Wilkinson's Store for Sale, Springfield West

     I see the old Wilkinson's General Store is still for sale.  It's located in rural Prince Edward Island on the west end of the O'Leary Road in the community of Springfield West.
     The following photos are from the real estate website - they're a bit fuzzy.  
http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=12912053&PidKey=-1850767266

Description: 3000'sq ft Country convenience store that serves as a contributing asset to many agricultural communities surrounding Springfield West and area. Built in 1912 this stores provides grocery, medicinal, household items, lottery, hardware items for its many regular and loyal customers. Building features a spacious apartment with it's own private entrance that has tenants. A large upstairs bedroom with a very spacious entertainment room, downstairs features entry, kitchen and dining area. Fridge and stove are included. An unfinished upstairs loft that has an extra 1800 sq ft potential for two other apartments. Stock is not included but certainly can be at a negotiable price. 200 amp service. Oil tank is replaced 8 yrs ago, includes water softener. Easily heated by a forced air oil furnace and estimated cost just under $2000 per annual. Full unfinished basement. Situated on 2 acres of land. 17x26 garage with a mechanics pit may be used for your own vehicle repairs, workshop etc.

 Note the patterned wood ceiling.

The following are photos I took of the store in July 2012.

     My great-grandmother Lucy (Milligan) MacNevin use to tell us about coming here in the fall, about a 7 mile trip from Milo, to get their winter's supply of dry good, flour, sugar, molasses, etc. - that would have been in the 1920's and 30's.

     I can't find much about the history of Mr. Wilkinson and his store, however, I know that upon his death he left a large estate - sometime in the 1950's.  He left a scholarship for young women from the West Prince area who were training at the Island's Nursing School - I had friends in the mid-1980's who benefited from this scholarship.

Bethel United Church & Springfield West

     On Sunday, July 8th, my parents 51st Anniversary, we made our way out to Springfield West on the O'Leary Road to the annual ice cream social at Bethel United Church.  It's located on the MacDougall Road (Rte. 141), a short distance in from the O'Leary Road.
     Below: The front, east side, of the Bethel United Church built in 1873.  This was the home church of my great-great-grandparents William McDowell and Ellen Heaney (see toombstone below).

Below: south side of Bethel United Church.

Below: photos of the church's interior.

Below:  the former Bethel United Church Manse.

Below: the cover of the book, Letters from the Manse by Joan Archibald Colborne.

cf. www.amazon.ca

     My parents, Wilbert Jeffery and Verna McDowell were married in the Bethel United Church Manse on July 8, 1961.  Below is a photo of Wilbert and Verna taken at their wedding reception at the McDowell-Silliker homestead in Knutsford.

Below:  my parents on July 8, 2012 - their 51st Wedding Anniversary.

Below: the Wilkinson's Store on the O'Leary Road in Springfield West.

     On October 6, 1982 the West Prince Graphic published a story about my great grandmother Lucy Enid (Milligan) MacNevin Collicutt (1892-1989).  The following is a quote from the article,
     "Island women had a way of making pennies stretch when it came to feeding their families and keeping them warm.  Mrs. Collicutt recalls going to the local store (Wilkinson's in Springfield West, as she always told us) every fall for the winter supplies and spending $25.  That was alot of money in a time when 50 cents was the going wage for a day's work.  "I made the children's clothes and my own.  There was lots of material and broadcloth was 10 cents a yard. You could get 200 pounds of flour for $1.98 but we grew a lot of our own wheat and ground into flour.  We would get a barrel of herring in the fall to go with the meat we had and that would do for the winter.  We were never idle then," Mrs. Collicutt related."

Below: Ladies quilting in Milo - my great-grandmother

is second from right, behind in top photo.

Below: Southwest view of Wilkinson's Store.

Below: A barn belonging to the Wilkinson's Store.

Below: Springfield West School - southwest view.

Below: Front of Springfield West School - south facing.

Below: Southeast corner of Springfield West School.

Below: not sure what this building is - it's across the road from the school.

Detailing in the gable would indicated it was probably a community Hall.

Below: a few barns on a homestead next to the school.