Cavendish, Canada
This self-guided tour incorporates 16 landmarks in Prince Eduard Island related to the Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery who was one of the most famous residents and made the island famous worldwide.
Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) lived more than half of her life on Prince Eduard Island from her arrival to Cavendish as a toddler to live with her grandparents after her mother passed away till her grandparents died, and she got married when she was 37 years old. She started to write poems and short stories as a child, publishing her first poem at 16 and short stories in newspapers and magazines by 23.
Prince Eduard Island’s landscape and people inspired her to create her famous fictional character, Anne Shirley, the principal character of her first novel, Anne of Green Gables. Published in 1908, the book became a best-seller worldwide, translated to over 36 languages, and adapted into dozens of movies, TV series, films, radio, and stage productions.
When Montgomery married, she left Prince Eduard Island to live in Ontario; she returned for visits and chose it as the prime location for many of her books and her final resting place.
Prince Eduard Island celebrates Montgomery and the characters she created in many locations that were part of her life story and influenced and inspired her novels, and this guided tour lists them all.
The suggested starting point is Montgomery Park, where a life-size bronze statue of Montgomery resides. It is called A Glimpse of Beauty and depicts Montgomery as a young woman sitting on a bench with her notebook while experiencing a moment of inspiration. Near the park stands the Macneill Homestead, where Montgomery grew up and wrote Anne of Green Gables. The restored kitchen still stands and is open to the public.
Across the street from the park are Cavendish Cemetery and Montgomery’s grave.
On the other side of the park is the Haunted Wood trial, which appears in Anne of Green Gables and leads to Green Gables Heritage Place, including Green Gables House and Lover’s Lane (8619 Cavendish Road, Cavendish). Montgomery loved this house and chose it as the home for her fictional character Anne Shirley. Visitors can tour the house and relive Anne’s story in its rooms and garden.
The tour also includes the following destinations:
L.M. Montgomery Birthplace (6461 Route 20, New London).
Anne of Green Gables Museum in Silver Bush (4542 Route 20, Park Corner).
The Confederation Centre of the Arts in downtown Charlottetown has been presenting the Anne of Green Gables – The Musical since 1965 and is the longest-running annual musical theatre production worldwide.
Robertson Library and the L.M. Montgomery Institute at the University of Prince Edward Island (550 University Avenue, Charlottetown). The institute holds Montgomery’s most extensive collection of documents and artifacts, and the library displays Montgomery’s sculpture by Claude Roussel. Read more...
Uxbridge, ON, Canada
This self-guided will take you along the countryside of Uxbridge, Leaskdale, and Zephyr, following locations related to one of the most beloved Canadian authors, Lucy Maud Montgomery. While driving between the stops, you are welcome to listen to a podcast about Montgomery’s life and work and learn more about her life in the area.
Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) was almost two years old when her mother passed away, and she arrived at Prince Eduard Island to live with her grandparents. From a young age, she wrote poetry and short stories and started to publish her work in the local newspapers at 16 years of age. After graduating high school, Montgomery obtained a teaching degree and taught at local schools on Prince Eduard Island. She also studied literature at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1908 she published her first novel, Anne of Green Gables. At its center is the story of a young orphan girl, Anne Shirley, who gets adopted by elderly siblings and comes to live on Prince Eduard Island. The book was a hit, translated to over 36 languages, and adapted into movies, TV series, films, radio, stage, and web productions, bringing Montgomery worldwide fame.
In 1911, she married Ewen Macdonald, a Presbyterian minister, and left Prince Eduard Island following his position at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Leaskdale, Ontario (nowadays is Leaskdale Historic Church). They lived at the Leaskdale Manse, where she wrote 11 books and had three sons; her second son was stillborn and buried in Foster Cemetery. In 1926, they moved to a new congregation in Norval, Ontario, and nine years later to Toronto. She passed away in 1942 and was buried in the Cavendish Cemetery on Prince Edward Island.
During her lifetime, she became one of the most popular authors in the world and published 20 novels, 500 poems, 530 short stories, and 30 essays.
This itinerary follows 15 locations in Uxbridge, Leaskdale, and Zephyr, and includes stops at two museums that commemorate Montgomery. One is at Montgomery’s home, Leaskdale Manse, and the second is at the Leaskdale Historic Church, where a bronze statue of her resides in the garden. Also included are the Thomas Foster Memorial and the Foster Cemetery, where Montgomery’s stillborn son, Hugh Macdonald, was buried, the Uxbridge Train Station, and the Uxbridge Historical Centre.
Another heritage trail exists in Prince Eduard Island, following places where Montgomery grew up and got the inspiration to set most of her novels. Read more...
