Spurgeon Jeffery, Building Hauler

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

St. Louis, P.E.I.

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

Christ Church Kildare Capes

I was up to North Cape on Monday evening - here's a few photos I took as I traveled from Alberton along the shore.

Above: the second Christ Church at Kildare Capes.  This church was moved here following the fire of the first Christ Church, below.

Above: Rev. Dyer described this church, started about 1851, in his journal on  August 15, 1859 - “After family prayer this morning I went with some of our friends to see the church.  I was struck at the appearance of it.  It looked more like a shed at a coal mine than a church.  It has been put up so many years to certain degrees, namely, the frame up, and rough‑boarded in, and the boards had become quite black with the weather.  It is rather small, 30x22 chancel, 9x6, the entrance or tower, 6 feet square.  It is rather prettily situated on two acres of good land given by the Mrs. Travers, and if fenced, it forms an excellent graveyard.  When the harvest is gathered in the people are going to try to finish it.  I shall be glad and thankful when it is done.” 

Below - view of the church looking at the Southeast corner.   This church was moved here from Montrose, a recently deconsecrated Presybeterian Church in 1926.  It was moved by well-known building hauler Spurgeon Jeffery of Lauretta, PEI.  The spectacle of the move was talked about for years by local residence who witnessed it.   Spurgeon's daughters Mary & Eva kept journals - they recorded October 10, 1926:  Rain last night.  Father went to Kildare this morning to haul church.

Below: View of the Northeast corner.  The church has been a beacon for fishermen for more than a century.

Below are miscellaneous details of the church.

Note the detailing of the cedar shingles over the gothic transom.