Historical monument stands alone

This plaque is part of a school erected in 1926 as a memorial to soldiers of the First World War. It can be seen on the side of the former Montague school at 112 Fraser Street.




By Charlotte MacAulay

A plaque commemorating the fallen soldiers in the First World War is perched on the north side of an abandon building on Fraser Street.
The building was erected in 1926 as the Montague Memorial school and remained the school until consolidation during the 1960s when it was sold to the Royal Canadian Legion #8.
In 1996 when the legion could no longer afford to keep the building it was sold to Oak Acres Children’s Camp Inc.
The most recent group to use the building was the Generation XX youth group, but it now sits empty and is for sale by the company.
When asked if the building had any historical value the Legion, President, Gilbert Murphy, said they did look into acquiring the plaque a few years ago, but were not able to.
He said since the building is for sale they could ask the owners if anything could be done. All they could say is no he said.
Local historian Donna Collins made an attempt to have the building preserved in 2007.
“Heritage is a part of the building, I can remember moving from that school to the new one,” Ms Collins said.
She did the research and applied to the PEI Register of Heritage Places to have the building registered but it was declined.
The heritage places review board reviews applications based on a number of criteria, one of which is alterations from the original state.
Charlotte Stewart, Heritage Officer with the province said the building had too many alteration inside and out that detracted from its heritage character.