DALVAY-BY-THE-SEA

In the neighbouring community, Grand Tracadie, one can find the National Park Headquarters and the beautiful Dalvay-by-the-Sea Hotel.

The following is an account of this famous resort by Mrs. Helen (Auld)

MacDonald.

Dalvay-By-The- Sea, situated in the National Park at Grand Tracadie is one of the most interesting places in the early history of our

Province.

Mr. Alexander MacDonald, a native of Scotland, left his native land to seek fame and fortune in Cincinnati, Ohio. His Scottish home was called "Dalvay" and he named his magnificent residence in Cincinnati after his beloved home in Scotland. He later named his beautiful residence in the National Park, "Dalvay-By-The-Sea". *

He was a very wealthy man, having made his fortune in Standard Oil, and was President of the Company at one time. He had one son who died in infancy. His only daughter, Laura, married Edmund Stallo, a lawyer who was the son of an American ambassador to Rome and could speak nine languages. Mrs. Stallo died in 1895, leaving two daughters, Helena

and Laura.

After the Mother's death, Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald took their grand- children with them to live. They educated them, employing English and French Governesses. They travelled extensively visiting all the important countries of the world.

It was on one of those vacations they became interested in Prince Edward Island. In 1895 they visited Bras D'Or Lakes, and while there saw an advertising folder distributed by Hubert Hall, Manager of the Acadian Hotel, Tracadie. They became greatly interested in the folder and decided to visit "The Island".

They spent a summer at the hotel and were attracted by the site at Dalvay and purchased the land, making all arrangements to have a Summer home built before returning to Ohio.

The old Acadian Hotel where they stayed the first season later burned and no traces of it remain today.

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