Home / Accueil

Windows on the Water Restaurant

558 Main Street, Montague, Île-du-Prince-Édouard, C0A, Canada

Reconnu formellement en: 2008/02/07

Showing front elevation; Province of PEI, 2007
Showing front elevation
Showing side elevation; Province of PEI, 2007
Showing side elevation
Showing general store in lower right, c. 1876; Garden of the Gulf Museum Collection
Showing general store in lower right, c. 1876

Autre nom(s)

Windows on the Water Restaurant
Former MacDonald/MacLaren Building

Liens et documents

Date(s) de construction

Inscrit au répertoire canadien: 2008/02/29

Énoncé d'importance

Description du lieu patrimonial

The Windows on the Water Restaurant is a rectangular shaped two-and-a-half storey commercial building located on Main Street in Montague near the river and bridge. The gable end of the building faces the street. It has wood shingle cladding and Georgian style six over six windows on the second storey.

Valeur patrimoniale

The building is valued for its long history as a commercial building in Montague; for its association with the economic development of the town; and for its contribution to the streetscape.

In the 1850s, most of the land on the north side of the Montague River was owned by William Watson. It is thought the current building was constructed as a general store at this time. The builder was a Mr. Vessey. The Montague river, which flows through the town, made Montague a centre for commercial activity and the new general store was constructed close to it.

By 1859, Watson sold the property to James MacLaren, who continued to operate the general store on the premises. His son, Peter MacLaren, sold the business to Duncan MacDonald in 1885. The MacDonald family would operate a store and rent out commercial space in the building until 1961, when it was then sold to William and Helen Docherty.

Over the years, the building has been home to many commercial businesses including: a lawyer's office, motor vehicle office, a hat and dress shop, a sportswear store, an ice cream shop, and most recently the Montague office of the Guardian newspaper.

In 1995, it was purchased and renovated by Lester Jinks. The current owner operates a popular restaurant on the premises.

The style of the building reflects a typical commercial building of the 19th Century. It has a rectangular configuration with a symmetrical facade with large windows on the first storey facing the street. The upper floors, which were originally used for storage and accommodation, have Georgian style six over six windows, which were also originally on the first storey as well. An early photograph of the building shows a shed roof porch over the entrance supported by four posts. Pilasters can still be seen on the facade today.

With its long history as a centre for commercial activity in Montague, the building continues to add character and value to the streetscape.

Source: Culture and Heritage Division, PEI Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
File #: 4310-20/M16

Éléments caractéristiques

The following character-defining elements reflect the commercial and Georgian style influences of the building:

- the remaining sandstone foundation
- the original wood frame construction boarded with hemlock planks
- the two-and-a-half storeys
- the wood shingle cladding
- the fenestration, especially of the second storey which is mostly original
- the gable roof
- the three brick chimneys
- the pilasters of the facade
- the location of the building on Main Street near the Montague river and bridge

Reconnaissance

Juridiction

Île-du-Prince-Édouard

Autorité de reconnaissance

Province de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard

Loi habilitante

Heritage Places Protection Act

Type de reconnaissance

Endroit historique inscrit au répertoire

Date de reconnaissance

2008/02/07

Données sur l'histoire

Date(s) importantes

s/o

Thème - catégorie et type

Économies en développement
Commerce et affaires

Catégorie de fonction / Type de fonction

Actuelle

Commerce / Services commerciaux
Établissement de restauration ou de débit de boissons

Historique

Commerce / Services commerciaux
Magasin ou commerce de vente au détail

Architecte / Concepteur

s/o

Constructeur

s/o

Informations supplémentaires

Emplacement de la documentation

Culture and Heritage Division, PEI Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8 File #: 4310-20/M16

Réfère à une collection

Identificateur féd./prov./terr.

4310-20/M16

Statut

Édité

Inscriptions associées

s/o

RECHERCHE DANS LE RÉPERTOIRE

Recherche avancéeRecherche avancée
Trouver les lieux prochesTROUVER LES LIEUX PROCHES ImprimerIMPRIMER
Lieux proches