It's not that they were burning them down, as were so many other towns, but that the town's continued growth continually outpaced the ability of the railway stations to keep up. The first station, built in the mid 1870s, served only a couple of years before it was replaced for lack living quarters in 1878. The second served until 1906, at which time it was relocated to become the station master's residence.
Built in 1904-1905, this was one of the largest and most elaborate stations on Prince Edward Island. As well, it was one of only two built of stone, using fieldstone from Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. The other is in Alberton.
The railway terminated passenger service in 1969 and shut down the line completely in 1989, leaving the stations along the line derelict. Designated a National Historic Site in 1976 and a Provincial Heritage Property in March of 2015, it wasn't until 2007 that restoration began on the building. It has been used for various purposes since, most having to do with tourism. The Town of Kensington has owned the station since 1985.
Kensington Railway Station
DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE
Kensington Railway Station is a rare example of a "boulder station" built in the picturesque style located in the heart of the town of Kensington next to the former railway tracks which are now part of the Confederation Trail.
HERITAGE VALUE
The Kensington Railway Station was built in 1905 by M.F. Schurman and Company to plans by architect C. B. Chappell. The railway station is rare in that it is one of only two railway stations in Prince Edward Island built of fieldstones or boulders, the other being in Alberton. This station was the third building built in Kensington for the purpose, the first two proving inadequate for the size of the community and demands on its use. The first station was replaced as it lacked living quarters. The second station, built in 1878, was a mansard-roofed station house. This building was relocated in 1906 to Imperial Street to serve as a residence for the station master.
The 1905 Kensington Railway Station was one the most elaborate stations in the province. The station is constructed of fieldstone from western Prince County, PEI and New Brunswick. The construction of this beautiful and elaborate new building shows the rise of the community and development of the economy of Kensington. The architect, C. B. Chappell, was a prominent and prolific Island architect of the day.
The Kensington Railway Station closed in 1969 following the end of passenger service. Freight trains continued to pass through Kensington until 1989.
In 1976, the Kensington Railway Station was designated as a National Historic Site, recognizing its distinctive architecture and its significant role in the history of the PEI railway.
In 2007 restoration work was undertaken including work to the windows, wood shingle roof and repairs to the chimney, stucco work, and soffits. Painting, plumbing and electrical upgrades were also carried out.
In recent years, the station has been used as a library, tourist information site, box office for the Indian River Festival and to house a collection of railway memorabilia of the PEI Railway Heritage Association. Today the station is home to the Island Stone Pub.
CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS
The heritage value of the station is shown in the following character-defining elements:
- the fieldstone and wood construction
- the location of the station beside the railway tracks
- the steeply pitched gable roof
- the roof extensions on the east and west elevations, supported by a stone column
- the copper finials topping roof extensions
- the original door and window openings
- the large boulders at the corners and around tops of windows and doors
- the prominent door and window surrounds
- the Wallace stone window sills
- the centrally placed track-side telegrapher's bay with large arched window under an elaborately detailed gable
- front projecting gable on south/front elevation with Wallace stone voussoirs, each with a letter of the word "Kensington" and topped with the date "1905"
- the original decorative bracketing on the front gable projection
From Historic Places Canada