Place Description
Ravenwood was originally the centre of a large country estate. The imposing classically inspired house has a symmetrical facade with two stacked bays on either side, a large hipped roof topped by a cupola, and a central entrance with a portico. It sits on spacious landscaped grounds in the heart of Charlottetown.
Why is this place important?
Ravenwood is valued for its architectural style; its association with several prominent figures in Island history; and for its association with the history of agriculture in the province.
The property was built by William Johnston (1779-1828) a Scot from Dumfries who had arrived on the Island in 1812 to act as a land agent for several of the Island's absentee proprietors. The following year, he was appointed Attorney General and remained in this post until his death. His substantial residence at Ravenwood was built between 1820 and 1828.
At the time of Confederation, the home was inhabited by James Colledge Pope (1826-1885) who would be the Island's last colonial premier and the first to be premier of the Island when it became the seventh province on July 1, 1873. However, that September, he entered federal politics as a member from Prince County.
The Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, appointed him federal fisheries minister from 1878 to 1882. He later retired to Summerside in 1882.
By 1909, the Ravenwood house and grounds were leased to the federal government as the site for a Dominion Experimental Farm. The home became the Superintendent's residence and served this role until 1990. Dr. J.A. Clark was the first superintendent to live there. The farm's purpose involved field research for various crops as well as laboratory work.
Several modifications to the house occurred at this time including the removal of the original wrap around verandah - a feature which can be seen in Robert Harris' 1871 painting of Mount Edward Road which shows Ravenwood in a pastoral setting around the time of J.C. Pope's occupancy.
It is likely these renovations were conducted by the Lowe Brothers of Charlottetown. It is known that they constructed other buildings on the site including the barn and foreman's residence built from 1910-11.
An interesting aspect of the grounds is the Royal Forest which was begun in 1912 by Superintendent J.A. Clark. In that year, the Governor General, the Duke of Connaught visited Charlottetown and he planted an American elm on July 30, 1912. Many other governors general followed the tradition. Royal visitors including, the Prince of Wales, later briefly Edward VIII planted an English oak in 1919. His niece, then Princess Elizabeth (later HM the Queen) planted another seedling grown from Edward's oak when she visited in 1951. When she returned in 1973 for PEI's centennial celebration, she made a stop at the same tree she had planted twenty years earlier. Prince Charles also planted an oak here in 1983 during his visit with Diana.
Although the work of the Experimental Farm has changed considerably in recent decades, the house and grounds remain the responsibility of Agriculture Canada.
Source: Culture and Heritage Division, PEI Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
File #: 4310-20/R1
Special Characteristics
The following character-defining elements illustrate the heritage value of Ravenwood:
- The symmetrical facade of the home with two stacked bays on either side
- The central entrance with portico
- The large hipped roof with cupola
- The remaining brick chimney
- The original sandstone foundation
- The hewn and pit-sawn timbers of the original house
- The fenestration of the windows and doors
Other character-defining elements include:
- The location of the home on its original foundation set on well manicured and landscaped grounds which hint at its early origins as a country estate
