Dalvay was built in 1896 and Rhodes and Currie of Amherst were the contractors. Native materials were used. The building was en¬ larged by the addition of another wing in 1909. The contractor for this later addition was M. F. Schurman and Company. The late Samuel Arbing built the huge fire place, using Island stone. Hardwood logs were burned in the fire place and these came from Peake's Station by the carload. The logs were so heavy it required two men to carry them in and place them in the fire. Their furniture and furnishings were beautiful and came from all parts of the world. ■ Everywhere they travelled they purchased articles they admired for their home. Articles of furniture, beautiful pottery, draperies, and other articles were purchased in England , France, Egypt, Italy, and other countries. Some very fine pieces of furniture were pur¬ chased from old British families in Charlottetown , who had taken choice pieces with them from England . Some of the furniture was made of oak. They had many beautiful mahogany pieces also. They had enamelled some of the lovely oak pieces white, in order to give the rooms an atmosphere of coolness during the summer. In those days, kerosene lamps were used extensively and they had many beautiful ones which they had purchased all over the world. There was a beautiful hand-hooked rug on their dining room floor. The center of the rug was deep rose and it had a scroll-design border. It was so large it had to be hooked in sections. The rug was made by Mr. Bryenton , Brackley Point . She was paid by the yard for it and received a considerable sum of money for her work. They kept a large number of servants; two cooks, two house maids, a gardener, two butlers, two laundresses, a caretaker and two men to look after the horses and stables. The cooks had complete charge in the kitchen and never received orders for meals. Mr. MacDonald and his family entertained a great deal and his summer home was usually filled with guests. They used to have "Balls" and "Dances" at Dalvay and hired one of the best pianists in Charlottetown to provide music for these parties. Every season before leaving, they gave a dance for their hired help and the local people. A violinist was hired to play for these dances. They also amused themselves horse back riding, tennis, swimming, fishing, and a form of steeple chase. Mr. MacDonald rented "Aulds " for years and had a dory in it which they used for fishing.