View - Island Lives

P E.l. COLLECTION
L.^uARY OFU.r--'
A History
oS
Lower
Freetown
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
A CENTENNIAL PROJECT
LOWER
OF
FREETOWN
WOMENS' INSTITUTE
LIBRARY USE ON
(175309
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FOREWORD
The incentive to write this pamphlet originated from a request by the
Lower Freetown Women's Institute to write a history of the Lower
Freetown School District as a Centennial Project, to commemorate the
entry of Prince Edward Island into the Dominion of Canada in 1 873. A
little research on the subject soon had me convinced that I had undertaken
quite a large project, and 1 soon realized that it would be impossible to do
justice to everybody who had a part in bringing the District up to the
present.
This history is far from complete, but if it is instrumental in creating
in you an interest in our past, you, yourselves may be able to add to it
many happenings not brought to my attention. My desire has been simply to
preserve the precious memories of our heritage, or in the words of the wit
"To find out where we came from, even if we don't know where we
are going".
I would like to thank all those who supplied me with material relevant
to this history: Mrs. Reginald Haslam, Miss Alice I. Cairns, Mrs.Scott Cairns,
to mention only a few; to the personnel of the Land Registry Offices in
Charlottetown and Summerside, for their friendliness and assistance, and to
all others who, by way of typing, transportation, etc., helped make this
work possible.
R. Louis Cairns,
Freetown, P.E.I.
June 1971
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The members of the Lower Freetown Womens Institute wish to
express their appreciation to all those who have helped in any way in the
preparation of this Community History.
Great credit is due Mr. Louis Cairns who did the necessary research
and prepared the history, and Mrs. Louis Cairns who was in charge of the
photography and typing. To both Louis and Mary we extend special thanks
for work well done.
This history has been prepared with the assistance of the History
Committee of the Prince Edward Island Centennial Commission.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Lower Freetown Women's Institute
In The Beginning
The Burns Family
The Taylor Family
The Reeves Family
The Cairns Family
The Schurmans
The Hall
History of Freetown United Church
History of Freetown Presbyterian Church
History of Lower Freetown School
The Blacksmith Shop
Duncan MacPhee
The Clow Family
The Hill Family
The Hammill Family
The Mabon Stavert Family
The Stavert-Malone Exchange
The Bernard-Profitt Amalgamation
The Drowning Accident
The Question of Salmon
Seed Grain
Religious Affiliations
Family Charts
Andrew Burns
Barbara Burns
John Nelson Burns
William Reeves
Thomas Reeves
David Reeves
Charles Reeves
John Reeves
Maps of Lower Freetown
1863
1880
1928-29
1971
4- 6
7- 8
8-10
10-12
12-13
13-15
15-17
18-19
20-22
22-25
25-30
30-31
31-32
32
32
33
33-34
34
34-35
35-36
36-37
37-38
38-40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
L O W E R F R E E T O W N WOMEN'S
INSTITUTE
On May 25, 1923, ten years after the first Women's Institute was
formed on Prince Edward Island, the women of Lower Freetown met in the
"Old Hall", to organize a Women's Institute Branch. The meeting was held
in the afternoon, and Miss Bessie Carruthers was present as organizer. The
regular date for meetings was set for the third Wednesday of each month.
Miss Alice Cairns was elected President, Mrs. Scott Jardine, Vice-President
and Mrs. Frank Cairns, Secretary-treasurer. Directors named were: Mrs.
Jardine Stavert, Mrs. Elton Cairns, Miss Ruth Cairns, and Auditors: Miss
Mabel Burns and Mrs. D.M. Bernard.
Two delegates were appointed to attend the Annual Convention in
Charlottetown on June 1 1th and 12th.
Minutes of the July meeting of this first year are interesting. Members
voted to pay $15.00 on the teacher's salary, and an ice cream social was
planned: the ice cream, of course, to be homemade. August minutes report
proceeds of $31.00, also mention that 23 pounds of leftover cream were
sent to the factory, and eggs not used sold for $1.54.
Nine Charter members joined the Institute at this first meeting. Of
these, only four survive, — Mrs. Elton Cairns of Lower Freetown,Mrs. Frank
Cairns, now residing with her daughter in Suffolk, P.E.I., Miss Alice Cairns
of Ottawa, and her sister, Ruth, now Mrs. Edson Raynor of Clermont.
By the end of the first year, membership had risen to nineteen, it was a
busy year. They engaged a painter, planned and financed the painting of the
interior of the school, had a Hallowe'en party, prepared a play which they
presented in the Local Hall and also in New Glasgow Hall, had a bean supper
and various other activities. It is interesting to note that admission fee
for the play was 20 cents for school children and 35 cents for adults.
Homemade candy was sold, made by those members not taking part
in the play.
In 1953 Life Membership pins were presented to three Charter
Members, Mrs. Elton Cairns, Mrs. Frank Cairns, and Mrs. Jardine Stavert
(now deceased) in recognition of their many years of faithful service.
In 1973 the Women's Institute will celebrate its Fiftieth Anniversary.
Through the years, its members have been engaged in many activities and
projects. The school was a major concern, and a teacher had only to suggest
something needed for her own work, or for the benefit of her pupils, and
it was promptly supplied by the Institute School Committee. Picnics at
school closing were always happy occasions with treats and sports for the
children and a bountiful meal for young and old.
Many changes have taken place in recent years, both in the educational
system and the rural way of life. Many of our one room schools are now
closed, or have been taken over by communities for other uses. It is our
I hope that our Women's Institute Branch may continue to function in the
years to come, giving support to many worthwhile projects and working for
t the betterment of home, community and the wider world.
Compiled by Mrs.R. Allison Profitt.
OFFICERS FOR 1972- 1973 are as follows:
President . . . . Mrs. Camden Gardiner
Secretary . . . . Mrs. Donald Horn
Treasurer. . . . Mrs. Alfred Reeves
efl©
LOWER FREETOWN WOMEN'S INSTITUTE
Front row Back row
Mrs. Kvelyn Burns, Mrs. Ina Horn, Mrs. Bertha Gardiner, Mrs.
Florence Reeves, Mrs. Ruby Profitt, Mrs. Eunice Simmons.
Mrs. Gladys Paynter, Mrs. Lottie Cairns, Mrs. Dorothy Burns,
Mrs. Dorothy Stavert, Mrs. Doris Cairns, Missing from this picture
is Mrs. Katie Nicholson.
IN THE BEGINNING
The earliest mode of travel was by water, consequently when the
United Empire Loyalists were looking for land in 1784, on the Island of
St. John, now Prince Edward Island, many settled in Bedeque along the
shores of Bedeque Bay. There was also a settlement at Malpeque on the
north side of the Island, and the shortest overland travel route between
the two settlements passed through what afterward became Lower Freetown.
Starting first as only a trail through the woods, this road gradually widened
into what became one of the first roads of the province.
This road, between Bedeque and Malpeque, runs in an oblique, northeasterly direction with various curves and bends, caused no doubt, by the
fact that the first rabbit that went through had zigged when he should have
zagged, and leaving the adjoining fields, which afterward were created when
the lines were run north and south, with their various angles and contours a
veritable ploughman's headache. Before the days of settlement, this part
of the country was swept by a huge forest-fire. This fact is borne out by the
older present day residents having in their younger days seen blackened
stumps deep in the woods, but now completely rotted, and also by the
absence of any very old trees. Some of the older North Bedeque land deeds,
notably MacDonald's, give as a boundary, the road leading to the "burnt
woods." Tradition has it that after the fire a good growth of grass sprang up,
[and the North Bedeque farmers used it as a sort of community pasture,
bringing their cows up in the spring and taking them back in the fall.
Sterling Tucker told me his ancestors were residents here when all was
dense woods, and that one of the girls in search of the cow, wandered off in
[the woods and was lost. Before she was found, she had died from exposure
to the elements. Another version of the same story is that the little girl was
picking mayflowers and got lost, and she was found sitting up against a tree
with the flowers still clutched in her lifeless hands. The details may be
lacking, but the fact remains that a young girl gave her life in the relentless
fight against the wilderness conditions, and we have entered into the heritage
passed on to us.
The earliest authentic fact in the settlement of the district is a deed in
possession of Robert E. Burns, showing that his Great-Great-Grandfather
James Burns had in 1810 bought 1000 acres of land from John Clark for
567 pounds, 10 shillings, which land was part of the. Loyalist Reserve in Lot
25 granted by Governor Patterson. Also in 1810 William Taylor, the miller,
bought 320 acres from George Thompson. From a very small beginning in
1810, by 1863, according to Lake's Map, there were twenty-nine families
i living within the confines of Lower Freetown, and strange to say this number
has remained almost constant for the last hundred years.
In the earliest days of settlement all the district which is now known
as Lower Freetown was called Bedeque, but it is not known when the name
Freetown came into being or where the name originated, suffice to say that
there was a Post Office at Auld's, Freetown, in 1855. By McAlpine's
Directory of 1870, mails left Charlottetown on Monday and Thursday
mornings at eight o'clock for western points, including Auld's Freetown and
P. Schurman's, Lower Freetown. Peter Schurman's farm was sold in 1870
and apparently the post office was moved across the road to George Burns'
where it remained until approximately 1910, at which time it was moved to
Abijah Burns', where it continued until its closing in 1914, when rural
delivery was started. After the railway was built in 1875, the mail was
redirected to Lower Freetown from the Freetown office. When mail routes
were first laid out most of Lower Freetown was on a route served from
Wilmot Valley, but eventually the routes were changed so all of Lower
Freetown was served by two routes from Freetown, which arrangement has
continued up to the present.
THE BURNS F A M I L Y
As mentioned earlier in this history, James Burns bought 1 000 acres
of land in the district in 1810. This agreement (LI 9 F55, Charlottetown)
states the seller to be John Clark, builder, of Saw Mill Village, and Hannah,
his wife, and the buyer to be James Burns, the elder, late of Bishophall,
County Perth, in that part of Great Britain and Ireland, called Scotland. The
purchase price was five hundred and sixty-seven pounds and ten shillings.
This land was bordered on the west by the Dunk River, on the South by the
line between Lots 25 and 26, a distance of two hundred and forty-four
chains, thence North forty chains, thence West two hundred and fifty-six
chains to the Dunk River. Roughly, in to-day's language, it comprised all the
land in Lot 25 south of the Freetown Road from the Dunk River to the
"Birches".
At first the road followed the Dunk River and then up the brook that
ran through the Burns' property. All their first houses were built near this
brook. Evidence still remains that shows there were two shipyards on the
Dunk River, and also a nearby forge site still shows signs of its past existence
whenever the land is plowed, judging by the fact that John Clark's trade was
"builder", these shipyards could have been here prior to 1810. Immediately
south of the present Robert E. Burns' residence, there was a saw and shingle
mill on the brook, and also a furniture factory. Several old cupboards, which
were manufactured in this factory are still in use in the Robert E. Burns'
home.
When the mills became inoperative and the road was changed, the
house was moved up to its present location, and now forms part of the
imposing structure of the present day modern home of Robert E. Burns.
Farther up the brook near Andrew Burns, Sr's. home there was a grist
mill run by Ralph Thompson. Ralph S. Burns tells me that this mill was in
operation when his father (Isaac) was a boy, and also that his Uncle Albert
was one day accidentally pushed into the pond, but luckily escaped with
nothing worse than a wetting.
When the road was changed to run up the entire north side of the
Burns' property, George Burns'1 farm (now owned by Walter Bernard) was
left without access to the road. Accordingly George traded one of his fields
near James buildings with James, and received in return the field just north
of Ms own buildings, thus solving the difficulty. This accounts for some of
the crooked line fences.
When the Burns' first came out from Scotland they were of the
Presbyterian persuasion. As there was no Church in North Bedeque at that
early date, the nearest Presbyterian preaching was at Malpeque, where
Dr. Keir was the minister. This was before the days of wagons, and horses
were scarce, so in order to get to Malpeque the Burns men adopted the
"ride and tie" system, whereby two men started off with one horse. One
rode on ahead a distance, then tied the horse and walked on. When the
other man came up to the horse he rode on ahead a way and, so on to the
end of the journey.
One of the most prominent members of the Burns' family was the
Honorable Stewart Burns, 1835-1909. He represented the fourth District
of Prince in the Legislature for a period of eight years and was also a
member of the Cabinet of the Conservative Government. His loyalty to his
party was surpassed only by his devotion to his Church, where he was a
deacon and an ardent Sunday School supporter. At his funeral the pallbearers
were all deacons of the Baptist Church.
Jesse S. Burns, 1844-1898, was another of the Burns' family to attain
a degree of prominence in public affairs. In addition to holding offices in
the Provincial Sons of Temperance Organization, he, for a number of years
held the office in the Provincial Legislature, known as the "Usher of the
Black Rod". A story is told of one of the neighbors, who on hearing that
Jesse Burns had the "Usher of the Black Rod" remarked, "Well, isn't that
too bad! I hope none of my family catches it!"
William Burns' father, James Burns was killed in the woods by being
struck by a falling tree. Afterward Ms widow, the former Margaret Jardine
married William Tucker, and they became the parents of John Tucker,
grandfather of Mrs. Henry Reeves.
One of the younger members of the Burns' family currently making a
name for Mmself in the Poultry business is Donald Burns. Donald is the son
of the late Lloyd Burns, who founded the Burns' CMck Hatchery business
some twenty-five years ago, and who was also the first President of Campbell
and Burns Processing Plant. Lloyd died in January 1969. Although Donald is
a graduate of Nova Scotia Agricultural College and has held positions with
the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture, and also as production manager of
various processing firms, he decided to take over his father's business and use
Ms abilities for the betterment of his native province. He specializes in the
Shaver-Starcross strain of White Leghorns, which strain has proven its ability
to produce more eggs per amount of feed consumed, than any other. He has
in excess of two thousand laying hens, and finds a ready sale for day-old
chicks. We wish Donald and his wife every success in their new venture.
The Burns' family in Lower Freetown may roughly be divided into
three branches, each one tracing their ancestry back to one of the children of
the original James Burns, viz: John Nelson, Andrew Sr. and Barbara.
(Barbara married her cousin William Burns, and they came to P.E.I, in 1814)
To illustrate: Robert E. traces back to John Nelson, Ralph S. and Robert P.
trace back to Andrew Sr. and Jesse C. and Ralph R. are descendants of
Barbara. A chart of these three branches, in so far as they pertain to the
people of Lower Freetown, can be found on pages 41-42-43.
THE TAYLOR FAMILY
The records show that William Taylor, the miller of Bedeque, with
a mill on the Dunk River situated at what is now commonly called "Old
Mill Hill", also owned land in Lower Freetown as early as 1810, having
purchased 320 acres from George Thompson of Bedeque on February 28th,
1810 for the sum of 70 pounds (Liber 42 Folio 298, Charlottetown) Then
in 1815 he also bought a 999 year lease of 305 acres on the Dunk River,
(presumably land now in possession of Leslie Hammill) for the sum of one
shilling per acre per year, over and above taxes. In 1 824 the same William
Taylor gave a "Deed of Gift" to his son John for two lots of land, 305 and
214 respectively. (This 214 acres together with 106 acres deeded to Simon
Reeves makes up the original 320 acres bought from Thompson) The
following is the agreement of transfer (L. 42 F301, Charlottetown)
"To all to whom these presents shall come: 1, William Taylor do and trysting,
know ye that I, the said William Taylor of the Parish of St. David, Prince Co.,
Prince Edward Island, North America, for and in consideration of the love,
goodwill and affection which I have and do hold toward my loving son John
Taylor, his heirs, executors or administrators and assigns, all and singular my
goods and chattels now being in my dwelling house. Together with the lease
of 305 acres of land with all horned cattle, sheep and hoggs and all
implements of husbandry thereunto belonging; with 214 acres of land on
Lot or Township twenty-five, being in aforesaid Parish, of which, before the
signing of these presents, I have delivered him the said John Taylor, an
inventory, in my own handwriting to have and to hold all the said goods and
chattels, cattle, sheep, and hoggs, in my dwelling house and on the land
thereunto belonging, with the aforesaid 214 acres of land on Lot or
10
ownship twenty-five, to him, the said John Taylor, his heirs, executors,
dministrators and assigns from henceforth and forever as is, to possess
goods and chattels, horned cattle, sheep and hoggs, land and all other
property absolutely without any manner or condition, in witness whereof I
have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of February, one
thousand, eight hundred and twenty-four.
Witness:
W. Clark
John Drinkwater
William Taylor
This then was the beginning of the Taylor family in Lower Freetown
which was to have such an impact for good on the life of the community
during its early history.
John Taylor and his wife Bridget had a large family, and the following
50ns each settled in Lower Freetown — Henry, William, Thomas, Joseph,
|ohn Jr., and Caleb, while Peter bought a farm in Upper Freetown from
George Crosby, where Robert Jardine now lives. James married Mary Lewis,
moved to Summerside and became the father of Lewis Taylor, one time
editor of the "Pioneer". Henry Taylor, according to Lake's Map, 1863,
lived on part of the leased land now in possession of Wilfred Hammill.
Henry died in 1 864 at the age of 39 and is buried in the Methodist Cemetery
at Freetown. The date on the monument indicates it to be one of the oldest
graves in the cemetery. In 1969 when the United Church entry was being
remodelled, the carpenter, Basil Taylor and Grandnephew of Henry,
uncovered a board with the name "Henry Taylor" written on it. The church
was built in 1862.
John Jr. also died young, in 1861 at the age of 34, but his wife and in
jturn his daughter Margaret Jane, carried on the farm till about 1914 when it
pas sold to Charles D. Taylor, Thomas' son. He continued to farm here until
1948 when he retired and sold to John Paynter, who eventually sold in the
Fall of 1964 to Wendell Bernard and he sold to the Bernard-Profitt
Amalgamation, the present owners.
Caleb's farm immediately across the road from Simon Reeves was
later farmed by his son Joseph until his removal to Summerside to
participate in the fox business. The farm was sold to Woodland Simmons and
later to John N. Profitt. This' land has been successfully farmed by Mr.
Profitt, his son Allison and grandson Douglas, and is now part of the
Bernard-Profitt Amalgamation: the Profitts being substantial shareholders.
Thomas' farm remained in the Taylor name until the retirement of his
ton Charles D. in 1948, then it was sold to John Paynter and is now in the
possession of the Bernard-Profitt Amalgamation.
Joseph died in 1854 at the age of 24 years, and is buried in the family
plot beside his parents in the Lower Bedeque Cemetery.
11
William's farm is the only one of the six original Taylor farms in
Freetown, left in the Taylor name. It was farmed for many years by William's
son John, a bachelor, and now by John's nephew, John. If this farm passes
out of the Taylor name, Freetown will have lost a link with the past, and
will be the poorer for it.
THE REEVES FAMILY
No history of Lower Freetown would be complete without reference
to the Reeves family. In response to a request from William Taylor, the
miller at Dunk River, for a helper, a young lad by the name of Simon Reeves
was brought out from England. That this move was advantageous to Simon
Reeves is attested by the fact that he not only succeeded in marrying the
miller's daughter, but fell heir to 106 acres of some of the best land in
Lower Freetown for the modest sum of twenty pounds (Liber 36 Folio
309, Charlottetown; Transfer of 106 acres of land from William Taylor to
Simon Reeves) This was part of the 320 acres purchased by William Taylor
in 1810 from George Thompson, the remaining 214 acres across the road
were deeded to William's son John in 1824 (L42 F301, Charlottetown).
This farm of 106 acres has continued in the Reeves family ever since,
and at present is owned and operated by Simon's Great Grandson Orville.
At a time in our history when neighbors were few and far between, the
location of these Taylor and Reeves farms seems to have been an ideal one.
Mr. Reeves was a hard working man and like Methusela of old he
begat sons and daughters and soon he had a large family around him.
As the years passed and the family were growing up, it goes without
saying that hardships were many and the comforts few. These hardships
may have developed in the man an intolerance to anything that even
bordered on softness or sentimentality, and one day when his son John
brought home a feather bed, with, of course, the intention of sleeping on
it, he was so incensed that he took the bed out to the chopping block, and
chopped it up with the axe, with the retort that he'd make Jock's feathers fly.
If Mr. Reeves could only come back to see the present day when his
descendants, by hard work and honesty have arrived at the stage where
even the feather bed has been discarded for the spring-filled mattress (a
luxury never heard of, and probably never even dreamed of, back in the
days of "straw-filled ticks and steel men") he would indeed be greatly
surprised.
Unlike the Taylor family, which at one time boasted of six farms in
Lower Freetown under that name, and is now reduced to one farm, or
the Schurman name which has been decimated to the place where there is
but one family in all Freetown, the descendants of Simon Reeves have
flourished like the green bay tree, and are almost without number in
12
Freetown, and have also spread to most parts of the world - to such an
[extent that if all should come home for a reunion it is doubtful if Lower
Freetown could accomodate them.
Simon Reeves had five sons. John. William. Thomas. David and
diaries.On pages 44 to 48 is a list of their male descendants who are more
or less directly concerned with the history of Freetown up to the present
time.
THE CAIRNS FAMILY
On December 21, 1843, Robert Cairns, Sr. of Lot 35 bought 282
acres of land in Lot 25 from the executors of the Estate of John Clark,
merchant, late of Halifax, Nova Scotia. (L52 F 404, Charlottetown). On
August 5th, 1854, he sold 182 acres to Ms son Robert, Jr. (L70 F196,
Charlottetown) for the sum of fifty-four pounds, lawful currency. This is
the farm later owned by Robert Jr.'s son Alexander and sold in 1929 to
Donald Bernard, who with his son, Wendell, still own and operate it in a
very efficient manner. The remaining 100 acres was sold on the same day to
William Cairns, a nephew of Robert, Sr. for the sum of sixty pounds.
(L70 F451. Charlottetown). Also the same year, the above named William
Cairns bought the Estate of Gilbert Henderson of Liverpool, England,
102 acres, which adjoined the first 100 acres, for the sum of eighty-six
pounds ten shillings. (L70 F453, Charlottetown). This gave William Cairns
202 acres and comprises all the land now owned by Howard Cairns
(including the Colin Reeves farm) and also a few acres now belonging to
Scott Cairns, where his farm buildings are situated. William Cairns Sr.
died in 1 856, leaving two sons, William Daniel and John. Sometime after
their father's death the farm was divided east and west, with John taking
the north end and William Daniel the south end, where it was bounded by
an "intended road", now the North Freetown Road.
In August 1874, William Daniel mortgaged his 103 acres (LI F351,
Summerside) to James Beals for $600.00 at the rate of 2% interest. Then
in January 1875 a new agreement was drawn up (LI F488, Summerside)
whereby the interest was increased to 15% from 2%. In fact, when the
agreement was drawn up, the percentage was written in as 25% and the
twenty-five was stroked out and fifteen written above it, with a notation
made in the margin saying the alteration had been made before the
document was signed. Faced now with a 1 5% mortgage, it was only a matter
of a few years before foreclosure was inevitable. The story has it that Mrs.
Cairns, in desperation at the threatened loss of her home, went to Mr.
Charles Reeves for assistance to save her home, and he, in spite of the
fact that Mr. Beals, the mortgagor, was his own brother-in-law, agreed to
help her. Accordingly after night-fall he and some of his neighbors rallied
and together they hauled the house off the mortgaged property, down near
the Malpeque Road, on to a corner of land owned by Robert Cairns.
A sentry was posted some distance up the road to fire a warning shot if Mr.
13
ALEX CAIRNS' HOMESTEAD - AROUND 1905
R. LOUIS CAIRNS AND GANG PLOW, (WITH THREE POINT HITCH)
14
Beals should put in an appearance, but the deed was done before he arrived.
The farm of 103 acres was sold in 1879 to Major Schurman (L4 F806,
Summerside) and in the same year Schurman sold 15 acres off the west
side of the property to John Cairns for $150.00 (L14 F370, Summerside)
and in 1 883 he sold the remaining 88 acres to Collingwood Reeves for
S2000.00 (LI 1 F346, Summerside). John continued to farm his share of
the land and raised a family of nine girls and two boys, the latter were
William and Elton. William Daniel was killed at Cape Tormentine in 1891
by rolling logs, and five years later his only son Orin died at the age of
thirteen years. Both are buried in the Baptist Cemetery in Central Bedeque.
The remainder of William Daniel's family then moved away and John
hauled the old house up to his farm and joined it on to his own house,
where it still remains in an excellent state of preservation. In 1947 Howard,
Elton's son, the present owner, moved the old kitchen off and replaced it
with a new modern kitchen. The old kitchen serves as an implement shelter.
After the death of Collingwood Reeves' son George in 1946, Elton
and Howard Cairns rented the Reeves' farm for a number of years, and in
1954 they purchased it. Thus after a lapse of seventy-five years the
original Cairns' farm came under the Cairns' ownership once more.
William, John's eldest son bought land from MacDonald, immediately
north of his father's farm and also in 1926 bought the adjoining Vernon
Malone property. He farmed here until his death in 1932. Afterward
William's son J. Scott and Grandson William Cecil decided to extend their
holdings with the purchase of the properties of Basil Taylor and Louis
Cairns, both farms being part of the original Gilbert Henderson Estate of
Liverpool, England. This then gave J. Scott and William C. a convenient
farm of approximately four hundred acres, where a herd of about thirty
milking Holsteins and one hundred and fifty feeder pigs are the main source
of income. It is hoped that one or more of William's boys will remain on
the farm to carry on the Cairns' tradition.
THE SCHURMANS
Another family to make its influence felt in the early days on the
district was that of the Schurmans. One of the most prominent United
Empire Loyalists to settle in Bedeque in 1784 was William Schurman, who
secured 350 acres of land in Central Bedeque where now are located the
farms of Monty Gardiner and Leith Schurman. William died in 1819 and his
grave is probably the oldest in the North Bedeque cemetery. The following
is the inscription on his headstone:
In this place are interred the remains of
WILLIAM SCHURMAN
Undeviating in honesty and sincerity
15
Faithful as a Magistrate,
Affectionate as a Husband and Father,
Kind as a friend through life;
He exchanged it for eternity
On the 15th. day of Sept. 1819.
Aged 76.
William's son Isaac lived on the bank of the Dunk River, opposite
Robert E. Burns', where Monty Gardiner now lives. The reason for building
near the river was that in the early days the river was the highway, and also
the source of all water supply, and just as to-day everyone lives as near the
highway as possible, so it was in those days. Three of Isaac's sons, Ralph,
Caleb and Peter settled in Lower Freetown about the year 1846.
In 1848 Ralph settled on the farm now owned by Camden and Prowse
Gardiner. He died in 1891. Ralph's son Colin continued on the same farm
till after the death of his son Ralph, (Jr.) about 1912. He then moved to
Summerside where he died in 1939. Woodland Simmons owned the farm
for a time and in 1916 J.B. and Arthur Gardiner bought this farm. Their
descendants, Camden and Prowse, still own and operate it in a very efficient
manner.
Caleb lived east of Ralph on the adjoining farm. Caleb's farm was
quite prosperous and the farm buildings were rated worthy of a picture in
Meacham's Atlas 1880. The house of that day was replaced a few years
later by a very beautiful structure, still standing, and modern in every way
for the time it was built. The stairway itself was a work of art, and is still
greatly admired. In 1848 Caleb married Frances Wright of Middletown. He
died in 1893. Their son Gordon farmed here until about 1914, when he
moved to Central Bedeque. The farm was sold to Prowse Yeo and a couple
of years later to D.M. Bernard. This farm successively passed through the
hands of Walter Reeves, Lloyd Reeves, and is now owned by the BernardProfitt Amalgamation, with Lloyd Reeves retaining the house.
Peter purchased his farm from John Burns and his wife Abigail. This
was part of the original Burn's 1000 acres. He married Phoebe Schurman, a
sister of his brother Ralph's wife. He died in 1869 at the age of 40. After his
death his farm was sold to Andrew Burns and has continued in the Burns'
family ever since, presently being owned by Jesse C. Burns and his son Alan.
Though the Schurman name left the district over fifty years ago, no
doubt many of the finer qualities which still persist could trace their roots
to the character, thrift and intergrity of these early settlers.
16
17
THE HALL
The Lower Freetown Hall was located on the South West angle of
the Caleb Taylor farm, now in the possession of Allison Profitt. It was
built in the year 1881 with lumber purchased, in part, from David Rogers,
Dunk River Mills; the rough boards costing 70 cents per hundred feet and the
shingles $2.00 per thousand. The main building was about twenty-two
feet by thirty-four feet with a fourteen foot post. It was sturdily built, the
studding in the walls being 4x6 inches, hand-hewn and spaced eighteen
inches apart. A choir loft or stage was added to the end of the building about
the year 1908; George Taylor was the carpenter.
On each side of the main building were three Gothic shaped windows
and on each side of the choir there was a mullion window. On the end next
the road there was a small porch or entry, also with a Gothic-shaped window,
while high up on the gable end there was a small round window with a sash
made in the shape of a wheel with spokes forming eight small panes. One
of these panes had been broken out, the result of a certain small boy on his
way home from school being tempted to try a shot at it with a snowball.
just to see if he could hit it, with the aforementioned dire results. The
deed may have been long ago repented of, but the hole remained for many
years, a constant reminder to all passers-by, (if they could but read) that
"Satan still for idle hands some mischief finds to do".
In the days before the advent of the automobile, when all entertainment
and social life was confined to the immediate vicinity, the Hall played a very
important part in the life of the community, and with the passing of that
era, its usefulness was at an end. Many were the happy evenings spent there,
when concerts, plays, pie and basket socials put on by local talent, drew
capacity audiences; or at election time when opposing candidates vied with
each other in public debate for the good will of their constituents. Many
were the pranks that were played, both at the political meetings and at the
socials. At the pie and basket socials the girls supplied the pies or baskets and
they were sold to the highest bidder with the proceeds going to some worthy
cause, which was, of course, the main reason for having the event in the first
place. The purchaser shared the pie with the girl whose name was attached
and expected the privilege of seeing her home after the social. One respected
and respectable citizen who was always at the forefront of all good causes
suggested to his wife that instead of going to all the work of preparing a
a basket she just put in a turnip, as he would be buying it anyway
nobody
would know the difference and a lot of work and fuss would be saved. So
much for the plan, but alas, the secret leaked out, and when the basket was
put up for auction the bidding started fast and furious and our friend had to
follow up in order to save face, both for himself and his good wife. The result
was that the aforementioned turnip became the highest priced turnip ever
sold in Freetown - in spite of present day Marketing Boards — or what
have you.
Here, in the Hall met regularly the Harmony Division No. 244, Sons of
[Temperance, an organization that endeavored to instill in the minds of all,
the injurious effects of the use of alcoholic beverages, and is no doubt
responsible for the total abstinence of so many of our citizens, regardless of
•he modern enticements of Government stores and Licenced Lounges.
The religious side of the district was not forgotten for here the Baptist
Minister from Central Bedeque came Sunday after Sunday for many years
Ito exhort his flock, which included many of the residents of Lower
Freetown. The offering at these services was always taken up by the two
yohns, John Taylor and John Delaney. Instead of our present day plates
'they used poles about four feet long with a small bag on the end into which
you dropped your cent. Cent, indeed it was, for the economy of the day
neither permitted nor required anything more; but what the offering lacked
In value, it made up in weight, for cents of that day were huge things, only
slightly smaller, in size, than our present-day fifty cent pieces. The organist
was Lena Lidstone, and Mr. William Lewis with his fine tenor voice led
the singing.
With the removal from the district of the Schurmans, the Taylors and
pie Delaneys, and with the building of a new hall at Upper Freetown, about
11915, the Baptist Services were transferred there, the location being more
central.
This was the beginning of the end for the old hall, for with the completion of the new hall and the advent of the auto, there just didn't seem to be
any use for it and as it was falling into disrepair it was finally sold to J. Scott
Cairns in 1947, for the sum of $352.00. The hall subsequently was hauled
po the Cairns' Farm where the main part was widened out and used as the
nucleus of a modern piggery and hennery 100 feet by 34 feet. The choir
section was converted into a two car garage.
?£$
19
HISTORY OF FREETOWN
UNITED CHURCH
As far as available records show there was no church building in or
near Freetown in 1860. Cottage prayer meetings were conducted by lay
preachers and devoted laymen. By 1862 Edmund Crosby donated the piece
of land on which the present church building stands. It is believed that for
the next three years work progressed on the structure and in 1865 the
Freetown Methodist Church was opened tor services. Records show that two
babies were baptized at the opening service (George Hedley Crosby and
Thomas Picton Rogers). As there were no pews, people sat on planks. The
pulpit was a plain desk.
In the year 1 875 a tea meeting was held to raise funds for the church in
order to complete the interior. The large sum of $350. was received for the]
installation of pews by Major Schurman and also a new pulpit. Ten years
later an organ was secured. It wasn't until 1891 that extensive repairs were;
made to the roof and the foundation. Modern kerosene lamps gave new]
light to the interior. At the re-opening of the church three services were!
held when the singing was led by Mrs. S.R. Cairns. In 1903 a choir loft was d
necessary addition to the interior.
Additions and renovations in 1928 included a new Sunday School
room as well as painting and papering the church interior. It was about this]
time that electric lights replaced the old kerosene lamps. Major renovations]
in 1 942 were covering the wainscotting with B.C. fir and alterations to the
pews. During this year a furnace replaced the worn out stoves. To pay off a
note at the bank donations of potatoes were made by the farmers of the
congregation.
The year 1953 saw the interior of Freetown United Church renovated.
Ceilings and walls were resurfaced, linoleum laid on the floors, new pewa
installed and additional lights as well. Five years later a new Hallman organi
replaced the old reed organ. The purchase of choir gowns in 1960 was made]
giving a note of dedication and dignity to the choir. To contribute to the
comfort of the congregation pew seats were covered a year after. 1 962 will
be remembered in the annals of the church as the year when the old
horseshed was transformed into a modern church hall with kitchen facilities
and necessary furnishings. It was on Nov. 5th of that year that this necessary
annex of the Church was dedicated.
Freetown Methodist Church was at first attached to the Bedeque
Circuit when the following ministers cared for the flock: Reverends John
Prince, S.W. Sprague, Richard Smith, Richard Wedall, T.J. Deinstadt, Paul
Prcstwood, R.A. Daniel, John Ellis, John Phinney, Joseph Seller, W.W.
Percival, George Harrison, Joseph Pascoe, E.C. Turner, William Harrison,
W.J. Kirby, G.C.P. Palmer, F.A. Wightman.
20
At the turn of the century Freetown Church was transferred to the
Margate Circuit when the following ministered to the people: Reverends
R. Opie, F.A. Wightman, W.A. Thomson, John Dystant, H.S. Young, J.B.
Gough, W.E. Johnson, George Morris, G.A. Sellar, J.A. Ives, George Ayers.
The year 1925 saw the union of Methodist, Congregational, and a
majority of Presbyterian Churches in Canada. Freetown Methodist Church
(was included in Bedeque North Pastoral Charge of the United Church of
Canada. These arc the United Church Ministers who served to date:
Reverends D.K. Ross, J.W.A. Nicholson, D. Hoddinot, James Cross, R.L.
Wagner, J.K. Campbell, S.G. Walls, Angus U. Brown, Mr. John Waldron,
Rev. R.M. Shaw, Thomas G. Whent.
The One Hundredth Anniversary Service was held June 28th, 1964
[The minister of the church at that time was Reverend R.M. Shaw and the
organist Mrs. R.A. ProFitt. Guest preachers for the morning and evening
services were Dr. Fraser Munro and Reverend Angus Brown. The congregations of Bedeque and Margate joined in worship and special music was
provided by the Brooklyn Trio—Malcolm Munro. Willard Bruce, John Bean*
and Soloist - Arlene MacDonald.
In 1969 the vestibule of the Church was enlarged and the doors
transferred giving a front entrance. The parking area also was paved. These
improvements were possible through a legacy of Miss Mary Mayne, former
member of the Church.
In October 1 970 chimes were installed by Mr. & Mrs. Wilfred Burns and
family in memory of Russell Scott Burns and his wife Anna B. Burns.
Church history - prepared by Mrs. R. Louis Cairns.
5r?3r?!r
21
FREETOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
FREETOWN UNITED CHURCH
22
A HISTORY OF FREETOWN
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The work of the Presbyterian Church, Freetown, P.E.I, goes back to
the days of Rev. John Keir when he was settled in Malpeque in 1810. He
served here faithfully until 1819 when Bedeque and Richmond Bay were
disjoined from Malpeque and formed into a pastoral charge, owing to an
Increase in population, with Rev. Andrew Nichol as minister. He was a man
bf great energy and intense devotion. He was not long permitted to continue
his labours for he passed to the Great Beyond in 1820. He was succeeded by
[he Rev. William MacGregor in 1821. In 1825 the Bedeque pastoral charge
was separated from Richmond Bay. A few months after the organization of
this newly founded congregation came one of the most striking pioneers of
our church in the person of Rev. R.S. Patterson M.A. The history of this
congregation would be incomplete without reference to this great man, On
[November 8th, 1825 a call was moderated in his favour which he accepted.
It was said that at that time there was not a wagon in the parish or a mile
bf road on which to travel.
The surrounding country was almost an unbroken forest. He lived to
see the country a fruitful field inhabited by a dense population and to
witness the truimphs of steam communications by land and sea. His trials
were many, during the greater part of his ministry his stipend was only
$300.00 per annum. He received only half of it in money. He had to labour
with hands, on a farm and engage in teaching school to support his family. He
had many severe trials in his home resulting from successive strokes of
bereavement, but amid all his trials he was strengthened and sustained by
his Master and was greatly prospered in his work. When his congregation
became able to support him, he devoted himself more exclusively to ministerial work and theological studies and did much to promote the interest of
education and to champion the cause of Temperance. He passed from earth
on September 16, 1882 after 58 years in the Ministry.
It was during the ministry of Rev. R.S. Patterson that a congregation
was organized in Freetown with services in the school house. The next
minister was the Rev. W.M. Scott from 1883 to 1887 a student of the
renowned Dr. Cook. The Rev. Wm. Tufts succeeded Mr. Scott in 1888.
It was during Mr. Tufts three year ministry that the present church was
built and on November 2, 1 890 the church was opened and dedicated to the
Glory of God and for His service. Mr. Robert B. Auld gave the site of the
church. Mr. Jesse Burns supplied the material for the frame. Two members
gave $100.00 each. The church cost about $950.00 and would have cost
ore had it not been for the free labour generously expended.
The following is a list of ministers as far as can be ascertained —
Rev. S.J. MacArthur, Rev. William McCulloch Thompson, Rev. R.S.
Whidden, Rev. W.H. Macintosh, Rev. A. MacKay, Rev. W.A. MacQuarrie,
and Rev. D.K. Ross.
r
23
In 1925 the church along with Bedeque was voted into the United
Church of Canada by a small margin. The same year the congregation was
re-organized in Freetown Hall under the leadership of the Presbytery of
P.E.I. The congregation then was joined with Kensington and Malpeque and
continued to worship in the hall for 2 years till May 3, when the church was
given back to the Presbyterians by the Court of Appeal in equity. The
W.M.S. carried on and is still an active organization of the Presbyterian
Church.
In 1950 the diamond anniversary of the Church was celebrated. At
this service a set of brass collection plates were given by Mrs. A.W. Humphrey,
Kensington, and a Pulpit Bible was given by Mr. George Jardine, Freetown,
in memory of their parents, David and Adelaide Jardine and their sister
Etta Laird. A communion table in memory of Margaret Jane Taylor.
During the summer of 1955 the church was moved back 10 feet and a
full basement excavated. The front entry was remodelled taking away both
side doors to the front. The sixty-fifth anniversary was observed on
December 4, 1955, with Rev. E.H. Bean as minister 1953-1962. At this
service a Baptismal font was presented in memory of Mr. and Mrs. George
Paynter by their family. A pulpit fall in memory of Miss Janie Campbell was
presented by the Campbell family.
In 1962 a service of dedication was held when Bibles were presented to
the Church by Mrs. Elton Cairns in memory of her husband. A communion
chalice and Bible were presented in memory of Chole Joyce Campbell by
the S.S. and a Lectern and Bible in memory of Mrs. Bessie Bernard presented
by the family.
In 1963, a Mailman electric organ was purchased for the church, in
loving memory of those who served and gave their lives in World War
1 and 1 1 and made possible by a bequest of Mrs. Bessie MacLeod Bernard
and funds donated by Mrs. Elton Cairns and the Ladies Aid.
In 1 965 the first choir gowns were purchased. Those were made possible
by a gift of money from Mrs. Scott Clark and Mr. Walter P. Stavert in
memory of their mother Mrs. Jardine Stavert who had been a choir member
for over 40 years, as well as other donations.
In 1966 a new lighting system was placed in the Church by the family
of the late George D. Jardine in his memory.
The following is a list of men who ministered to the Freetown Presbyterian congregation following Rev. D.K. Ross.
Rev. M.E. Genge Stated supply
Rev. Fred Williamison Stated supply
Rev. T.L. Williams Minister 1931-33
Rev. W.O. Rhoad Minister 1933-41
Rev. D.L. Griffith Stated supply
24
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
C.R. Ashdown
Stated supply
Gordon Nichol Stated supply
J.A. MacGowan 1942-51
E.C. Evans Supply 1951-53
E.H. Bean Minister 1953-62
Peter Ruddell Intern Mod 1962-64
George Tannahill Minister 1964-66
Malcolm MacQuaid Intern Mod 1966
Robert Sandford Minister 1966-67
John S. MacBride 1967
In 1968 after a year of probation the Freetown Church approved the
decision to become part of the Summerside congregation.
Presbyterian Church History compiled by Robert Jardine.
H I S T O R Y OF LOWER F R E E T O W N SCHOOL
Freetown School was first mentioned in the records of the Department
of Education in 1848. The teacher at that time was Donald R. Stewart.
Lower Freetown School was first mentioned in 1858 with 58 pupils enrolled
and Mr. Ephraim Muttart was teacher.However, after studying the pattern
of early settlements on P.E.I, we feel that the school listed as Freetown in
1848 was actually what is now our Lower Freetown School. As the settlers
came to P.E.I, they settled near the shores and along the rivers and gradually
penetrated inland. If this reasoning is correct, and we believe it is very logical,
Lower Freetown as it is now known was Freetown and this 1 848 school was
here. Then as settling progressed and the railway was built, Freetown became
a station and village with Lower and South Freetown area designated.
The 1880 Atlas shows Upper Freetown east of the railroad, Freetown
Post Office at the "Birches" (R.B. Auld, Post Master) and Lower Freetown
at Stewart Burns' Corner.
The first school was built on a hill along the south side of the Freetown
road, a little south and west of the present school, on the James Burns
(place now owned by his grandson Ralph Burns. This school was hauled up to
the old Charlie Reeves place, now owned by his grandson Orville Reeves.
The second school was built on the old Malpeque road, (leading from
pedeque to Malpeque) a short distance north from the Freetown road on
land from the old Charlie Reeves place. This school was used until the early
spring of 1951 when the teacher Miss Helen I. Cairns and pupils moved
directly across the road into a bright new modern school, with a large
playground on land from the Frank Cairns place. The old school across the
'oad was fixed up and used for some time as a Gospel Hall.
25
In 1852 the Free Education Act was placed on the Statute Book of
P.E.I. Before that, people of different districts established and maintained
schools by voluntary contributions aided by small grants from the Government to licenced teachers, therefore the oldest and most prosperous
settlements benefitted while thousands of children could neither read nor
write. In 1852 there were 160 schools per 68,000 population. In 1871
there were 330 places of learning on P.E.I.
The Lower Freetown teacher taught Grades 1 to X inclusive until 1962.
The districts around had combined to form a Regional High School Unit and
Athena Regional High School was built in Summerside in 1962. The Pupils
in Grades IX, X, XI, XI 1 are taken to and brought home from Athena
each day by bus. Before this school was built pupils wishing to take Grades
XI or XI 1 usually went to Summerside or Kensington High Schools or
Prince of Wales College, Charlottetown. The tax-payers in the Regional Unit
with help from the Government built this school and support it.
In 1969-70 school year Grades VI 1 and VI 11 pupils of Lower
Freetown School, by special arrangement between the schools and the
Department of Education were taught in North Bedeque School.
In 1970-71 the Lower Freetown Grades VII and VI11 pupils are
being taken by Athena bus to a new temporary school built next to
Athena Regional High School. Since alt the Grades VI 1 and VI 1 1 pupils
in the Regional Unit do not attend this school each school district sending
students, with some Government help pays for its own pupils. The
Vocational School is built near Athena Regional, so students who wish to
take Vocational training may go on the Athena bus.
Some teachers who have taught in Lower Freetown School are:
Mr. Donald R. Stewart; Mr. Ephraim Muttart; Miss Maria Crawford,
Middleton (Mrs. John Cairns, Lower Freetown) Miss Sarah Jane Cameron,
Searletown (Mrs. Jesse Burns, Lower Freetown) Mr. Duncan Cameron,
Albany (married Margaret Jane Cairns, Lower Freetown); Miss Jane Brehaut,
Summerside; Miss Barbara Cole, Lower Bedeque (Mrs. Ben Bowness,
Mont rose); Miss Ellen Cairns, Lower Freetown (Mrs. Elijah Moase, New
Annan); Mr. Frank Lawson, Charlottetown; Miss Christine MacMillan,
Charlottetown; Mr. William MacKenzie, Wood Islands, Miss Isabella (Belle)
J. Cameron (Mrs. J. Roy Burns, Lower Freetown); Mr. Milton Mollison,
Summerside; Mr. Fred Auld, Covehead (Missionary to China); Miss Jessie
Humphrey, Wilinot Valley (Mrs. Frank Curtis, Middleton) ; Miss Nellie
MacCallum, Lower Bedeque (Mrs. Marsh); Miss Helen Whidden, North
Bedeque; Miss Lois Price, Chelton (Mrs. Lowther); Miss Mary A. Robertson,
North River; Miss Ella Costain, Cape Wolfe (Mrs Robert Schurman, Halifax,
N.S.); Miss Irene Lecky, North Bedeque (Mrs. James A. Hill, Summerside);
Miss Jessie Clark. North Bedeque (Mrs. Preston Bowness, North Bedeque);
Miss Bertie Deacon, Freetown (Mrs. George Jardine, Freetown); Miss Ida
Cairns, Lower Freetown (Mrs. Eber Sanborn, Grindrod, B.C.); Miss Annie
Mathieson, Read's Corner; Miss Winnie Villet, Westmoreland; Miss Marion
26
$M»m • ***' ^m» MM* %
•
NEW LOWER FREETOWN SCHOOL - 1951
OLD LOWER FREETOWN SCHOOL
27
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Campbell, Alberton (Mrs. William T. Rogers, Lower Freetown); Miss Alt a
Cairns, Lower Freetown (Ottawa); Miss Ruby Dennis, Port Hill (lav
Allison Profitt, Lower Freetown); Mr. Stewart Wright, Carleton (Depuf t
Minister of Agriculture, Charlottetown); Mr. J.B. Lewis, Freetown; Mi
Hester Inman, Central Bedeque (Mrs. Albert Linkletter, Linkletter Road]
Miss Verna Frizzel, Stanchel (Mrs. George Dixon, Stanchel); Miss Dorofllf
Muttart, Carleton (Mrs. Lloyd Waugh, Wilmot Valley); Miss Linda Curi ]
Alberton (Mrs. Jack Holtzen Malverne, Long Island, N.Y.); Miss Graf s
Deacon, Freetown (Mrs. John Hickox, Breadalbane); Miss Dorothy Mayn
Emerald, (Mrs. Hillard Meek, Spring Brook); Miss Margaret MacDougal (
Belle River; Miss Winnifred I. Burns, Lower Freetown; Miss Olive i
Stavert, Lower Freetown (Mrs. Scott Clark, Kelvin Grove); Miss Ja|<
Campbell, Freetown (Toronto); Miss Kathleen McCarville, Freetown (mis
Roy Stewart, Brackley); Miss Joy V. MacLeod, Stanley Bridge (Mrs. Ltojs
Johnston, Penticton, B.C.); Miss Eva Sabine, Cape Wolfe (SummersidJi
Miss Mary Johnston, Central Bedeque (Mrs. Gerald Kilbride, Halifax, N*
Miss Helen I. Cairns, Lower Freetown, (Mrs. Vernon Millar, Kelvin GrovJ
Miss Irene Morrison, South Granville (Mrs. Elwin Burke, Charlottetoi ;
Miss Phyllis Drummond, South Freetown (Mrs. Bradford Clark, Summersii i
East); Miss Geraldine Woodside, Margate (Mrs. Wendell Moase, New Annafi
Mr. William Pineau, Fern wood; Miss Frances Johnston, Central Bedeqi •
(Sister Frances Johnston, Kinkora); Mrs. Frances Aylward, Freetoi i
Miss Ann Leard, Central Bedeque (Mrs. Willard. Leard, Borden); I
Rosaleen Mallett, Kinkora (Brockville, Ont.); Mrs. Miriam Johnston, Cento
Bedeque (Kinkora); Mrs. Helen Champion, Malpeque.
The history of Lower Freetown School would not be complete withoi
mentioning the splendid work done by the women of the Lower Freetoi
Women's Institute. Largely through their efforts Lower Freetown Sena
won several first prizes in the P.E.Island Beautification Contests. The Lot
Freetown Women's Institute was organized in 1923 and now in 197B
still very active in school and community work.
Compiled by Mrs. J. Scott Cairns, Lower Freetown, 1971-19!
THE BLACKSMITH SHOP
One institution that has served the district almost since its M
beginning, but which has now passed out of existence and is in grave dang:
of being forgotten altogether is the Blacksmith shop.
Meacham's Atlas 1880 shows that a man by the name of Gaius Sea
had a shop on the Freetown Road, on the corner leading to Old Mill HI
He carried on business there until the shop was taken over by Abijah Bun
who operated it until his death in 1934, when his son Stewart took oven
proprietor.
The shop on the first floor was divided into two rooms, the forge am
the wood-working shop. The outside door of the forge was large enough!
30
illow a team of horses to be driven in to be shod. In one corner of the room
was the fireplace, built of stone, and in the early days, a large accordion-like
iellows to fan the fire. This was operated by a long pole in reach of the
thy's left hand, so his right hand could be free to handle the tongs. This
Hows was later replaced by a modern machine, which, when cranked
ive a steady draft. In front of the smith was a huge anvil with a round
Ipinted end used in shaping horseshoes or whatever other piece of iron or
Seel he happened to be working with. Immediately in front of the fireplace
ras a tub of water into which the hot iron was plunged, either slowly or
pickly, according to the temper desired in the metal.
A blacksmith fixed everything. If you needed a barrel hooped, a shoe
aulked, a horse shod, a wheel tired, a tin bucket soldered, a sleigh runner
{paired, a broken mower knife welded, a driving wagon painted, an axe
iarpened or a bolt threaded, all and everything went to the blacksmith, and
~rou had nothing to take, you went anyway to swap gossip with the
leighbours.
The wood-working section contained, besides the work bench, a lathe,
•ill, a band saw, jig saw, circular saw and a planer. In the early days all
Be machines were driven by "horse-power" which was simply a tread
ill set at a slope so that when the horse was put on a revolving platform his
•eight turned the spindle, and the horse was forced to walk, thus supplying
power. When the stationary gas engines came on the market about 1908,
I. Burns purchased a three horse-power upright International and discarded
"horse-power". This engine gave excellent service and was still in use
then the shop was sold in 1964.
Upstairs in the shop, out of the dust, was the paint shop. A ramp at
iend of the building, leading up to the double doors gave access to wagons
sleighs as the demand required.
The building was right on the corner and when, in keeping with progress,
: Freetown Road was widened, the shop protruded on the road, so the
(offending part was simply sliced off, and the end boarded up again.
After Stewart Burn's death in 1964, the property was sold to Ralph
[laugh, who tore down the old shop and landscaped the grounds. Garth
Drummond is now the owner of this property.
DUNCAN
MACPHEE
In 1869 Duncan MacPhee purchased 140 acres of land from Ronald
IllacCormick. This land was bordered on the south by the Freetown Road.
land on the north by the property of Charles Reeves and Caleb Tablor.
Duncan MacPhee's wife was the daughter of the Reverend John Scott, the
first ordained Baptist minister ever to settle on Prince Edward Island.
•Their two bachelor sons, Danny and Johnnie lived here for many years.
Danny was the farmer, but Johnnie's hobby was the rearing of race horses,
'the most notable of which was "Parkwood". When Johnnie was offered
S1200.00 for this horse, he accepted, and sold him. "Parkwood" was
shipped to the United States where he was reputedly sold for the fabulous
31
sum of twenty-eight thousand dollars. Johnnie raised other good horses bi
none on a par with "Parkwood". Around the end of the nineteenth centit
such names as "Parkside", "Parklight, and Parkwood" were by-words in 4
racing circles. On Nov. 20, 1915 the farm was auctioned off in two bloct
to the highest bidders, with Wilbert Reeves purchasing the land west of I
Malpeque Road, and Frank L. Cairns the eastern portion. The western parti
still in the Reeves name, being owned and operated by Wilbert's son Henr
On the eastern end Frank L. Cairns moved the MacPhee buildings backl
higher ground, and named the farm "Parkwood" after the notable race
He farmed here until his death in 1964 when the place was sold to Colboun
Clow. Dr. D.C. Horn and family now own the house and a small portk
of land.
THE CLOW FAMILY
Unlike many families that have entered the pages of Lower Freetow
history, remained a few years and then passed out into the realm of tk
forgotten, the Clow family, for nearly a hundred years, has been, and si
continues to be a unifying force in the work and life of the community. Tk
original member of the family to settle here was Samuel Clow, who bougt
his farm from John Thompson in 1875, this land being part of the origia
1000 acre Burns' property purchased in 1810. Samuel Clow died in 190
at the age of 93. I like to think that 1 remember the old gentleman, and if si
I hold in my mind the memory of six generations of the Clow family.)
Samuel, Joseph, Ray, Allan, Colbourne and daughter Darla. This, I taketf
be some kind of a record as far as Lower Freetown is concerned.
THE HILL FAMILY
G. Roy Hill was born in North Bedeque. During the first World War IK
enlisted with the 105th Infantry Battalion in 1915, and saw active serviceii1
France. He was wounded at Vimy Ridge. At the close of the war in 1918k
returned to his native province and in 1919 he settled on a farm of fort)
acres in Lower Freetown, purchased under the Veterans' Land Act. Here lit
married Tizie Bell and they raised a family of three boys and one girl, and
carried on a family farm for many years. Private Hill has now retired and to
farm has been sold, but he still remains after a period of over fifty years)
distinguished resident of the District.
32
THE HAMM1LL FAMILY
For the past sixty-seven years the Hammill Family has played an active
fcole in the life of Lower Freetown School District. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick
Hammill arrived in 1904 from Summerside and purchased a farm of 130
icres bordering on the Dunk River. They had eight children when they
irrived, four boys and four girls, and later three more girls were added. When
family was growing up, Mr. Hammill took an active interest in the school
where he served for many years as Trustee. He died in 1940 at the age of
eighty-six, and left three of his sons, Wilfred, Redverse and Austin established
is farmers in the district, and one daughter, Katie, married to Russel
MacCarville, also a farmer of the district. The other son entered the
priesthood and became Father Thomas Hammill.
All the sons have now either passed away or retired, but the family
name is carried on by Austin's son Leslie, who still owns 200 acres of land in
the district and in addition operates sufficient land elsewhere to grow 400
icres of potatoes and 300 acres of barley each year. Following in the steps of
is Uncle, Father Thomas, a son of Redverse Hammill is now parish priest at
Tracadie — the Reverend Father Preston Hammill.
THE MABON STAVERT FAMILY
In 1890 Mabon Stavert purchased a 140 acre farm in Lower Freetown
from Isaac N. Schurman for $2699.00. Previously Henry Jardine had bought
this same farm in 1878 from Jesse Baker, and he (Jardine) being a bachelor,
sold it and subsequently farmed for many years for his widowed sister, Mrs.
John Taylor and her daughter, Margaret Jane. According to Lake's Map of
1863 this Stavert farm was owned by Charles C. Maxfield. Charles Maxfield
ras married to Sybella Cairns, a sister of John Cairns, and they sold out in
1876 and departed for Western Canada.
When Mabon Stavert came to this farm in 1890, his possessions
©nsisted of a team of horses, a single furrow plow and a set of spike
harrows, but by 1904, when the California Gold Fever was at its height,
ind he was lured to the sunny South, his farm was well stocked with
horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, as well as all the necessary implements of
husbandry required for the successful operation of a farm, at that time.
Mr. Stavert rented his farm to Calvin Reeves, called an Auction Sale on
September 30, 1904, with Artemas Farrow as Auctioneer, and disposed of
all his moveables. Then he and his family departed for California with
visions of riches on the horizon. As so often happens, the bubble burst and
for a number of years, Mr. Stavert was foreman of a large cattle ranch
in California.
In 1914 he, accompanied by his son Jardine, now 21, returned to his
farm in Lower Freetown. He brought with him his riding saddle, spurs and
bridle. Walter P. Mabon's grandson is now the proud possessor of these
souvenirs. A story has it that Mabon feared that he had no room to bring his
addle, but found that by putting his clothes inside the saddle and cinching
up the girth, he had more room than without the saddle, so it came too.
33
Mabon and Jard built a new house in 1915 and Jard was married i
1915 to Ina Campbell and remained on the farm until his death in 196
He left his farm to Ms son, Walter P. and his family of four boys anc
two girls.
Walter P. has since added to the property by the purchase of a
adjoining farm, formerly owned by his uncle Ray Lidstone, and by buyin
a farm on the other side formerly owned by John Delaney. With thesi
additions he is enabled to farm more extensively and successfully wit
modern machinery.
THE STAVERT
MALONE EXCHANGE
Mr. John Malone, son of Lawrence Malone, took over his father'
farm of 150 acres in 1886 (L16 F23, Summerside). This farm is on th<
extreme north of Lower Freetown District and borders on Kelvin Grove anc
Wilmot Valley Districts. Mr. John Malone raised a family of three boys anc
seven girls and remained here until his death, when the farm passed to hil
second son, Vernon. In 1926 Vernon sold the land west of the road to JJ
Scott Cairns. The same year he made a deal with Edmund Stavert, whd
owned a farm near Edmonton, Alberta, but who preferred the Island soil!
in which a trade was made for the remainder of the farm. The Stavert Family]
moved into Lower Freetown and Vernon disposed of his moveables bj]
auction and departed for Western Canada. He batched on the homestead fan
a number of years, where as he himself said he always washed the dishes orj
Saturday night
whether they needed it or not. Vernon has since been
happily married and he and his family are to-day prosperous ranchers.
After Mr. Stavert arrived he extended his land by the purchase of 5G
acres from Charles D. Taylor. He farmed here until his retirement at which
time his son Walter E. and his wife Mae (Glover) the present owners camel
into possession. Walter owns a herd of about thirty milking Holsteins, andl
grows some potatoes, and is classed as one of the better farmers of thd
district. His family, both boys and girls are active and enthusiastic 4-H Club
Members and have made a name for themselves, not only in class competitions, but also for their judging ability.
THE BERNARD - PROFITT AMALGATION
In March, 1965, Wendell Bernard and Douglas ProFitt formed a farming
partnership known as "Bernard and Profitt Farms" They had taken over
their fathers' farms and Wendell had purchased from his uncle, John Paynter,
the farm formerly owned by CD. Taylor. This gave them a total of over 500
acres. They pooled their assets and began enlarging their operation. The
partnership proved satisfactory but the rules and regulations of the Income
Tax Department made the working of a partnership prohibitive. Therefore,
in 1969 they formed a Company and incorporated. The next year, they
bought a farm from Lloyd Reeves, previously owned by Wendell's grand-
34
"ather, D.M. Bernard. This purchase brought their land holdings to Approximately 625 acres.
A mixed farming operation is carried on with 75 acres of potatoes, 230
acres of barley and oats, wheat and corn, the balance in hay and pasture,
ahey have a herd of about 120 head of Holstein cattle, as well as 80 hogs,
t h e Holstein females are all registered, with a milking herd of 30 to 35.
Gross sales on a farm of this type and size should range between 50,000 and
$80,000, depending on market prices. The value of machinery and equipment
necessary to operate it would exceed $60,000. This is a great contrast of
farming on Prince Edward Island 50 years ago, when $5000. would probably
buy all the machinery necessary.
Compiled by Douglas Profitt
THE DROWNING ACCIDENT
For any community to lose six of its citizens in one fell swoop would
indeed be a catastrophe, but six open graves in the Freetown Methodist
temetery, in the latter part of June 1883, awaiting the bodies of six bright
young people, who had been drowned in the waters of Richmond Bay,
proved that a catastrophe had indeed happened to the community of
Freetown.
In keeping with a prearranged plan, about twenty-five young people
bf the Freetown Methodist Church met on the 28th of June 1883, with the
idea of proceeding to Schurman's Shore on Richmond Bay, just north of
New Annan for a picnic. They were a happy, lively bunch, and as they
[journeyed to their destination, they sang and shouted to one another, and
When they saw anyone along the road or in the fields they urged them to
join the fun.
After their arrival they had their meal and then proceeded to explore
trie beach. Two boys and six girls found a row boat tied up on the shore,
Bo the eight got into it, and as they had no oars, the boys took turns giving
the boat a push and then jumping in again. They drifted farther from the
shore than they realized, and when one of the boys jumped out, it is thought
that he may have landed in a hole which had been dug in search of
mussel mud. The occupants of the boat, knowing nothing of the ways of
overloaded row boats, panicked, with the result that the boat overturned
bnd all were in the water. For a time some clung to the upturned boat, but
py the time help arrived, all but two, Randolph Arbing and Emma Reeves,
(had slipped to a watery grave. Rescue work was carried out by Patrick
rennan and James Whelan. After saving the two, they succeeded also in
ringing the six bodies to shore.
Those drowned were Annie Reeves (23), Edmund Reeves (17, daughter
d son of Charles Reeves, Lower Freetown) Mary Arbing (37, sister of
andolph Arbing), Mary Jane Drummond (16, sister of Samuel Drummond).
irgaret Ellen George (20, daughter of James George and sister of Mrs.
35
Freeman Reeves), and Hannah, beloved wife of James Arbing, (a sister of
Samuel Matthews.)
On the last Saturday in June, a heart-broken community tenderl)
laid to rest in the shade of the birches, six of her fairest and best-lovec
young people.
"Still, still with Thee, when purple morning breaketh,
When the bird waketh, and the shadows flee;
Fairer than morning, lovelier then daylight,
Dawns the sweet consciousness, 1 am with Thee."
(Harriet Beecher Stowe)
T H E Q U E S T I O N OF S A L M O N
The Dunk River is one of the best salmon rivers on Prince Edward
Island. The fish come up each fall to spawn and then go back to the ocean.
In the days of earliest settlement when meat was hard to come by, these
fish were a boon to rich and poor alike, and a barrel or two of salted salmon
made all the difference between dearth and plenty for the following winter.
To catch salmon they were attracted to the boat by a light (in the
early days it was a lighted pitch-pine knot, later by a modern gas lantern)
and speared with a long-handled spear. Soon, however a law was passed
making it illegal to take salmon on their spawning run, and as far back as
1870, according to McAlpine's Directory, river bailiffs were named whose
duty it was to see that the law was enforced, and to bring law-breakers to
justice. These bailiffs were usually appointed because of political patronage,
and not for any ability they might have had to cope with the situation.
Consequently apart from smashing a few boats and occasionally catching
up with a few poachers, things continued pretty much as they had been,
with the fish still being caught - and in some cases the bailiff taking home
the lion's share.
About the year 1890 a salmon hatchery was built on the Dunk River
about a quarter of a mile upstream from what is now known as "Old Mill
Bridge", although many old timers still refer to it as the "Hatchery Bridge".
The hatchery was run by a man by the name of Henry Clark, and his
children attended classes in Lower Freetown School. The hatchery was
constantly being raided by poachers and on one occasion the care-taker
was hit over the head with a salmon gaff and knocked into the river. He
would most certainly have drowned if someone had not been there to pull
him out. Sometime afterward the hatchery burned to the ground and was
never rebuilt. Thus ended, in something less than success, an honest effort
by the Government to conserve and propogate the Atlantic salmon.
Bailiffs continued to be appointed with varying degress of success,
with the salmon usually coming off second best, judging from their diminishing numbers. In the 1930's the R.C.M.P. were brought into P.E.I, and the
36
|>b of policing the rivers was handed over to them. For the first time the
kw really had teeth in it and the old-time poachers found the business
nprofitable. But who knows, if even yet, the odd salmon may not find
s way up on land, where it is quickly cooked and hastily devoured, and all
vidence destroyed, with a healthy regard for the law and the R.C.M.P.?
I
SEED GRAIN
For a farmer in the old days to be caught in the spring of the year
/ithout either cash, credit, or seed grain, was a very serious situation and
ailed for urgent and drastic solutions.
One farmer, on paying a friendly visit to his neighbor, who was sowing
rain in a nearby field, was greeted with "What are you coining over here
Dr? I did not steal your oats." The farmer on returning home and checking
I his granary, found that, indeed, he had been relieved of some of his
hoice seed grain.
Another farmer, who, when he discovered that grain was missing from
ds granary, decided not to say anything about it to anyone, but to keep his
ars open. Several months after, one of his "friendly" neighbors accosted
dm with — "Say, did you ever find out who stole your oats?" "Yes" he
eplied, "I've just found out. It was you.
In another instance, a farmer in bad need of seed grain, but knowing
lis reputation in the home community was at a very low ebb, in fact, to
he extent that he knew he was watched pretty closely, decided he had
>etter go farther afield. Accordingly he hitched up his team and wagon
ind drove for some miles before driving into a prosperous-looking farmyard.
fie asked the farmer if he had any seed oats for sale, and being replied to in
the affirmative, a deal was made for a load of oats, but as it was now
loonday and dinner being ready, nothing would do but he have dinner,
which he accepted quite willingly. As the meal was about to begin, the
visitor excused himself and asked if it would be all right if he said "grace
before meat", giving the impression that this was his daily habit. Of course
lie was granted permission, and after having done so the meal commenced,
bid the conversation continued on a high moral level, with all due respect
for the distinguished visitor. After having well eaten, the men repaired to the
barn to bag up the oats, and when the load was on and neatly packed,
the "buyer" put his hand into his pocket for his money-bag to pay for his
bats. He became greatly agitated, and explained that he did not have his
*purse", in fact, he remembered having put it on the sideboard and must
lave forgotten to pick it up. He would unhitch the team and jump the red
iorse's back and go at once and fetch it. The seller, being completely taken
II with the honesty of the buyer, would not hear of such a thing, and insisted
(hat he take the oats and payment could be made later. Consequently,
ke saw his oats disappear down the road, and he himself was left holding the
kag, in a manner of speaking, without either oats or payment.
37
Not all farmers, however, resorted to trickery, even in the lace of
dire necessity. The writer remembers when, as a boy on a fishing trip one
August, of seeing a grain seeder in the middle of a large field with the grain
growing up to the back of the seeder and the center of the field never sowed.
The farmer, being unable to obtain the seed required, had never returned
to take home his seeder.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS
Previous to 1 860 there were no known Church buildings in Freetown.
In the earliest years the Presbyterians walked or rode horseback to Princetown, now Malpeque. It was possibly around 1 826 that the first Presbyterian
Church was built in close proximity to the present North Bedeque Cemetery,
and this Church served the entire Bedeque area. The Freetown Presbyterian
church was erected around 1892.
Those of the Methodist persuasion attended Cottage Meetings held in
the homes, which were led by Prayer Leaders, among whom was David
Rogers. About this time, 1862, Edmund Crosby donated a piece of land and
a Methodist Chapel was built. This Chapel was opened for services in 1 864,
and dedicated in 1865. With the union of the Canadian Churches, the
Congregational, the Presbyterian and the Methodist, in 1925, the Wesleyan
Methodist Church became known as the Freetown United Church. Those
who elected to remain Presbyterian continued to worship in the Presbyterian
Church as previously.
Members of the Baptist Communion used the Lower Freetown Hall
as their place of Worship until the Birch Grove Hall was built in Freetown,
then they removed their services to that hall, since it was in a more central
location.
Those of the Roman Catholic Faith have over the years attended
Mass in the Church of their choice at Seven Mile Bay, Kinkora, or Summerfield.
Whatever their denomination, religion was important to them. Bad
weather, bad roads, no roads, wooded paths or none, made little difference
to them, they attended divine worship, and their faith showed in their
lives, making them strong men and women.
Of the Lower Freetown families four young men were ordained to the
ministery, Reverend Leslie Burns, Reverend Father Thomas Hammill,
Reverend Father Preston Hammill, and Reverend Samuel B. Profitt.
Compiled by Mrs. R. Louis Cairns.
SUMMATION
A story in my old school book was entitled "Country Life in Canada
in the Thirties", meaning, of course, the 1 830's. There was nothing exciting
in the story, just the everyday happenings and the hardships of that time.
There was nothing to enliven the interest of anyone who was acquainted
with that way of life, but when viewed from a perspective of one hundred
38
lyears later, it made interesting reading, and stirred one's imagination of the
j conditions in those far-off days. So I am asking you to not read this closing
; chapter in which 1 have attempted, in a very imperfect way to present
conditions of the present day in Lower Freetown, but to lay it up on the
shelf and come back to it in one hundred year's time - then read it from
[that perspective.
Unlike the olden days when the mode of travel was on foot or horseback, or after the roads became wide enough to permit of such luxury,
a two-wheeled dray cart or a four-wheeled wagon, to-day's transportation is
the high-powered automobile, built to travel at a far greater speed that
the sixty miles per hour, allowed by law on the open highway, with
[somewhat lesser limits (25-40) in populated areas, (a motion to increase
the speed limit to 70 miles per hour was defeated in Legislature, spring
of 1971 ). Some sixty years ago autos were prohibited by law from travelling
on the highways of the province as they were "a dangerous contraption"
and were supposed to be a terror to all good sensible horses. Gradually,
[however, they were allowed to run on certain days on certain roads, and the
thin edge of the wedge was inserted, so that now, for many years there has
been unrestricted travel. One wonders if the people living in the days of the
opposition to cars, could have looked forward into the future to the present
day, and foreseen the time when a traffic fatality was so common that it does
not even rate a front page notice, and numbers in the dozens each year, (40
on P.E.I, in 1969, and some half a dozen fewer in 1970) if they would not
have given of their life's blood to prevent the invasion of this all-time killer.
But such is the price of progress.
The urge of the times seems to be for faster and more powerful cars.
The slow driver on the road is a nuisance, causing traffic line-ups and
tempting reckless drivers to take unnecessary risks in passing. The saying
"A man over seventy driving under twenty-five miles per hour, is more
dangerous than a man under twenty-five driving over seventy" may be more
truth than fiction.
When autos started to run on P.E.I, the roads were in a very unimproved
condition. Of course, snow plows were unheard of, and when the first snow
came in the fall, the cars were all put into the garage, jacked up, and blocks
put under the axles, tires taken off and the battery removed and taken to a
garage in Summerside, where it was supposed to be checked periodically
and kept charged, all ready for the arrival of spring, and passable roads.
With the arrival of old man winter, the almost daily chore of the
farmer was to hitch his horse and sleigh and make a track on the road for
the mail driver to get through with "His Majesty's Mail". Until about the
year 1910. when woven fencing came on the market and began to replace
the pole fences along the road-side, which caught their fill of snow, the
track was mostly in the fields, where it had to be marked with bushes stuck
in the snow, so the same track could be followed after the next storm. In
the spring of the year long stretches of snow, in badly drifted places, often
had to be shovelled by hand to allow the wagons to run. This work was
unpaid labor supplied by the ratepayers of the district. In the last few
39
years the snow plow, many of them summer road plows converted to handle
snow, have really come into use, so that at the present time all modes of
transportation move almost as freely as on any day in summer. Even the
railroad train has had to take second place in the competition with the auto
to such an extent that the Freetown Station House, that mecca of bustle and
business for over seventy-five years, was sold to Harold Drummond in 1969
for about the price of the coal that was stored in it, and was hauled back a
few yards and converted into a garage.
To-day in Lower Freetown, horses are as scarce as auto s were in 1910,
perhaps half a dozen in the whole district, kept mainly for hauling out
manure in the winter or hauling firewood or lumber. Even firewood,!
owing to high labor costs, is going to waste, and is being replaced with oil j
or electricity. The price of furnace fuel, oil, delivered to the householder
has recently risen from $21.10 to $23.80 per hundred gallons. Most of the
homes in the district range in age from seventy-five to one hundred years,
with some older, but most are in a good state of repair, with modern
conveniences, including electricity, plumbing, telephone, etc. It looks as if,
in the future, there would have to be a building boom to replace all these
old houses.
In farming the trend is all for larger and fewer farms. With the large
expensive machinery in use to-day a large acreage is a necessity to meet j
overhead, consequently the small farmer is gradually being pushed out, to
the detriment of community and Church life. Indeed Churches all over the
Island are being forced into the same pattern, with many of the smaller
ones being closed and larger ones being built in more populated areas to
accomodate several congregations. Although farm land has increased in value
over the past few years, in some cases selling for $200.00 or more per acre,
on many farms the outlay for machinery far exceeds the value of the land.
For example: a self-propelled Grain Combine costs $8000.00 to $12000.00
single row Potato Combine $7500.00, Tractors $3000.00 to 10,000.00
each, to say nothing of mowers, balers, rakes, plows, harrows, graders,
escalators, trucks, spreaders, seeders, etc., etc. A farmer with all this
investment cannot possibly make it pay with less than four or five hundred
acres, and to borrow money from the government at the rate of 8!^% is
simply courting bankruptcy. The minimum hourly wage as set by Legislature
as of August first last year is $1.25, adding, of course, to the farmers
cost of production. Compare this with 50</ for a ten hour day paid by
farmers in 1870 to 1920! All citizens over sixty-five years of age receive
a pension of $80.00 a month, with an additional fifty-five dollars per month,
if need is proven.
And so, dear friends, "Good-by". It has been a pleasure writing to you.
My hope is that this pamphlet will instill in the minds of all of you, the
desire to preserve the precious memories of our heritage, and also so to
live in the future that the past hardships and sacrifices will not have been
in vain.
40
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