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.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

     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/

former Conway-Ahearn-Porter Homestead, St. Peter St. Paul

     I took these photos a week ago - the old farmstead is located at 42209 Rte. 2 (Western Road) in the community of "St. Peter St. Paul" ( located between DeBlois and Tignish ). 

      When I was in Junior & High School in the 1970's, this was the home of one of my classmates - this is where the Porter Family lived.  It was a beautiful property, always well-kept and tidy.
     Today the house is abandoned and 100-acre farm is owned and farmed by a large local agricultural corporation.
     Cumin's 1928 Atlas shows this property being owned by Tim Conway, married to Adeliene with the following children: Joe, Jim, Gregory, Emma and Addie.
     My parents told me this property was owned by Jimmy Ahearn in the 1950's. He built the huge barn in the 1950's and died suddenly not long after building it.  His wife moved to Alberton following his death.   They said it was one of the nicest properties in western P.E.I.

     The house is in the "Island-ell Farmhouse" style.  The front/east/road side of the house features two square-bay windows.  

     See more photos of this place on Facebook's "Abandoned Properties on P.E.I."

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.646767985350294.1073741843.351704324856663&type=3