. Before the English won the Seven Years War with the French, Prince Edward Island was known as Isle Saint Jean.

The downtown area is full of patios, flowers and very well maintained buildings.

At first I thought this was a great antique International truck, which it is.

......with this sign on the door.....

....advertising rides on this boat!

The pleasure craft in the marina. All shapes and sizes.

A piano for anyone to play in the park.

Owned by a lawyer I would assume. I also notice it sits a bit 'crooked' in the water. Hmmm.

City Park. All ten provinces and two territories represented.

This is the bell from the steamship that brought the delegation from Upper Canada (including Sir John A MacDonald) to the Charlottetown meeting in 1864

The old Bank of Nova Scotia building on the right and the much more modern Scotiabank building on the left. Joined inside of course.
They don't tear anything down out here. Just modernize and use it for another hundred years.

Tuesday, September 4
This was our last full day on the Island and there were a couple of places we wanted to get back to. One was Charlottetown and back to the Arts Center. There is a temporary display set up from the now closed Province House.

Sir John A MacDonald. Our first Prime Minister.

Replica of the meeting room in Province House that held the Charlottetown Conference in 1864.

Two pieces in the room are originals from that meeting room of 1864. The light fixture and the Coat of Arms.

The table seating plan was just as it was in 1864.

This model of Province House is made from Lego. (Hey Lucas and Alex.....could you build one like this?)

The second place we wanted to re-visit was Brackley Beach in Prince Edward Island National Park. It's not a long drive north of Charlottetown on not far from our campground. It was very cold and windy when we were here last week. Today was warm and sunny with a moderate wind.

The grassy sand dunes.

A much nicer day today than our first visit a few days earlier.

We were told by the Parks Canada staff that there were 300 university kids heading out to the beach for a start of school year party.....so we soon got out of there!

......and that was Our View From Here!