Old Barn, Hope River - demolished

     On July 3rd I noticed the windows had been taken out of this old barn and thought it must be in advance of demolition - so I took these photos.  It's located on the St. Mary's Road (Rte 224) near the intersection with Simpson Mill Road.

     Meacham's 1880 Atlas of Prince Edward Island shows this farmstead was 2 farms, to the right/west was Felix Murphy with 55-acres and the Hope River Post Office.  The farm to the left/east belonged to Jno Hogan with 60-acres. 

     Cumin's 1928 Atlas of Prince Edward Island shows the two farms above now one farm owned by Leo Reid with 114-acres.  

     Above is the new house that belongs to this farmstead - the old barn is to the left.  This house was built in 2003-2004 - it replaced the house below which was moved over to the east corner lot (at St. Mary's Rd and Broadway Rd.) of the farmstead, restored and sold.

     The photo below was taken on Feb. 14, 2004 - it shows the original house (now the yellow house above) with the new house behind (beige house /w red roof above) and the demolished barn above, in the far left.

On July 14th I took the photos below of the barn demolished.

Lower Freetown Presbyterian Church

     I've been traveling through-out the Island alot these days.  Here's a few recent photos of the old Lower Freetown Presbyterian Church located on the Freetown Road (Rte.8) near the intersection with Rte. 109.  It appears abandoned.

The following information cf. History of Lower Freetown: A Centenial Project of Lower Freetown Women's Institute. 1971. Pages 23-24.

"...Rev. Wm. Tufts succeeded Rev. W.M. Scott in 1888. It was during Mr. Tufts three year ministry that the present church was built and on November 2, 1890 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 more had it not been for the free labour generously expended...In 1950 the diamond anniversary of the church was celebrated...During the summer of 1955 the church was moved back 10 feet and a full basement excavated.  The front entry was remodeled taking away both side doors to the front." ...and front gable round window.

http://www.islandlives.ca/fedora/repository/ilives%3A195276/PDF/ilives%3A195276/Full%20Text.pdf

St. Simon and St. Jude Parish Church - Interior photos

     The interior of St. Simon and St. Jude Church is awe inspiring.  The blue ceiling is brilliant with gold stars - you can't stop looking up.  The interior was painted by Cathedral Painters of Nova Scotia in the 1990's.
     Also during the restorations in the 1990's a replica of the original altar was built.
     There's also an 1882 Louis Mitchell (Montreal) Organ in the church - during summer months recitals are held regularly. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/1880s-pipe-organ-being-restored-1.1055305

       St. Simon and St. Jude church is a must visit - well worth the drive from anywhere on Prince Edward Island!

Below are photos from the Side Chapel.

Bideford Parsonage House

     I was up to the Tyne Valley area yesterday afternoon for work.  I took the following photos of the Bideford Parsonage House.
     At the time this house was restored all the eave and gingerbread trimming had been removed - my brother Kerras (of Backroad Folkart) made all the new trimmings from Island Cedar.  See article about his work... http://backroadfolkart.blogspot.ca/2013/02/gingerbread-trims.html

The following information comes from their website.

http://www.bidefordparsonagemuseum.com/theHouse/theHouse.htm

     This Victorian home is pictured in the Illustrated Historical Atlas of the Province of Prince Edward Island (image below from Historic Places website) that was published by J.H. Meacham & Co. in 1880.  It was the residence of T.H. Pope, accountant and telegraph operator and was constructed in 1878 for Mr. Pope and his wife, Susan Elizabeth (Eliza) Yeo.  Two of their daughters were born while they lived in Bideford.  A copy of the deed for the land from the Government of Prince Edward Island to Thomas H. Pope for the sum of $2.00 on the wall in the foyer.

     On July 10, 1884, the house was purchased by the Methodist Church for the use as their Parsonage and was home to many parsons and their families over the years.  Following church union in 1925, the house became the manse for the Bideford United Church, until it was sold as a private dwelling in 1975.

     When the house came up for resale in 1999, the local community, upon hearing that it was to be sold and moved out of the community of Bideford to Cavendish, reactivated the West Country Historical Society.  The society became incorporated and purchased the home, turning it into a museum with three distinct themes – that of the ear of shipbuilding when the house was constructed; the contribution made to the community by the clergy and their families over the years; and thirdly, and perhaps what has created the most interest for the pubic, is the fact that author Lucy Maud Montgomery boarded her from Aught 3, 1894 until May 11, 1895 while teaching in Bideford No. 6 School.

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     Just up the road a short distance is the Bideford-Conway United Church, formerly the Bideford Methodist Church.  The church was built in 1888 and dedicated in 1890.  For more information see: http://marconf.ca/37556-bideford-pastoral-charge/