Bideford Parsonage Museum - Historic Residence of L.M. Montgomery

Province: PE

  This former parsonage is valued for its well preserved Gothic Revival architectural style, and for its historic association with the Island's famous author, Lucy Maud Montgomery. The house was constructed in 1878 by Thomas H. Pope, an accountant and telegraph operator. Six years later, in 1884, he sold it to the Methodist Church for use as their Parsonage. Following Church Union in 1925, it became the United Church Manse until it was sold in 1975. Lucy Maud Montgomery boarded with the family of Rev. Estey at the house in 1894-95 while she was teaching in the nearby Bideford schoolhouse. In her 1917 book, 'The Alpine Path', she related the amusing story of the liniment cake incident which happened in this house, and from which she derived the idea for the chapter entitled "A New Departure in Flavorings" in 'Anne of Green Gables'. The Museum has a triple theme: the era of Shipbuilding prior to 1892 when the last ship was launched from the Bideford Shipyard; the Parsons/Ministers who lived in this house from 1884 to 1972 and their contribution to the community, along with a collection of pictures of couples who were married in the house by the resident clergy; and thirdly, the Residency of author L.M. Montgomery, who boarded with the Rev. Estey family from August 1894 to May, 1895. This summer, due to Covid-19, we are unable to hold our regular "Wednesday Evening with L.M. Montgomery" program, but we will be streaming videos of readings from the earlier works of Montgomery that were published between 1890-1899, beginning on Monday, June 15th. The title of this online presentation will be "Storytime with L.M. Montgomery". Our Annual Strawberry Social was cancelled for 2020 due to Covid restrictions. The Museum was open during July and August, but we are now closed for the season. We are presently having the roof re-shingled, and welcome donations to this cause. Tax deductible donations may be made by e-transfer to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., by PayPal, and by cheque made payable to West Country Historical Society Inc, 784 Bideford Road, Ellerslie-Bideford, PE  C0B 1J0.  For more up-to-date information, please call 902-831-3133 or 902-831-2817.