Description of Historic Place

Hazeldean is a late Victorian - Arts and Crafts style farm cottage with asymmetrical dormers, an umbrage protecting the front entrance located in a picturesque rural setting in the community of Springfield.

Heritage Value

Hazeldean is valued for its age, architectural importance, its excellent condition, historical associations and its importance to its community.

Construction of this William Critchlow Harris (1854-1913) designed late Victorian - Arts and Crafts home began in 1892. The builder was Nathan MacFarlane who also built St. Mary's Church in Indian River. The home is an excellent design - a farm "cottage" - and the only rural farmhouse designed by Harris that is in its original condition. The home was built for George L. Haslam (1864-1947) and his wife Lucy Palmer (1865-1944) who married in 1894. George was the son of Robert and Jane Haslam who lived in the "Stone Cottage" once located nearby. The Haslam family were early settlers in Springfield. Lucy Palmer grew up at Ozendyke in DeSable, and was a niece of former Premier and Father of Confederation Edward Palmer (1809-1889). Prior to her marriage Lucy taught school in Malpeque between 1887-1890. Lucy also maintained diaries, letters and records of her life at Hazeldean. These records have been deposited with the Public Archives and Records Office of Prince Edward Island. George and Lucy Haslam lived at Hazeldean all their lives and had five children: Muriel, Robert, Reginald, Lloyd and James. Upon their deaths, their son Reg Haslam (1900-1971) and his wife, school teacher, genealogist and author, Doris Muncey (1905-2000) inherited the house and farm. After Reg's death, Doris and her sister-in-law, Muriel Haslam, continued to live in the home and operated it as a bed and breakfast.

Hazeldean is an important landmark in its community and continues to be owned and occupied by Haslam family descendants.

Source : Culture and Heritage Division, Department of Tourism and Culture, Charlottetown, PE
File # : 4310-20/H23

Character-Defining Elements

The heritage value of the heritage place is shown in the following character-defining elements:

- the overall massing of the building
- the pitch of the roof, with the lower front eave line
- the wood clapboard and shingle cladding
- the board and batten detailing in the gable ends and dormers of the front elevation
- the size, shape and placement of the various-sized gabled dormers of the front elevation
- the placement of the doors
- the umbrage protecting the front entrance, with lattice trim and railing
- the size and placement of the multi-paned windows
- the double bay windows on the south elevation
- the placement of the chimneys
- the dormer on the east elevation
- the single storey addition on the back elevation
- the protruding belt course on the side elevations between first and second storeys and attic
- the location of the residence in a picturesque rural setting