History of Fairholm Inn

 

1838  Mr. Thomas Heath Havliand

When Fairholm was built, the times allowed for prominent families to live in a style we can only imagine. A home the size of Fairholm had staff to care for the house, the gardens, tend to the wishes of family and the many guests. It was a rarefied lifestyle.

Fairholm was built in 1838 as a private family home for Mr. Thomas Heath Haviland. Mr. Haviland was born in England and emigrated to Prince Edward Island in 1816. He soon gained the position of Provost Marshall and other positions of importance and influence followed: in 1823 he was named to the Executive Council, in 1824 he became assistant judge of the Supreme Court, the Colonial Secretary, the Registrar, and the Clerk of the Executive and Legislative Councils. Haviland also secured his personal fortune acting as land agent for Prince Edward Island’s absentee landlords and his own properties. Haviland was elected and reelected Mayor of Charlottetown starting in 1857. The house was ready for occupancy at just about the time that Haviland’s wife, Jane Rebecca Brecken, died. Mr. Haviland and his family of 8 lived at Fairholm for many years.

 

 

1855  Mr. Charles Young

Haviland sold the house in 1855 to the Honourable Charles Young, LL.D., Q.C. Born in 1812 in Glasgow, he came to Nova Scotia as a child with his family. In 1838, Charles Young was called to the bar, and in the same year he left for the Island to seek his fortune. Just two years later, Young represented Queen’s County in the provincial legislature, a seat that he held until 1863. Young was an advocate of political and social reform, and he energetically defended the move toward responsible government. He also supported the establishment of free schools. Once responsible government was granted in 1851, Young became the Attorney General, a position that he held for many years. In 1852 Young became a judge. Young and his wife Lucetia lived in the house until Young’s death in 1892.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1895  “Mother at the Door”, Mrs. Rogers in 1897

Fairholm stood uninhabited for two years until acquired by Benjamin Rogers, a local hardware merchant. The Rogers family owned the house until 1999, and one of the last of the Rogers to live in it was the much respected and admired Irene Rogers. Mrs. Rogers was very active in the preservation movement in Prince Edward Island, and wrote and spoke extensively on the subject. She was also, until the time of her death, a member of The Prince Edward Island Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

It is quite an accomplishment that Fairholm was maintained as a private home until very recently. All the care given Fairholm over those 160 years secured its place in Charlottetown’s history. In 1999, after 100 years as the Rogers family residence, the Rogers descendants decided to sell the property to Gordon MacPherson and Brooke and Gina MacMillan.

 

 

 

 

Restoration

 

Restoration in Progress

The Property was so steeped in history, including enormous, unusual house, a large lot and a wonderful carriage house in disrepair. It was a challenge to become heritage restorers and eventually innkeepers. The fine hardwood parquet floors of Fairholm needed to be refinished. So, on hands and knees, we scraped and scraped. We spent hours researching paint colours and wallpaper styles. The foyer and upstairs hall were papered over 100 years ago with wallpaper imported from England. It is still in mint condition…it stayed! Bedrooms were papered in hand-printed replicas of 19th century wallpapers. In order to turn a home into an Inn (with the appropriate nod to modernity) private bathrooms had to be added to each suite. Chimneys required lining or rebuilding. Three fireplaces still function fire wood. The remainder have been converted with gas inserts for your comfort and safety. Plaster needed repairing. Furniture needed refinishing. The list was endless. We decided to include a suite in the basement for the on-site innkeeper, to provide round the clock service to guests. The basement was huge but not of standing height, so we dug the basement deeper with picks and shovels, carrying bucket loads of fill out.

 

All This Because of a Dream

We wanted to create a place of quiet repose of yesteryear, where visitors come to restore themselves amid history, gardens and elegantly lush rooms. We want our guests to know gracious hospitality, to feel indulged whilst here. We want to give our guests satisfying memories that linger on. And when our guests return again, we will remember them.

We are grateful for the restoration guidelines and the support of our Charlottetown’s Heritage Board. Because Fairholm is a National Historic Site, many restrictions were placed on what we could and could not do with the property. This was a blessing for it clarified our objectives and gave stability to our vision. The careful selections of all of our interior colors and wallpapers have been carried out with commitment. We would like to extend a sincere Thank You to Gina for her concern and appreciation in restoration of Fairholm.

Our primary objective was to restore the home while maintaining its original character. This, we believe, we have done. And so with confidence and pride in our work, we are ready to share the vision with you.