Description of Historic Place

The Alberton Railway Station is a fine example of picturesque railway architecture. Constructed of fieldstone, the building features a distinctive hipped roof and overhanging eaves. The station is in the Town of Alberton, Prince Edward Island adjacent to the former railway line, now part of the Confederation Trail.

Heritage Value

The Alberton Railway Station is significant as one of only two fieldstone or granite boulder stations constructed in PEI, the other being in Kensington. Constructed in 1904-1905, the building was designed by leading Charlottetown architect, Charles B. Chappell (1857-1931) and built by J.M. Clark & Co. of Summerside. Chappell designed numerous residences and public buildings including the Charlottetown City Hall (1887) and the former Prince of Wales College Building (1898) which has since been destroyed. He was also noted for his work in other areas of the Maritimes.

The Alberton Station served a vital economic role in Alberton. The railway was the central transportation link for moving passengers and freight throughout the province and beyond. This station replaced an earlier 1872-1874 wooden terminal style station that trains could drive through. The first freight trains arrived in Alberton in 1874, and a year later, passenger trains arrived. The first station had limited room to accommodate waiting or arriving passengers. In 1903 local Member of Parliament, Edward Hackett (1840-1916), petitioned the House of Commons for a new station to replace the "antiquated and out of date" one. C.B. Chappell produced a possible design for a new station in February 1904 and in March tenders were called for its construction with J.M. Clark & Co. winning the tender. The official opening of the station was held on 17 February 1905.

In 1964, the Canadian National Railway discontinued passenger service between Summerside and Tignish, though freight transportation continued until 1971. Following the station's closure in 1971, the building has been used as a museum, as headquarters of the Alberton Town Hall until 2012, as an exhibition space and tourist visitor centre and since 2015, as the Alberton branch of the PEI Public Library Service.

A tangible reminder the of importance of the railway system to the people of Prince Edward Island and its community, the historic Alberton Railway Station continues to be an important landmark serving the Town of Alberton.

Source: PEI Heritage Places Files, PEI Department of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
File #: 4320-20/A6

Character-Defining Elements

The heritage value of the Alberton Railway Station is shown in the following character-defining elements:

- the rare fieldstone or granite boulder construction
- the hipped roof with two intact chimneys
- the large roof overhangs
- the original style, size, and placement of the doors and windows
- the 1904 carved date stone above the east elevation arched window

Further contributing character-defining elements:

-the setting of the Railway Station within the Stone Station Park in Alberton
-the location of the Railway Station next to the former railway line, now known as the Confederation Trail
-original interior features including the wood mill work, wall and ceiling paneling and paneled doors