Beaconsfield Historic House

A cool old house
that became a
friend for
friendless women.
Beaconsfield House was build back in 1877 for James Peake, a very wealthy merchant and leading businessmen of Prince Edward Island. The house certainly reflects his wealth because it is absolutely gorgeous, with all the latest conveniences that the 19^th century had to offer, including central heating, gas lighthing and running water. The Peakes even had a party that Princess Louise, the daughter of Queen Victoria attended. Real gaudy, ostentatious, high society, hooty tooty stuff.
The house is located right on Charlottetown Harbor so it has beautiful views of the water. You pay your loonies and toonies and a very friendly and knowledgeable guide gives you a tour of the house. You are then free to walk around by yourself. Of course they can answer any stupid questions you happen to have and obviously love talking about the house.
Unfortunately the economy back in the 1880’s was as capricious as our present one and due to the collapse of the shipbuilding industry, Mr Peake lost all his money and only lived in the house for about five years.
The new master was the eccentric and wealthy Henry Cundall. He never married and lived at Beaconsfield with his two sisters. When good old Hank died in 1926 he left the house to the town as a refuge for «friendless young women».
So the house operated as a sort of a very elaborate and ornate type of homeless shelter for a few years. Then in the 1930’s the Cundall House became a place for student nurses studying at the nearby hospital. Finally in the 1970’s it was turned into the present museum.
I love poking around old houses and talking to people that enjoy old houses, so the visit to the Peake house was great. What made it even more enjoyable was when some women came in that said they actually lived in the house years ago when they were studying to be nurses. You never know what unexpected treasures you are going to find in a great old house.