Monday, June 11, 2018

Reeves House, South Freetown to be demolished today

      I was notified by Jean last evening that this house was to be demolished today.  It was listed on www.usedpei.com for anyone to take windows, etc. 
     I drove by last evening and again this morning and took a few distant photos.  
     This is an impressive 3-1/2 storey farm house with an attached carriage house on a rise of land on the Nodd Road in South Freetown.  It was built by David Reeves 170 years ago.  David (1829-1912) married in 1858 to Margaret McCallum Cole (1839-1895) of Bedeque.  They had 12 children: Azzur, Hubert, Herbert, Esther, Duncan, Andrew, John, Janie, Wallace, Henry, Ada and Horatio.
     The photo below is from the ad referenced above.
     Below: map from Meacham's 1880 Atlas of PEI shows David Reeves with 396-Acres.  
Below: map from Cumin's 1928 Atlas of PEI shows this house belonging to Mrs. Picton Reeves (her husband Picton died in 1922) with 296-Acres and 100-Acres to the right belonging to her brother-in-law Hubert Reeves.  The also Atlas notes Mrs. Reeves having the following children: Margaret, Elmar, Preston and Elworth.

       Today this dairy farm is called "Blue Diamond Holsteins" with a newer home out front.

I took these photos last evening.
I took these photos this morning - that's an impressive tree in front of the house.

____________________________________________________
DAVID REEVES OBITUARY
October 26, 1912 – The Charlottetown Guardian
     On Thursday, October 17th at Freetown there passed away one of the oldest residents in the person of David Reeves, at the good age of eighty-three years, after an illness of a few weeks caused by the general breaking up of the system.  The deceased was an honourable and upright man in all his dealing and acquired a good share of this worlds goods. 
     He leaves the following children to cherish his memory of a hind and affectionate father: - Janie and Horatio, Claremont, N.H.; Mrs. Joseph Webster, Imperial, Sask. (who arrived home shortly before her father’s death).  Davis of Seattle, Wash.; Herbert of Victoria West; Duncan of Norboro; Esther, and Hubert of Freetown and Picton at home.  The funeral on Saturday was largely attended, service was conducted at the house and grave by Rev. Mr. Morris, Kensington.  The remains were laid to rest in the Methodist Cemetery, Birch Grove, beside those of his wife, who predeceased him some years ago.  The pall bearers were – John Walker, Caleb Taylor, William Deighan, Joseph Baker, John Power, and Patrick Kielly.