Description of Historic Place

The Campbell Summer Home in Stanley Bridge consists of a large, asymmetrical hip roofed 1 ½ storey wood shingled cottage, and a smaller one storey wood shingled cottage. The two buildings are connected by a stone walkway and trellis. The style of the buildings is reminiscent of a Scottish country lodge and are picturesquely situated on a hillside property overlooking the Stanley River in the rural community of Stanley Bridge, Prince Edward Island.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of the Campbell Summer Home lies in its rare and unique architectural style for rural Prince Edward Island, as an example of the work of architect John Marshall Hunter, and for its historical associations with the Campbell family.

Designed by Scottish-born architect John Marshall Hunter (1881-1942), a leading architect of the day, the Campbell Summer Home is two cottages designed and built in the Scottish Country lodge style and are connected by a walkway and trellis.

Dating from 1938-1939 - the larger cottage building or "Big House" was constructed in 1938 for Thane and Cecilia (Bradshaw) Campbell and the smaller building, known as the "Little House", was completed in 1939 for Cecilia's parents Melvin and Elysha Bradshaw. The Campbells named the property "Bellagio" after visiting that area in Italy. The entrance to the heavily wooded property is through fine stone gates, thus the property is also known as "Stone Gate Cottage."

Thane Campbell (1895-1978) was named Prince Edward Island's 19th Premier in 1936 upon the death of Premier Walter Lea. Campbell served as premier until 1943 when he resigned to take up the appointment of Chief Justice of PEI which he held until his retirement at age 75 in 1970. Campbell was educated at Dalhousie University and was a Rhodes Scholar. He practiced law in Summerside and served as Attorney General prior to being elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1931. During Campbell's administration he created the public civil service and the PEI national park was established. Actively involved in the community, Campbell was a member of numerous organizations including the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board, the board of Governors of St. Dunstan's University and Dalhousie University. He later received honourary degrees from these universities and was chancellor of the University of PEI. In 1973 Thane Campbell was appointed a companion of the Order of Canada. Thane Campbell's son, Alex Campbell, was PEI's 23rd premier, in office from 1966-1978.

The cottages retain much of their original historic fabric and are in excellent condition. Some recent updates included a new foundation and a re-building of the chimney re-using the stones. In 1978, the property passed to Thane Campbell's daughter and is currently owned by his grandson.

On elaborate grounds with stone terracing, landscaping, and mature trees, the cottages were located on a 13-acre plot which is still largely held by members of the Campbell family. The Campbell Summer Home continues to be an important component in the rural landscape of Stanley Bridge.

Heritage Places files, Dept of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport & Culture, Charlottetown, PE
File #: 4310-20/C22

Character-Defining Elements

The heritage value of the Campbell Summer Home in Stanley Bridge is shown in the following character-defining elements:

- the scale and asymmetrical massing of the two houses
- the wood shingle cladding in wide "Royale" British Columbia cedar shingles, largely original
- the pitch and slope of the various rooflines - hipped and gable
- the wood tongue and groove boards which line the eaves
- the size and placement of the multi-paned wood windows
- the 5" wide plain wood trim of the windows and doors
- the hipped roof dormers of the "Big House" with wide corner boards
- the gable roofed bay window on the main level of the "Big House"
- the Palladian window on the main level facade

Further contributing heritage character-defining elements:

- the trellis and walkway adjoining the two houses
- the well-maintained landscaping with surrounding lawns with mature trees, gardens and stone walkways
- the property's stone entrance gates
- its location on a hillside overlooking the Stanley River