317 Beaver Street

The heritage value of the Holman-Tuplin House lies in its association with various prominent Summerside residents; its Colonial Revival architecture; and its contribution to the streetscape. This grand home was built by H.T.Holman, son of Prince Edward Island mercantile giant, R.T. Holman. Holman just completed the home in 1910 when the lucrative Silver Fox industry exploded in Prince Edward Island creating millionaires almost overnight. One such wealthy fox rancher, Frank Tuplin, would soon purchase the property by exchanging a breeding pair of silver foxes for the house - a $15,000 value that speaks volumes of the times and the culture that the new silver black fox industry was creating. Holman with his wife and family promptly moved one lot westward constructing a new and larger home on an equally large lot.

The Stavert family of the Summerside Bank and later the Bank of New Brunswick also owned the property. The longest term occupant/owner was Dr. J. Claude Simpson, who had established a medical practice in Summerside in 1927 and later was chief surgeon at the Prince County Hospital and one of the founders of the Summerside Medical Centre. Later, during much of the 1960s and 1970s, D. Alex MacDonald, owner of the local Ford automobile dealership, resided here.

Heritage value also lies in the Colonial Revival architectural style of the Holman-Tuplin House. The use of this style reflects both the influence of New England architectural styles in the Maritimes as well as the new prosperity which was emerging with the growth of the silver fox industry. This example has a square footprint of two storeys, a symmetrical facade, and a hipped roof with triangular dormers. Tradition says that five artisans from England were employed in its construction for over a year, a significantly long period of time when compared to the standards of the day.

The home continues to contribute to the streetscape of Beaver Street. It is evocative of the wealth and social status of its original owners and is a fine example of a Colonial Revival house in Summerside.