Wednesday, June 20, 2012

North Rustico Harbour

     The same day I was down to North Rustico to see the Lighthouse I took the following photos around the area.  When you drive down the Harbourview Drive right to the end is the point of the harbour where the lighthouse and old fishing buildings were.  Right at the end of the road you can drive out onto a huge sandy area.
Above: North Rustico Harbour.  cf. PEI Gov't Maps
     Above: as you come to near the end of Harbourview Rd., past the little marina and museum, is this old fish processing building, today used more for recreation as a 3-bedroom apartment was built on top the building last summer - it overlooks Rustico Bay. 
     The 2 photos below are the above building before renovations.
 Above & Below: view from 3-bedroom apartment.
     Above: another fish processing shed - it's in derelict condition.
 
     Below:  the next 8 photos, if lined end-to-end, forms a 360 degree panoramic at the end of Harbourview Dr.
     Above: an old fish processing building and new lighthouse as tourist operation in selling crafts and kayaking expeditions.
     Above: in the middle of the above buildings is the end of Harbourview Dr.
Above: some old building used as summer homes.
Above: an unnamed road on the breakwater, looking west.
 Above: looking north to the Northumberland Strait.
 Above: the other end of the breakwater looking northeast.
Above: full circle back to where the panoramic started - 360 degrees.
Above: The flat roof house is the old Court homestead.
Above: a summer home.
Above: L-R, summer home, lighthouse, abandoned house.
 
     Above:  I believe this is one of the old fish processing buildings from the early 1900's.  I stayed in a similar style building (now a cottage) at a harbour on the Magdelan Islands.  The main floor is where the workers processed the fish and upstairs were sleeping bunks along with a table and wood stove where food was prepared for the workers.  Small!
     Below: this house was moved from the Cavendish Road in the 1980's by Mark Gallant.   The house was on the property on the big (and only) turn in the road between North Rustico and Cavendish.  Mark sold it, then it was doubled in size - the new owners kept the old style of the house by adding another peak and kitchen wing.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

North Rustico Lighthouse

     I was out to North Rustico this morning and took photos of the lighthouse down at the harbour.  The following is a an old photo from a display at the Farmers Bank.  The base of the lighthouse measures 29'-9"x15'-11".
 
     Below is a photo of the lighthouse as you enter the harbour, followed by alot of photos from around the lighthouse - truly a beautiful setting amongst a few old building ruins.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This beautifully shingled, freshly painted lighthouse looks wonderful from a distance.  HOWEVER, upon a close-up look one is horrified to see it's VINYL SIDING, SHINGLE PATTERN!!!!!!!
 
 
 
 
 Below:  you can see the vinyl siding and aluminum around the window.
     Below: the photos below were taken through the window by putting the camers lens flat against the glass.  The first photos below are in the former kitchen where the main door comes in to the lighthouse, to the far left is the brick chimney, boarded over.  
 
     Below: photo taken in what was likely a living room - here the ladder went up to the second floor to the bedrooms.



Rogers House at Scales Pond

     I was out this way the other day and stopped in to Scales Pond at South Freetown on Scales Pond Road, Route 109. 
     Here's a history of the site...
      The Dunk River was once a mighty Island Waterway. Maps indicate a mill on the river as early as 1798. Scales Pond is the largest artificial millpond on the Dunk River. The dam was erected in 1843. Several mills operated in the area; a sawmill, a grist mill, a shingle mill and a carding mill. In the 1920s, the pond was purchased by a gentleman named Joseph Monaghan. He created the Hydro-electric plant which was later bought by Austin Scales. Electricity from this plant provided power to 700 families until the 1960s. The Scales Hydro Plant located on the premises was de-commissioned in 1976. It will be upgraded and eventually used as a fully functional teaching museum.
     The International Children’s Memorial Place was incorporated in 1999. Bill and Myra MacLean’s son, Trevor, died in 1995. Understanding the healing power of nature, Bill set out to transform a former provincial park into a place where parents and families who have lost a child can visit and reflect on their loss.
     The site is over 12 acres in size and is located in the center of PEI. Historically the area has been known for its beauty, hydro power generation, fishing and canoeing/kayaking. In its entirety the site is comprised of a 26 acre pond, dam, fish ladder, and a very serene walking trail which parallels the Dunk River.

     The following is a history of the house and property taken from a display plaque outside the house...
 
 
 
 
Roger's House
     In 1841, George Miller Wright operated the saw, grist and carding mills on the banks of the Dunk river.  When in 1867, he died of pneumonia at only 46 years of age, his wife sold the property to David and Martha Rogers.
     David Rogers called their new home "Kentlith Lodge" after his former home in South Wales.
     Besides being a blacksmith, farmer and mill owner, Rogers was captain of the Reserve Militia.  He was a strong temperanace Man and an ardent Methodist.  He was also Justice of the Peace for Freetown and District.
     In 1908, after David Rogers death, John and Bertram Stetson bought the house, land and buildings.  John farmed the property with his wife Eva (Leckie) Davison and her three children: Vivian, Earith and Clarence.
     On April 19, 1947 their son Clarence Davison (15 years) and Ivan Taylor (19 years) son of Ernest and Winnie Taylor tragically drown in the mill pond.
     This century old house holds many stories and has seen many changes over the years.  It is presently the home to our office, gift shp and the Healing Resource Center of the International Children's Memorial Place.
Below are my photos from around the house.