Special designation for Charlottetown home

Messer was born in New Brunswick but moved to P.E.I. in 1939 to work at CFCY Radio.
Messer’s musical career began by playing in bands for dances and by 1929 he was performing on radio CFBO in Saint John, N.B. by 1934, his band, the New Brunswick Lumberjacks, was being broadcast from CHSJ in Saint John, N.B.
When Messer came to the Island to continue his career at CFCY Radio, he formed the group, Don Messer and the Islanders. It was formed around two of the original members, Charlie Chamberlain from Bathurst, N.B., and bass player Julius (Duke) Neilson of Woodstock, N.B. Others would be added throughout the years, and Messer and the Islanders would later be changed to Don Messer and His Islanders.
The popular program aired three times a week on radio from 1939-58 and moved seamlessly to television as well in 1956 with the show, Don Messer’s Jubilee. In 1961, its ratings were higher than the Ed Sullivan Show. At one time, Don Messer and His Islanders became the most popular television show on the CBC next to “Hockey Night in Canada”.
Messer eventually moved to the Rockingham area of Halifax and in 1973, at the age of 63, died of a heart attack.
Johnny Forest, who played with Messer for a decade on his television show, described him as a “fantastic little person, very quiet person and humble, but he knew what the people of Canada wanted as far as music was concerned. That’s why he was so popular.’’
The home at 15 Belmont St. was originally constructed in 1950. Messer purchased the home in 1960 and lived there for several years.
The home is currently owned by Melvin and Debbie Ramsay.