58 Hunt Avenue / Huntington

The heritage value of Huntington lies in its association with local politician, James Warburton (1810-1892) and its role as an example of the lifestyle of the affluent that lived in the Charlottetown Royalty in the late 19th Century.

It is not clear when Huntington was constructed but it appears at its present location in J. H. Meacham's Illustrated Historical Atlas of the Province of Prince Edward Island for 1880. The home is listed as Huntingdon, the home of Hon. James Warburton.

The older part of Huntington shows strong Georgian influences with a rectangular plan and a gable roof. The Georgian style emerged from 18th Century Britain and was intent on expressing confidence, order and balance. It was a common style of home in 19th century Prince Edward Island. Although Huntington has been altered considerably, the original part of the home exhibits some Georgian characteristics such as the rectangular plan and gable roof.

James Warburton was a land agent and politician. Originally from Ireland, he came to Prince Edward Island in 1834. He lived in the western end of the Island in Lot 11 for a number of years before he and his family moved to Charlottetown in 1873. Warburton was active in the Island's pre-Confederation public life and served as Treasurer, Provincial Secretary and Colonial Secretary. Members of his family would also become prominent in Island society. His son, James Warburton junior (1855-1928), was a medical doctor and Mayor of Charlottetown, while another one of his sons, Alexander Bannerman Warburton (1852-1929) was a Member of Parliament, Premier of Prince Edward Island, a judge and an author.

Huntington is representative of the lifestyle of the wealthy that lived in the Charlottetown Royalty in the 19th Century. During this period, men of considerable means bought large tracts of land outside the City in the Royalty in order to create large estates. Their plan was to live like the country gentlemen of Britain.

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

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