Duncan House





  

    

            


        		Town of Stratford -         
	 		 
							
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					                            Town of Stratford -                                                 Town of Stratford -                                                 Town of Stratford -                     					

                     				

						

	
	

	  	  		

				
Date of Construction:    1840

				
Style/Design:    Georgian

				
Architect/Builder:    Andrew and James Duncan 

				
Integrity:    
-Original windows in second storey.

-Original woodwork unique in interior.


 

				
Construction Methods:    
-Chimney built with original bricks.

-Original 18" planks in roof.

-Siding same as original-4 1/2 Island milled boards.

-Exterior Nantucket white.

				
Exterior Condition:    Excellent

				
Landmark:    
Family home of a very prominent shipbuilding family in the 19th century. Built by Andrew and James Duncan, the founders of Duncan & Co. Shipbuilding. It also played a significant role in the early days of the tourism industry on PEI having been operated as Keppoch Beach Hotel fo over 40 years.

				
Historical Context:    
Alexander MacDonnell, also known as Major MacDonnell, and his descendants held Keppoch Farm from 1804 to 1838 when it was sold to Andrew and James Duncan. MacDonnell named the property after his home, Keppoch, in Scotland. The Keppoch Farm House was built in 1840 by Andrew and James Duncan. At the same time, they also built the Lennox Hotel on the corner of Prince and Water Streets in Charlottetown. It was built in the same design as the Keppoch Farm House. In 1854, James sold Keppoch Farm House to Dr. Henry Hillcoat. In 1858, Dr. Hillcoat exchanged the property with Charles Welsh and his sons for a ship built at Vernon River. Dr. Hillcoat and his family sailed for England. On the voyage, a son fell overboard and Dr.Hillcoat drowned in rescue efforts.




The property then went to Charles Welsh's daughter Hetty and her husband Robert Barker. About 1873, Mrs. Barker sold the property to her brother William Welsh, who conducted a shipbuilding, ship and mercantle business with his brother-in-law L.C. Owen (Welsh and Owen). I 1905, on William Welsh's death, the property went to his nephew William Owen.




In 1922, William Owen sold the property to W.H.V. Dunbar who ran the home, along with cottages, as a summer resort. On the death of Mr. Dunbar in 1947, the property was sold to Roland Paton, Frank MacPhee and Charles Trainor who continued with the hotel operation until 1965. The house was left empty for 8 years, where it faced possible demolition. Thomas and Charles McMillan, in 1973, bought the house and moved it to a site about a 1/2 mile north-west from it's original location with the aim of preserving some Island heritage. That preservation continues today as the present owners endeavor to return the property to its original condition.