Honourable George Coles Building Clock - Charlottetown, PEI
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T0SHEA
N 46° 14.104 W 063° 07.517
20T E 490340 N 5120173
In a totally unexpected turn of events, the George Coles Building has come to house the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island.
Waymark Code: WMQ12P
Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada
Date Posted: 11/26/2015
Views: 4
This clock, not the original, is mounted on the southeast (front) face of the building, centered on the façade high above the main entrance. It is a replacement for the original, burned in the 1976 fire which nearly destroyed the building as well.
The George Coles Building, AKA the Law Courts Building, was constructed in the years 1874 to 1876 to house the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island, who first met in the building on January 11, 1876. The design was the work of local architect, Thomas Alley, who chose brick with stone trim for the building's exterior. An Italianate style building with mansard roof, it was renamed the Honourable George Coles Building after the 1976 fire in honour of PEI's first premier, also a Father of Confederation.
Prior to the construction of the George Coles Building, the law courts were housed in Province House from 1847 to 1872. The George Coles Building was nearly destroyed by fire in 1976, at which time the law courts were moved to a new building on the waterfront. The building's interior was rebuilt and renovated to house offices and the Public Archives of Prince Edward Island.
In 2013 an examination of Province House next door revealed serious structural deficiencies, which led to lengthy renovations. Shortly after it was reopened the building's problems proved to be even more serious than was realized and, on January 1st, 2015, the building was closed for three to five years for extensive repairs and the legislative assembly moved to the George Coles Building. The upshot is that the George Coles Building is, at present and for the foreseeable future, the seat of the Provincial Government of Prince Edward Island.
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