Description of Historic Place

This large two-storey Colonial Revival style home at 197 Central Street is located on the southeast corner of the Central and Beaver Streets intersection. It is set back on a lot with mature trees on the perimeter and features a hipped roof and symmetrical facade with a central flat roofed portico. The registration includes the building and its lot.

Heritage Value

The impressive Colonial Revival house at 197 Central Street has historical significance as the residence built for prominent businessman Melville L. Bradshaw. The local press glowingly described the 1927 structure: "A magnificent new residence for Mr. M. L. Bradshaw is nearing completion. It is a 30 by 45 structure designed by the well-known Charlottetown firm of Chappell and Hunter... This house contains very little decoration or moulding inside or out, and yet distinctively plain, this is the secret of its beauty and the architects are to be congratulated. Mr. Major Schurman had the contract..."

Mr. Bradshaw, a native of New Glasgow, PEI, had come to Summerside at an early age and went to work for Captain Joseph Read in his coal and produce business. He assumed ownership of the firm after Capt. Read's death and was the active manager of Joseph Read and Company Limited for many years. His success in business circles was matched by his success and popularity in various community concerns.

The Bradshaw family moved to their new house from their previous residence at 203 Notre Dame Street. Mr. Bradshaw and his wife, the daughter of David and Emma Read, had three daughters. Cecelia, the oldest, married Summerside lawyer, Thane Campbell, who served as Premier of the province from 1936 to 1943. After Mrs. Bradshaw's passing in 1950, Emma Bradshaw Holman moved from Charlottetown to be with her father. He died in 1957 and she continued to live in the residence until 1974.

The well maintained residence continues to contribute to its streetscape at the corner of Central and Beaver Streets.

Source: City of Summerside, Heritage Property Profile

Character-Defining Elements

The Colonial Revival influences of the house are shown in the following character-defining elements:

- the two-storey massing with hipped roof
- the brick chimney
- the narrow wood cladding and wide corner boards
- the symmetrical placement of the windows of the west elevation
- the windows at ground level west elevation are wide pane in centre with narrow verticals on either side and they feature transoms that are echoed in the main entryway; second storey windows generally one-over-one
- the central flat roofed portico with columns and pilasters
- the second storey window protruding above the portico
- the shed-roofed sunroom on south elevation
- the prominent location of the house in the historic streetscape