Dewar House

The house is valued as a fine example of the Queen Anne Revival style and for its association with Dr. George Forbes Dewar.

George Forbes Dewar (1865-1961) was born in New Perth, PEI. He attended the local school and Prince of Wales College and became a teacher in nearby Cardigan. He decided on a career in medicine and was accepted to McGill University in Montreal. He graduated in 1893 with the top academic ranking of all those graduates from the Maritimes. In 1900, he married Marian Isabella McLeod and they had a son and a daughter.

His first medical practice was in Southport, now part of the Town of Stratford. He took over the patients of his uncle, Dr. John Knox. He was active as a physician at the PEI Hospital and his patients liked to call him "Dr. Splendid".

In 1903, he built the current house in the Queen Anne Revival style. This was at the height of fashion in the early 20th century and features a corner turret or tower and a large verandah sweeping across the front of the house.

Dewar entered provincial politics in 1911 when he was elected as a Conservative in a by-election. He was re-elected in 1912, the first time the Conservatives had formed a government on PEI since 1891. Both his brother and his son would also be involved in provincial politics.

He sold the house in 1917 to Leonard Wood. The current owner purchased it in 1998.

Source: Culture and Heritage Division, PEI Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8

File #: 4310-20/S22