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56 Victoria Street E
Kensington,
Prince Edward Island
C0B 1M1
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Prince Edward Island Tourism Region : Green Gables Shore
Description From Owner:
- Town incorporated 1914, in Lot 19. Name chosen c1863 for school district, probably given for Kensington in London, England.
- Formerly called Glover's, later Barretts Cross. PO Barretts Cross 1851 - 1886; PO Kensington from 1886.
- Miss Barrett had a tavern there in the 1800s, and it is said the first post office was named for her. In Micmac Gategageneg, 'eel fishing place' (Pacifique 1934, which he also places at Chichester Cove).
- The Haunted Mansion at 81 Victoria Street West is spooky inside and also has secret gardens, waterfalls and ponds. Open mid-June to mid-Sept. With special events around Hallowe'en.
- With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
Address of this page:
http://pei.ruralroutes.com/Kensington
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Mineral resources have not been found on PEI in commercially viable quantities, but there was a gold rush of sorts in the early 1900s and a number of significant fortunes were made.
The gold rush was in silver ... silver foxes, that is. In 1923 there were 448 fox farms on the Island, 291 in Prince County, 129 in Queens County and 28 in Kings County.
Benjamin Heywood was the first to try raising foxes in 1872 but failed because he didn't understand that foxes would destroy their pups if not protected from outside interference.
In 1895 Robert Oulton and Charles Dalton started breeding foxes in Tignish and soon had profitable farms. By the 1920s the fox industry was bringing in $4 million.
At the height of demand around 1913, single pelts sold from $1,500 to $2,600 and a first class pair of breeding foxes would fetch $25,000.
The Great Depression killed the industry and by 1935 there was severe over- production. By 1948 the value of a high-quality pelt had dropped to $35. Today only a handful of ranchers raise silver foxes, mainly as a hobby and to take to fox shows.
With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
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