55 Upper Prince Street / The Ritz

The heritage value of 55 Upper Prince Street lies in its association with the former Grace Methodist Church; its role as a once prestigious apartment building in Charlottetown; and its role in supporting the Upper Prince Street streetscape.

A notice appeared in the 15 August 1918 edition of the local newspaper, the Guardian announcing that the Grace Methodist Church was for sale. Those interested were asked to send tenders to the residence of Secretary Trustee R.E. Mutch. Earlier in the year, the congregation had united with the First Methodist Church, or what is now Trinity United Church. Another notice appeared five days later announcing that Mr. Ernest E. Parkman had purchased the former church building and the property. His intention was to remodel the church and turn it into an apartment building. The new building would cost $12 000 to renovate, contain six apartments and would be "modern in every respect". Each apartment featured a front hall, living room, dining room, pantry, kitchen, three bedrooms and a linen closet. The building had two furnaces, a full time janitor, electricity and hardwood floors, which were soundproof due to the six inches of concrete underneath. When it opened as "The Ritz", the apartment building was one of the more fashionable residences in Charlottetown in the 1920s.

Unfortunately, the building caught fire in 1939. At least $6000 damage was done to the structure. According to the 15 May 1939 edition of the local newspaper, the Guardian, the fire was caused by children burning grass in the nearby Old Protestant Burying Ground. The fire was originally reported as a grass fire and by the time the true nature of the fire was reported, it had destroyed a nearby garage and had damaged a section of the building from the basement up to the roof. The building was repaired however, and it still serves as an apartment building today.

A well maintained building with an interesting history, 55 Upper Prince Street is an asset to the Upper Prince Street streetscape.

Sources: Heritage Office, City of Charlottetown Planning Department, PO Box 98, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7K2

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