The 1911 Armoury in Summerside holds a prominent place in the city’s history.
During both the First and Second World Wars, the Armoury was the face of the patriotic home-front effort. Many young men from Prince County walked through its doors to enlist in military service. It was also the local home base for the work of the women of the Red Cross and for the many fundraising efforts mounted in support of both wars. Post-war, the Armoury faithfully served the local militia unit until 1992, when the militia moved to larger quarters at Slemon Park. Summerside’s municipal government purchased the building following its decommissioning and housed several municipal departments there for years.
Under Culture Summerside, it gained new purpose, attracting the International Fox Museum and Hall of Fame into the building. Subsequently, the second level became an art and historic exhibit space named Gallery 33. But time eventually took its toll on this historic building, and numerous upgrades were required on all levels to address water problems and other issues. An extensive 24-month renovation and restoration project has given the building new life as the Summerside Interpretive Centre, a facility that embraces Culture Summerside’s vision for the property.
That vision respects the building’s architecture and unique stories while guaranteeing the Armoury a place in the community for another 100 years. As part of that vision, the wealth of historic assets embodied by the building have been refurbished, and modern smart-screen technology and digital graphics have been used to bring Summerside’s storied past to life. In addition to housing the International Fox Museum and Hall of Fame, the centre presents multiple exhibits about the people, places, and stories of Summerside and P.E.I.
For its role in the sensitive rehabilitation of the historic 1911 Armoury on Summer Street, Culture Summerside has been awarded a Heritage Recognition Award.