A few years ago my brother Kerras built a model of Spurgeon Jeffery moving his house from the corner of Centerline Road and Klondike (aka. MacLellan Rd.) Road, in Lauretta, east up the Centerline Road about a mile to the old Yeo farmstead in Alma. Kerras donated the model to the Alberton Museum along with some of his moving tools - they are on display on the lower level of the museum. Here's a brochure I did for his display.
Below: Photos of Spurgeon Jeffery's 1912 Farmhouse after the move.
Below: Spurgeon Jeffery's farmyard after move. Note house on far right in the distance.
Below: Floor plans for Spurgeon's House.
Below are photos of the model.
Spurgeon's daughter's Mary and Eva kept daily journals of the daily goings-on around the farm and with their father's and building hauling business - here are a few excerpts.
Excerpts from-
Some Historical and Biographical Notes
on the Community of
Palmer Road
Compiled by Members of Community School, 1973
Another vessel, the Freddie A. Higgins, came ashore during a severe norwester in the spring of 1914. The Captain was a Mr. MacLeod and the mate a Mr. MacKay according to the memory of some. Mr. McKay’s brother, a young man of seventeen or so was the other member of the crew. The cargo of oats was sold to local farmers and the ship was bought by Mr. John Doucette, owner of a lobster factory at the sight where the vessel grounded. The vessel was successfully floated by Mr. Spurgeon Jeffery with capstains which he used in his business of moving buildings. The vessel was put in charge of Mr. Michael Lynch of Tignish but it never was a paying proposition for Mr. Doucette who was said to have lost considerable money in the venture. A painting of the “Higgins” has been on show in recent years by the Waterford born painter Mr. Patrick Kenny.
Odds and Ends of Local History, Page 31
