Description of Historic Place

The Dalvay-by-the-Sea Hotel in the Prince Edward Island National Park of Canada is a large, two-and-a-half storey, asymmetrical building in the Queen Anne Revival style. A half-timbered and stucco structure on a cobblestone base, it features steeply pitched gable roofs, ornamented with dormers and tall chimneys, and a profusion of balconies, bay windows and an encircling verandah. Located on large flat and open grounds between the ocean and a soft water lake, the former residence dominates its surroundings. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Dalvay-by-the-Sea Hotel is a Classified Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical value:
The Dalvay-by-the-Sea Hotel is one of the best examples of the opulent summer homes built in Canada by wealthy and prominent Americans at the turn of the century. It also illustrates the growth of the National Parks system, and the transformation of the island’s north shore from an agricultural to tourist vocation. Built for Alexander McDonald, president of Standard Oil of Kentucky and owned by his family until 1915, it changed hands several times before being converted to a summer hotel in 1932. The building was acquired by the federal government in 1937, at the time of the establishment of Prince Edward Island National Park of Canada.

Architectural value:
The Dalvay-by-the-Sea Hotel is an excellent example of the Queen Anne Revival style, popular at the turn of the century and well suited for a vacation property, with features such as its large encircling verandah. Built in two phases, the building displays excellent craftsmanship and use of a variety of materials, some of them local, both on its exterior and interior. A generously proportioned residence intended for a numerous household and many guests, it has adapted well for use as a hotel.




Environmental value:
The Dalvay-by-the-Sea Hotel establishes the picturesque character of its seaside setting, and dominates the eastern end of Prince Edward Island National Park, by the prominence of its form in a flat, open landscape. Dalvay-by-the-Sea Hotel is a familiar landmark at the regional level, and has given its name to the neighbouring beach and east entrance of the national park.

Sources: Margaret Coleman, Dalvay-by-the-Sea Hotel, Prince Edward Island National Park. Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 88-034; Dalvay-by-the-Sea Hotel, Prince Edward Island. Heritage Character Statement 88-034.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Dalvay-by-the-Sea Hotel should be respected.

The building’s archetypal Queen Anne Revival style, very good functional design and excellent quality materials and craftsmanship, as manifested in: the steeply pitched gabled form and asymmetrical composition of the building, the articulated roofline, punctuated by gables and dormers and the profusion of secondary elements, such as the balconies, bay-windows, and encircling verandah; the contrasts in colours and textures created by the diversity of materials and assemblies, such as the sandstone cobble base, half timbered and stuccoed upper floors, shingles at the roof and dormers, spindlework, etc.; the interior planning, layout, details, finishes and fittings, and those of the principal rooms of the ground floor in particular, including the stair and double-height stair hall, the central feature of a typical Queen Anne Revival layout; the historic partitions and finishes of the second and third floors.

The manner in which the building establishes the character of its sea-side setting and is a regional landmark: the approach and views to and from the house, which give way to long open vistas of the sea, lake and surrounding grassy lawns; the design, modest scale and compatibility of the complex’s ancillary buildings to the house, which reinforces the picturesque character of the ensemble; the building’s function as a summer hotel along the sandy beaches of Prince Edward Island National Park of Canada.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

Dalvay-by-the-Sea was built as the private summer residence of Alexander MacDonald in 1896. It was used by the family until 1915, then changed hands a number of times before being converted into a summer hotel in 1932. The building was purchased by the federal government in 1937 with the establishment of Prince Edward Island National Park. A small area in the building was used as park offices from 1937 to the mid-1940s. In 1939, a kitchen extension was constructed. When the building reopened to the public in 1939, it opened as a summer hotel, with the park offices continuing to occupy a few rooms. It is still operated as a summer hotel by a concessionaire. Environment Canada is the custodial department. See FHBRO Building Report 88-34.

Reason for Designation
The building was designated Classified because it is an excellent example of an opulent summer home of wealthy and prominent Americans situated in a rural setting. It is also important because of its later association with the establishment of Prince Edward Island National Park.

Dalvay-by-the-Sea is an excellent example of the Queen Anne revival style country house displaying all the characteristics of that style, both inside and out, including excellent craftsmanship and the use of local materials.

Although the site has been altered, it retains much of its original character. The house is an important landmark in the area.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage value of Dalvay-by-the-Sea resides in the entirety of its Queen Anne revival style architecture and planning, and in the quality of its environment.

Queen Anne revival style architecture and detailing is characterized in Dalvay by its steeply pitched gabled form, asymmetrical composition, its profusion of secondary elements - balconies, bay windows, grouped windows, spindlework, the contrasting texture of its surfaces, and its encircling verandah. The house employs all the elements of the style including excellent craftsmanship and the use of regional materials (in this case sandstone cobbles as the base of the verandah). The architectural elements, details, and fabric of the exterior of the building should be carefully preserved and maintained. All repairs should be carried out using matching materials and details.

Some erosion of the purity of the architecture has taken place through the addition of modern elements. During development work their removal should be considered. The fire escape on the north-west elevation, because of its location on a principle elevation of the building, is intrusive. The appearance of the building would benefit from its relocation if possible. The kitchen wing of 1939 is also out of character and scale with the original house. Its removal would enhance the building and, if at all possible, should be considered. No further additions should be constructed to Dalvay.

Paint colours are an important aspect of Queen Anne revival design. Investigations should be carried out prior to next painting to determine early colours.

The architecture of the interior; the planning, layout, details, finishes, and fittings, is every bit as significant as that of the exterior. This applies to the principal rooms and features of the original building. All surviving elements should be carefully preserved and protected and every effort made to reinstate missing elements. The removal of modern intrusions is encouraged.

The layout of rooms on the second and third floors has been altered by the adaptation of the original bedrooms as guest rooms - mostly by the insertion of bathrooms and closets. The guest room areas of these floors could be managed with some flexibility. Future adjustments and alterations to these areas should be carried out within the context of surviving features of the original layout - partitions, finishes, corridors and stairs. It is recommended that investigations be carried out to determine the original plan of the building and to identify these features. The stair to the second floor and the all features of the second floor stairhall should be carefully maintained.

The kitchen wing is of less concern and could be managed with some flexibility.

The long open vista created by the grassy lawns and the lake are important to both the long approach to the house and views from the house itself.
These characteristics should be retained and remain free of development. Existing non-historic buildings on the property are sited and of such design and proportions that they do not seriously detract from the house. Future development should be kept to a minimum and be of such design, material and scale so as to not detract from Dalvay itself. Its siting should be carefully considered and controlled and its design consistent with the character of outbuildings; modest in scale and compatible in design. Copying of Queen Anne design or details is not recommended. Surviving elements from the historic landscape design should be identified through a landscape survey so their protection can be provided for during development and in maintenance plans.

The landscape around Dalvay is relatively flat and open. Dalvay dominates the area and the site and attracts the eye. It should continue to do so.