Description of Historic Place

299 Euston Street is a Second Empire style home that has been converted into an apartment building. Built in approximately 1875, by local builder and businessman Robert Fennell (1841-1914), the home stands as a testament to his ability. The designation encompasses the building’s exterior and parcel; it does not include the building’s interior.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of 299 Euston Street lies in its association with Robert Fennell, its Second Empire influenced architecture, and its importance to the Euston Street streetscape.

Robert Fennell bought the three parcels of land that his home would be built on between 1872 and 1875. It is not clear when exactly Fennel built the home but it can be assumed that it was after Fennel purchased the third parcel of land in 1875.

The popularity of the Second Empire style was at its height when Fennel constructed this house. Characterized by the definitive Mansard roof, dormers, eave bracketing, and clapboard exterior, this example is one of the more modest expressions of the style in Charlottetown.

An interesting man, Fennel emigrated from Prince Edward Island to New Zealand in 1858, when he was just 17 years old. After spending two years in Auckland and another year and a half whaling, Fennel returned to Prince Edward Island where he became the apprentice of prominent local architect, Thomas Alley. After his apprenticeship was over, he moved to the United States where he worked for two years until he returned to Prince Edward Island, where he would go on to build many homes in the Charlottetown area. Eventually, Fennel retired from carpentry and went into the hardware business with RB Norton and later Charles Chandler, in the firm of Fennel & Chandler.

The Fennel family would live at 299 Euston Street until 1916, when the home was sold to local veterinarian, Dr. William T. Pethick and his wife. The home remained a residence for some time but eventually the building was converted for use as an apartment building.

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

The following Second Empire influenced character-defining elements illustrate the heritage value of 299 Euston Street:
- The overall massing of the building
- The style and placement of the windows, particularly the windows of the first floor facade with their ornate stained glass transom lights, as well as the windows of the second floor facade with their fanlights.
- The size and placement of the doors despite the fact that the original doors were replaced with a more modern design.
- The mouldings and trim running throughout the building’s exterior, including the indented oval carving in the frieze board, the ear moulded window surrounds and the decorative brackets
- The off centre verandah of the south side with its rounded columns
- The Mansard roof with its gabled dormers and decorative bracket detailing

Other character-defining elements include:
- The location of the building on Euston Street