Knutsford School

     Our family met on Mother's Day last Sunday at Knutsford School.  Our grandmother Empress (MacNevin) McDowell, our matriarch (pictured below) was pleased to have her three daughters and their families to celebrate the occasion.   Empress came to Knutsford 81 years ago when she married our grandfather Roy McDowell on March 2, 1936.  They were always community-minded people.  Empress continues to be an active member of the Knutsford Women's Institute.

    Over the past winter the Knutsford W.I. have been doing upgrades to the 140+ year old schoolhouse which today is used as a community hall. 

   A couple of years ago history panels are prepared to tell the story of Knutsford...here's photos I took of them last Sunday. Another panel is being prepared to tell the story of our great-great-grandfather Capt. John Silliker, who along with his bother and others cut the O'Leary Road through to Knutsford about 1855 and were amount the earlier settlers of the area.  The Sillikers had 600-acres and donated the lumber and land to build the Methodist Church, with cemetery, and the School.

Ross' Mill, Bridgetown

     I bought this 20"x16" photo of Ross' Sawmill from Moe's Auctioneering Service yesterday.

     I took these up-close images of the photo - appears to have just had a new board-n-batten roof.

     More than twenty years ago I was contacted by a family member ( who was born and raised in Boston ) about re-building a house to match the family home that was still standing at Ross's Mill - it was not restorable.   We documented the house and produced drawings. Below are photos I took that day of the house and barn - both have long since disappeared.

     The following information comes from www.islandlives.ca.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS: 

A history of the north side of the Boughton River. 

Page 68.