The rounded floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed brick, original concrete floors and exposed wood-planked roof showcase the more than century-long history attached to the Founders Hall building in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Once a railcar repair station, the building was later converted into an exhibit showcasing the story of Confederation and is now a modern market. While the building has gone through change, its bones remain to highlight its significant history.

All aboard

The Founders Hall property was built in 1906 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, presumably by the Canadian National Railway. The building was originally known as the CN Car Shop and was used as a repair facility for trains.

For decades, railcars passed through the building for maintenance and repairs, ensuring people and materials moved smoothly across the island. However, the use of Canadian railways began to decline throughout the ‘70s, and P.E.I.’s train line officially closed on December 31, 1989. While this left the CN Car Shop out of use for a short time, plans were quickly made to transform the building into a celebration of the island’s history.

A Confederation chapter

In the ‘90s, the Charlottetown Area Development Corporation (CADC) collaborated with the Capital Commission of P.E.I. (now Tourism Charlottetown and the P.E.I. Convention Project) and two private sector investors to restore the CN Car Shop. The $4 million project included repairs to its brick exterior, restoring its unique windows, adding a visitor centre and upgrading its electrical, ventilation and water systems.

The building was transformed into an exhibit space that showcased the history of the Canadian Confederation. Hence, its name change to Founders Hall. The museum opened in 2001 and welcomed 25,000 visitors in its first year. However, numbers dwindled throughout more than a decade of operation, and in 2012, it only welcomed about 8,000 people. The following year, CADC announced plans to close the space after 2014.

The market era

New life was given to Founders Hall again in 2019 when Port Charlottetown purchased the building and converted it into a food market. Its location in the heart of the waterfront in Charlottetown made it an ideal location. “Our CEO wanted to create a hub for locals and visitors to the island near the port, allowing them to experience our local businesses in a welcoming community space,” commented Mary-Elyn Keenan, Retail Operations Manager at Port Charlottetown.

The space is now branded as Founders’ Food Hall & Market, and has 18 businesses, which are mostly in the food and beverage space, plus six in retail. Inside, visitors can enjoy locally brewed beer, island spirits and food for every taste made with local ingredients. The organisation also hosts a variety of seasonal community events at the space, including adding an outdoor ice rink during the winter.

Keenan says the building itself is beautiful, with its tall, rounded windows and open ceilings; its bones still showcase a history that dates back 120 years.

---

• For more Web Exclusives, click here.