L.M. Montgomery's paternal grandfather, Senator Donald Montgomery, lived in Park Corner, Prince Edward Island—a place that held a special place in her heart. In her journals, Montgomery fondly described her grandfather as “just like a grandfather out of a story. I love him. He is always so good and kind and gentle to me.” The warmth and charm of his home deeply influenced Montgomery, inspiring the creation of Ingleside, the cherished home of Anne and Gilbert Blythe. Many items from this house found their way into the pages of the Anne of Green Gables series and The Story Girl.
Known as "Big Donald" to distinguish him from a cousin of the same name, Senator Montgomery was both a respected farmer and a prominent politician. His political career spanned decades, serving as a representative, member, and speaker of the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly from 1838 to 1874. After Prince Edward Island joined the Canadian Confederation in 1873, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate, where he served until his death in 1893.
Senator Donald Montgomery's house, a place brimming with history, sits beside the picturesque Lake of Shining Waters and is just across the street from the Campbell Homestead (Silver Bush), which now houses The Anne of Green Gables Museum.
When I visited Prince Edward Island in 2006, the house was a museum called the Lucy Maud Montgomery Heritage Museum. The museum was one of my favorite L.M. Montgomery sites. What made it so special was the personal guided tour of the home by Robert Montgomery, L.M. Montgomery’s cousin and a great-grandson of Senator Donald Montgomery. He was incredibly generous with his time, sharing stories and insights that brought the history of the house to life. Unlike many other sites, this house still contained its original furnishings, offering a rare glimpse into the world that shaped L.M. Montgomery. The home was filled with antiques, books, artifacts, and photographs, all telling the rich history of the Montgomery family and revealing the treasures that inspired one of Canada’s most beloved authors.
Senator Donald Montgomery's house has been known by many names over the years—Park Corner, Montgomery Manor, the Heath Montgomery Home, and notably, the Lucy Maud Montgomery Heritage Museum. In 2011, L.M. Montgomery’s cousin, Robert Montgomery, decided to sell the house. His son, Paul Montgomery, purchased it, breathing new life into the historic home by renovating and redecorating it. Today, it stands as the Montgomery Inn at Ingleside, inviting visitors to experience its rich history as a charming inn.
When I visited the Lucy Maud Montgomery Heritage Museum, I had the chance to explore a collection of artifacts that vividly brought Montgomery’s world to life. I’m not sure if these treasures remain on display at the inn, but their impact on me was unforgettable.
Outside the house stands the pulpit stone mentioned in The Story Girl.
It was special to see the tea set that inspired Marilla Cuthbert's rosebud spray tea set. Anne admired its beauty and dreamed of serving Diana tea with this set in Anne of Green Gables.
Another highlight was Magog, one of a pair of white and green spotted china dogs that L.M. Montgomery adored as a child. She wrote fondly of these dogs in her journals: "When I was a little girl, visiting at Grandfather Montgomery's, I think the thing that most enthralled me was a pair of China dogs which always sat on the sitting room mantel piece..." Though Magog’s twin, Gog, had sadly broken, Magog was still proudly displayed. Years later, L.M. Montgomery herself sought out a similar pair of china dogs during her honeymoon in England and Scotland, a journey that ended with the purchase of a set with gold spots—a close but not identical match to her grandfather’s originals.
These beloved china dogs appear throughout the Anne of Green Gables series. In Anne of the Island, Anne Shirley is captivated by the sight of two china dogs at Patty's Place. She has gone there to meet Miss Patty and Miss Maria in the hopes of renting their house. L.M. Montgomery writes, "just behind each sat a large white china dog, with round green spots all over it, a green nose and green ears. Those dogs captured Anne’s fancy on the spot; they seemed like the twin guardian deities of Patty’s Place." Years later in Anne's House of Dreams, Miss Patty and Miss Maria give Anne the dogs as a wedding gift, noting that, "You will not have forgotten that Gog looks to the right and Magog to the left.” These loyal guardians of Patty’s Place later preside over the Blythe household, making appearances in Anne of Ingleside and Rainbow Valley.
During my visit, I couldn’t resist buying a pair of miniature Gog and Magog china dogs from Robert Montgomery’s gift shop. He explained that they were crafted by a local PEI artist, making them even more special since most Anne souvenirs are imported. For me, these tiny dogs held extra significance, as I purchased them during my own honeymoon, echoing Montgomery’s own search for her cherished china dogs.
On the walls of the home, there was even a handmade wall hanging featuring Gog and Magog.
Below Magog was the china fruit basket mentioned in The Story Girl (Chapter XII, The Blue Chest of Rachel Ward).
The house was filled with special photos and treasures, each telling a story of its own. Among them was a piece of sheet music from the 1919 silent film Anne of Green Gables starring Mary Miles Minter.
After exploring the museum, I took a walk down "The Alpine Path," a picturesque, forested trail that led to the Lake of Shining Waters.
L.M. Montgomery gives an explanation for this name in her 1917 autobiography, titled The Alpine Path: The Story of My Career. In the opening, Montgomery writes:
"Many years ago, when I was still a child, I clipped from a current magazine a bit of verse, entitled 'To the Fringed Gentian,' and pasted it on the corner of the little portfolio on which I wrote my letters and school essays. Every time I opened the portfolio I read one of those verses over; it was the key-note of my every aim and ambition:
'Then whisper, blossom, in thy sleep
How I may upward climb
The Alpine path, so hard, so steep,
That leads to heights sublime;
How I may reach that far-off goal
Of true and honoured fame,
And write upon its shining scroll
A woman’s humble name.'
The Alpine Path was a serene place. I couldn't help but feel connected to Montgomery's world.
As I walked through, I caught a glimpse of L.M. Montgomery's Lake of Shining Waters though the trees.
Here is the peaceful Lake of Shining Waters. I could see why Montgomery loved this tranquil place.
I visited many years ago when the house was still a museum, and I wonder where all those cherished artifacts are now. The house has since been transformed into an inn, and I’m not sure if any of those treasures remain on display.
The house may soon undergo another transformation. On July 5, 2024, the property was listed for sale. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a historic home on Prince Edward Island, this could be your chance. For $899,900 CAD, you could make this piece of literary history your own.
Official Website:
Montgomery Inn at Ingleside Prince Edward Island
Location:
Senator Donald Montgomery's House. Montgomery Inn at Ingleside Prince Edward Island.
4615 Route 20, Park Corner, 4615 PE-20, Kensington, PE C0B 1M0, Canada.
Image credits:
Photographs by
World of Anne Shirley.
Map copyright Google Maps.
References:
The Hon. Donald Montgomery, Senator. The Parliament of Canada. Retrieved from:
https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=9612
Kitts, Colleen. (2016, April 15). Historic Montgomery house gets a new life thanks to Lucy Maud descendant. CBC News. Retrieved from:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/montgomery-inn-pei-1.3537617
Lucy Maud Montgomery museum up for sale. (2012, August 21). CBC News. Retrieved from:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/lucy-maud-montgomery-museum-up-for-sale-1.1212105
Montgomery family home reopens as 4-star inn. (2016, September 16). CBC News. Retrieved from:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/lucy-maud-montgomery-ingleside-inn-1.3766862
Montgomery, L.M.
Anne of the Island. L.C. Page & Company, 1915.
Montgomery, L.M.
Anne's House of Dreams. McClelland, Goodchild and Stewart, Limited. 1917.
Montgomery, L.M.
The Alpine Path. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited, 1997. pages 74–75.
Montgomery, L.M.
The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery, Volume I: 1889–1910. ed. Mary Rubio and Elizabeth Waterston. Oxford University Press, 1985. page 25.
Montgomery, L.M.
The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery, Volume II: 1910–1921. ed. Mary Rubio and Elizabeth Waterston. Oxford University Press, 1987. page 76.
Senator Donald Montgomery House. Canada’s Historic Places. Parks Canada. Retrieved from:
https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=20523
Property Description for 4615 Route 20. RE/MAX Canada.
Retrieved from: https://www.remax.ca/luxury/pe/park-corner-real-estate/4615-route-20-wp_idm73000004-27124644-lst
Created July 17, 2007. Last
updated August 19, 2024.
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