Retired senator Archie Johnstone of Kensington, Prince Edward Island, marks the self-publication of his seventh book since his 80th birthday. His book, Introductions, is a collection of well-known Islanders and unsung heroes from this province, many of whom he has known personally.Mary MacKay
Not long after Archibald Johnstone returned home from fighting with an RCAF bombing squadron during the Second World War, he discovered that his father was building tiny castles out of concrete and stone for fun on his PEI farm, and convinced him not only to build bigger, but to go into business. Together they started Woodleigh Replicas, a park of miniature castles and other landmarks from England and Scotland, which became one of the island's most popular tourist attractions.
Mr. Johnstone, who died on Nov. 8 at 90, was a pioneer in the development of the island's thriving tourism industry and eventually became a senator, and it all started with a seemingly preposterous idea.
"They tore down the barn," to make room for the replicas, his son Dean Johnstone said. "Their neighbours thought they were crazy."
Before long the father-and-son team were also taking down sheds on the family farm in the rural community of Burlington, in the western part of the island, and replacing them with a gift shop and more replicas. In 1957, Woodleigh Replicas opened to the public. The elder Mr. Johnstone, Ernest, who was of Scottish descent, named the park after a connection to his ancestral home in Annandale, Scotland.
"Archie was the business end and his dad was the workhorse. That's how they each wanted it," Dean Johnstone said.
The family-oriented tourist destination featured at least 30 replicas of landmarks such as St. Paul's Cathedral and Dunvegan Castle. The most ambitious one was of the Tower of London. One-third the original size, the replica included armouries, crown jewels and an underground passage complete with a skeleton-filled torture chamber echoing with taped screams.
Mr. Johnstone's father built the replicas as a labour of love. A replica of York Minster cathedral took him five years to build, with its intricate stained glass and lead work.
To ensure the replicas were accurate, they travelled to England to visit the landmarks and take measurements. In the late 1970s, the Johnstones sold the tourist attraction, but it remained open under new owners for another three decades.
Woodleigh Replicas was a top attraction in PEI in the 1960s, second only to Green Gables Heritage Place, the inspiration for the setting of Anne of Green Gables.
"He was a pioneer in the development of tourism in PEI," said Don Cudmore, executive director of the Tourism Industry Association of PEI.
Mr. Johnstone never shied away from promoting the place he considered the best spot on earth.
"Very few people had the vision he had for bringing people to PEI," said Wes Sheridan, PEI's Finance Minister.
Active in countless community, business and tourism organizations, Mr. Johnstone provided direction on how to build the industry. "Archie wouldn't accept a non-answer if he asked you a question," Mr. Cudmore said. "He told it like it was. "
Born in Burlington, PEI, on June 12, 1924, Archibald Johnstone was the eldest child of Ernest and Jane Johnstone. His father had served with the Prince Edward Island Light Horse during the First World War and earned the rank of lieutenant-colonel. After the war, he returned home to farm and served as the community fire inspector.
When the younger Mr. Johnstone tried to enlist in the army, he was turned away for being too skinny. He returned to the family farm to bulk up before applying to the Royal Canadian Air Force. He served as a tail gunner in the Wellington and Halifax bombers. As the oldest man in his crew, he became known as "old pop."
In later years, he spoke publicly about waking up in the morning after a bombing run. "Some days there were seven, some days there were 14, some days even 21 empty beds. It was hard," he once said.
After the war, he received a scholarship to study agriculture in England, but when he arrived he found his interest was tourism. He fell in love with the British Isles and returned to England at least 50 times .
Back at home, friends introduced him to a woman named Phelicia Clark. He never forgot their initial meeting and later in life wrote a poem about it called, The Girl in the Little Red Coat. In June, 1949, the couple married and later had four children. In addition to raising the children, Ms. Johnstone also did the books for Woodleigh Replicas and ran the gift shop. Working seven days a week took its toll on her health. She suffered from exhaustion. In 1978, they decided to sell the business.
"He was constantly going," Dean Johnstone said. "He never stopped."
In the late 1960s, Mr. Johnstone branched into the world of amusement parks.
He was still running Woodleigh Replicas, as well as a road building and construction company, with two business partners, when he got the idea for Rainbow Valley. Situated in the Cavendish resort area, Rainbow Valley opened in August 1969, becoming the first major amusement park in PEI.
Named after Lucy Maud Montgomery's book Rainbow Valley, the park opened with a fibreglass flying saucer that housed a gift shop. There was also a pond, fibreglass boats and a picnic area.
Over the years, more attractions were added including a reduced-scale replica of the house of Anne of Green Gables and another called Fairyland Castle. Mr. Johnstone sold his interests in Rainbow Valley in the late 1970s to business partner Earl Davison.
Mr. Johnstone's last tourism venture was Kensington Towers and Water Gardens, which he started in the early 1990s with his son, Ronald. They sold it a decade later. It included a building designed to look like a British manor house and surrounding sprawling gardens, complete with waterfalls and ponds.
"He was a staunch businessperson," said Frank Lewis, PEI's Lieutenant-Governor. "He was tough to deal with, but always fair."
One day in 1998, Mr. Johnstone got a call from then prime minister Jean Chrétien asking him to join the Senate. Since Mr. Johnstone was not a political man, the call came as a shock. He accepted Mr. Chrétien's offer and served as a Senator for 464 days until his retirement in 1999.
"It wouldn't have mattered if it was for one week," Mr. Sheridan said. "He was just so honoured to be chosen."
Having served as deputy chair on the Senate sub-committee of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Johnstone felt fortunate to have helped Canada's veterans.
After retiring from the Senate, he delved into writing. In the last decade of his life, he self-published eight books on everything from poetry to military history. His home office, where he wrote his books in longhand, was stacked with research binders and photos.
Mr. Johnstone also enjoyed making the odd trip to the Legion in Kensington, named after his father. There he was joined by the Lieutenant-Governor, the mayor and others. "We'd have a chat and all play pool," Mr. Lewis said.
Mr. Johnstone, who died suddenly from a suspected heart attack at his home in Kensington, PEI, leaves his wife, Phelicia; sons Ronald, Erwin and Dean; daughter, Elizabeth; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sisters Doris and Elizabeth. He was predeceased by an infant sister, Margaret.
"He would talk to anyone, anywhere, any time," said Dean Johnstone. "He loved people."
To submit an I Remember: obit@globeandmail.com
Send us a memory of someone we have recently profiled on the Obituaries page. Please include I Remember in the subject field.