Government House guidebook reveals estate's fascinating past

P.E.I.'s Government House stands on the Fanningbank estate, a noble white building overlooking the Charlottetown Harbour.

It's a building with a very surprising history.

As revealed in a new book, the Greek-revival style building hasn't always been the lieutenant governor's residence and, nearly a century ago, it was almost torn down.

Reg Porter of Belle River, P.E.I., was commissioned by the Government House committee of P.E.I. Museum to write about what he calls the "very varied existence" of the building and its 100-acre estate.

In charge of the building's restoration for the last 45 years, the foundation wanted a reference for future planning and Porter had already amassed 25-years' worth of information.

"All I had to do was put it in order" said the author of Government House and the Fanningbank Estate, a Guide Book.

The picturesque parcel of land was set aside in 1780 by Edward Fanning, governor of what was then known as the British colony of St. John's Island, as a site for his residence

An 'extremely fine building'

"He believed he should be nearby and his station should be emphasized by what he saw as the right way of doing it and that was, of course, the British country estate," said Porter.

Fanning didn't live to see the building to completion though, and the land was set aside until 1833 when the colony had secured enough money to begin construction.

At the end of World War I, the P.E.I. government built a large wing onto the main building as a convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers. Porter said the hospital never housed more than a few dozen soldiers at a time and the project "was a colossal waste of time" and an "empty patriotic gesture" by the government.

The building then became a trade school that closed in 1925 after the federal government pulled financing.

At that time, many suggested the building be demolished, but then-lieutenant governor Frank Hertz wanted to see it restored and used for its original purpose.

Since 1930, it has served as the lieutenant governor's residence. It is currently home to Lt.-Gov. Frank Lewis and is a site for official government functions.

"We are very fortunate to have this extremely fine building," said Porter.