La Petite France

The house is valued for its unique Stick Style influenced architectural details; for its association with former residents of Alberton; and for its contribution to the streetscape.

Fred L. Rogers (1845-1951) built the house in 1892-1894. George Gard was the carpenter. Rogers was the son of PEI Lieutenant Governor Benjamin Rogers (1837-1923). The elaborate Stick Style influences of the property are evident in its assymetrical configuration of an assortment of gable roofs, projecting square bay windows, and porches with turned posts and balusters. The exterior wall surfaces with their combination of decorative wood shingles with vertical and horizontal wood boards dividing the surfaces is also characteristic of the style.

Fred Rogers' sons became notable - Wendell Rogers was a WW I flying ace, while Hubert Rogers (1898-1982) became a renowned Canadian artist with an international reputation. He painted posters for the war effort during WW II, such as the 1943 work: "Attack on All Fronts". He also was commissioned to paint the 1943 Quebec Conference which now hangs in the Canadian War Museum. His portraits of Canadian government officials are displayed in Parliament and Rideau Hall. While working in the US, he did artwork for science fiction pulp magazines.

Two future Canadian prime ministers visited the house. Mackenzie-King in 1919 when he succeeded Laurier as head of the Liberal Party and ran for a seat in the riding of Prince in PEI. In 1978, Joe Clark was a guest of then owner, Rev. David MacDonald, a United Church minister who would later become a cabinet minister in Clark's 1979 Progressive Conservative government.

The property now serves as a bed and breakfast. Due to its many historical associations and its well preserved architectural elements the house remains a landmark in the Town of Alberton.

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

File #: 4310-20/L3