Built beginning in 1906, the building first came into use in June of 1908. For the first years of its life it turned out beautifully finished railway carriages to be used on the Island's rail line. The shop only built railway carriages for a few years, after which it became strictly a car repair and maintenance facility.
The building stood derelict and deteriorating for several years, until it was rebuilt to become the
Founder's Hall Interpretive Centre. The $4-million attraction opened in 2001 and told the story of Confederation, starting with the Charlottetown Conference in 1864. The centre remained open until 2015 but, due to lack of sufficient revenue, did not reopen in 2016. The visitor information centre has moved out, as well, but a few businesses, such as restaurants, remain. It's not certain what else is presently housed within at present.
A CBC News story of October 17, 2016, reproduced in part below, is just one of the many stories which aired or were published concerning the building and its fate.
RAILWAY CAR SHOP
On November 30, 1905 fire destroyed several of the wooden manufacturing shops at the Charlottetown rail yard. To reduce the risk of future fires, it was decided to rebuild the shops in brick. E.A. Wallberg of Montreal was the contractor. The car shop was used for the construction of well-appointed passenger cars. Starting with a set of wheels at one end of the building, carpenters and machinists would send beautifully finished carriages out the massive doors at the other end. After 1910 the shop was used to repair dilapidated cars or get them ready for scrap. The building was extensively renovated in 2001. A substantial northwest wing was added at that time.
From the City of Charlottetown Plaque
Founders Hall is up for sale
By Brian Higgins, CBC News Posted: Oct 17, 2016 6:00 PM AT
There's a for sale sign on the front lawn of Founders Hall in Charlottetown.
The waterfront tourist attraction closed its door last fall, due to declining visitors, and now the Charlottetown Area Development Corporation has put the building and its land up for sale.
The asking price is $4.8 million.
"With declining visitation, it became uneconomical to continue to operate it," said CADC general manager Ron Waite. "It's now time to let the private sector try to take it to its next level."
The decision to sell came at the most recent meeting of CADC's board of directors in September.
"With declining visitation, it became uneconomical to continue to operate it," said CADC general manager Ron Waite. "It's now time to let the private sector try to take it to its next level."
The decision to sell came at the most recent meeting of CADC's board of directors in September.
Read on at CBC News