Green Gables (Prince Edward Island)

Green Gables Heritage Place is a 19th century farm and literary landmark in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Green Gables served as the setting for the Anne of Green Gables novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Green Gables is recognized as a Federal Historic Building by the government of Canada, and is situated on the L.M. Montgomery's Cavendish National Historic Site of Canada. The National Historic Site itself is situated on Prince Edward Island National Park.

Not to be confused with Green Gable.
Green Gables Heritage Place
Green Gables from the east
Location8619 Cavendish Road,
Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Coordinates46°29′16″N 63°22′55.4″W
Area220 square metres (2,400 sq ft)[note 1]
Built1830s–1870s[note 2]
Governing bodyParks Canada
Websitewww.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/pe/greengables

The building was initially erected by the MacNeil family during the 1830s, relatives of Montgomery who was born nearby the homestead. Interest for the Green Gables property grew in the decades after Montgomery published her novels; resulting in Green Gables purchase by the government of Canada in 1936. The government initially operated the home as a historic house that depicted 19th century farming life on Prince Edward Island. However, by the 1970s, plans were undertaken to refurbish the building to resemble Green Gables as depicted in Montgomery's novels. Since 1985, Green Gables, and the larger National Historic Site operate as a museum on Lucy Maud Montgomery and her novels.

History

Green Gables was initially owned by the MacNeil family, relatives of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables.[1] The building was initially built by the family during the 1830s, and was expanded during the 1870s and in 1921; the latter expansion resulting in the building's present L-shape.[1]

In 1908, Montgomery published Anne of Green Gables, with Green Gables serving as the home for the titular character Anne Shirley.[1] Interest in the home grew after the publication of Anne of Green Gables, and the release of a movie based on the novels in 1934.[1] With Green Gables vacant during the 1930s, the government of Canada purchased the property in 1936; as a part of a larger effort to develop Prince Edward Island National Park.[1][2] In 1938, plans were made to develop Green Gables into a clubhouse for the adjacent golf course; although these plans were abandoned after public backlash against the proposal.[1] After Montgomery's death in 1942, her body was transported from Ontario to Prince Edward Island, with a funeral ceremony held at Green Gables.[3]

"Anne's Room," is one of several rooms in farmhouse made to resemble the setting in Montgomery's novels

During the 1950s, the home was furnished with period-appropriate furniture and was used as a historic house.[2] During the 1970s, the building was refurnished and remodelled to resemble the Green Gables as depicted in Montgomery's novels.[2] In the same decade, the building was expanded again; before it underwent significant restorations in 1985, after Parks Canada decided to switch the furnishing in the home to reflect how Green Gables was depicted in Montgomery's novels.[4]

On 10 July 1985, Green Gables was officially designated as a Federal Heritage Building as an example of 19th century architecture in the province, and for the home's importance to the literary community.[5] The larger property, including the ruins of Montgomery's homestead were designated as the L.M. Montgomery's Cavendish National Historic Site of Canada in 2004.[6]

In 2017, the government unveiled a CA$9.5 million restoration plan to restore the Green Gables building, in addition to building a new interpretive centre.[7] On 29 August 2020, an interpretive centre built north of the Green Gables homestead was opened to the public; with Hisako, Princess Takamado in attendance for the interpretive centre's grand opening.[8] On 1 December 2020, Green Gables was awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister's commendation for their contributions to promotion of mutual understanding between Canada and Japan.[9]

Property
Lovers' Lane is one of several trails situated on the property that surrounds Green Gables

Green Gables is situated on the L.M. Montgomery's Cavendish National Historic Site of Canada, a large property that also includes Montgomery's homestead, greenspaces that served as inspiration for Montgomery's novel, and several trails including Haunted Woods, Lovers' Lane, and Balsam Hollow.[6] The larger property was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada on 12 October 2004.[6] The property itself is situated within Prince Edward Island National Park.[1][2]

The National Historic Site is largely divided into two areas, Montgomery's home and Green Gables.[6] The former served as the home for the author of Anne of Green Gables and consists of the ruins of her home and other farm buildings from the late-19th century.[6] Green Gables is situated to the west of Montgomery's home; with the lands surrounding Green Gables also including a historic schoolhouse, farm buildings, and trails.[6] In 2019, an interpretive centre built north of Green Gables was opened to the public, and houses exhibitions on Montgomery and her novels, particularly Anne of Green Gables.[8] Designed by Root Architecture, the centre includes exhibition spaces, gift shop, and offices. The interpretive centre surrounds a courtyard. Timber framing and panels is used throughout the interpretive centre.[8]

The Green Gables Home is situated on a larger National Historic Site that includes several other historic buildings

Green Gables
White-painted shingles are used throughout the building, with green being the only other major colour found on the building's exterior.

Green Gables is a ​1 1⁄2-storey L-shaped home clad in white-painted shingles throughout; with the only other colour present on the building being the green-gabled rooftop and its window shutters.[5] The green gable and shutters were painted onto the building shortly after the federal government purchased it in 1936, in an effort to make the building more "suitable," for its opening.[2] There are six windows on the two floors of the building, each with shutters.[1] The 220-square-metre-building (2,400 sq ft) includes five bedrooms, a dining room, sewing room, and a parlour.[4] Although wood is used throughout the home, the building's chimneys are made of brick.[1]

See also

Notes
  1. The following figure is for the Green Gables House, not the property.
  2. The building was completed in stages from the 1830s to 1870s. Since its completion the building was expanded twice in 1921 and the 1970s.

References
  1. "Green Gables House". gov.pe.ca. Government of Prince Edward Island. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  2. Gammel, Irene; Lefebvre, Benjamin (2010). Anne's World: A New Century of Anne of Green Gables. University of Toronto Press. p. 23. ISBN 9781442611061.
  3. McIntosh, Andrew; Devereux, Cecily (30 January 2020). "Lucy Maud Montgomery". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  4. Cross, David (13 February 2014). "Green Gables House a priceless treasure". The Toronto Star. Torstar Corporation. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  5. "Green Gables House". Canada's Historic Places. Parks Canada. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  6. "L.M. Montgomery's Cavendish National Historic Site of Canada". Canada's Historic Places. Parks Canada. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  7. Campbell, Malcolm (6 April 2017). "Green Gables gets a facelift". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  8. "Green Gables Heritage Place Visitor Centre opens in PEI". Canadian Architect. iQ Business Media Inc. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  9. "Foreign Minister's Commendations for FY 2019 (Groups)" (PDF). www.mofa.go.jp. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 2020. p. 2. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
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