Reproduction Furniture

     My brother Kerras works as a folk artist in Lauretta on the Centerline Road (Rte. 151) in western Prince Edward Island - he also builds reproduction furniture from recycled materials, ie. old doors.  He has a new website - http://www.birchgate.ca/kerras/furniture.html

Below are a few examples of his reproduction cabinetry.

 Below - his door collection - he usually has near 300 onhand.

Here's some of his folkart - http://www.birchgate.ca/kerras/folkart.html

Below: When Pigs Fly.

Below: Folkart Fox in Kerras' real live chick coup.

Below: Canadian Ark

Below: Blue Heron at Northport Pier, Alberton Area, PEI

Milo School

     Today is my grandmother Empress (MacNevin) McDowell's 93rd birthday and with it being back to school day for the children I was reminded of the photo below.  It's of the 1928 class of Milo School students.

     Above:  My grandmother Empress is the 5th from the left in the front row.  I believe she has two other classmates still alive, Ruth Campbell Hirlihy and Ruth's brother.  That year a School Fair was held in Coleman Hall of the schools from the area.  My grandmother won a prize for drawing.

     The following excerpt is from Past and Present: A History of the Brae. 1979.  Page 89.

...After Brae School closed, Brae and Derby pupils in Grades I to VI were transported to Milo School in the 1969-1970 term by Mrs. Errison MacLeod, in the 1970-1971 term by Mrs. Buddy Delaney, in the terms 1971-1972 and 1972-1973 by Mrs. Ralph Lidstone.  On July 1, 1971, twenty-one school districts (in Prince Edward Island) including Brae, No. 11, were consolidated under Order of Council by the Minister of Education as the O'Leary Consolidated School District, No. 193.  Later in 1971, the Brae School property, which included the school building and some of its contents, the outbuildings and the land were sold (by tender) to Mr. and Mrs. Spurgeon MacLean.  Milo school closed June 30, 1973.  Then pupils in Grades I to VI from Brae, Derby and Milo joined the High School students to ride to school in O'Leary in the big yellow school-buses.  These buses had been in operation from the time O'Leary Regional High School was built in 1960.

Free Church of Scotland, Coleman

     My grandmother Empress (MacNevin) McDowell went to this church as a child in the 1920's.  They lived in Milo, a few miles away from Coleman, so in winter they had Sunday School in Milo Hall. She recently told me this is/was a MacDonaldite Church.

Below: the church is on the corner of Rte. 14 and 140.

     The following information comes from, Past and Present: History of the Brae, 1979.  Pages 129-130.

     The one Free Church of Scotland (formerly Church of Scotland) that is situated west of Summerside was erected at Coleman by settlers of Lot 9, who, at a previous time, were part of the congregation of the Church of Scotland at DeSable.  The land in Coleman on which the church stands was purchased from Mr. John Higgins in 1895.  Members of the congregation believe the church was erected there sometime between 1895 and the turn of the century.  At a later time, the Church of Scotland in Prince Edward Island established a link with the Free Church of Scotland.  The Free Church of Scotland is Presbyterian in government and the congregations in Prince Edward Island form three pastoral charges under one Presbytery.  The church at Coleman is part of the Western Charge.  The emblem of the Free Church of Scotland is the burning bush; the spire of each church is topped with a Scottish thistle.  The minister in charge of the spiritual welfare of the Coleman congregation at the time the church was erected was Rev. Mr. Goodwill.  Other remembered ministers are Rev. Daniel MacLean, Rev. Mr. Campbell, Rev. James MacDougall, Rev. Ewan MacDougall, Rev. Harvey Bishop, Rev. David Compton.  Other ministers gave periods of supply, and in the 1950's and early 1960's, a number of ministers from Scotland gave assistance on the charge.  The minister in 1978 is Rev. John MacLeod of Scotland.  The first elders of the congregation were Dougald MacLean, Brea; Duncan MacLean, Milo; and Warren Wright, Coleman.  A pamphlet entitled Free Church of Scotland in Prince Edward Island and published by Presbytery some time since 1970 states (in part):  "The Free Church bears testimony to the Christian faith as stated in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the well known shorter catechism.  As a church she steadfastly contends for a return to this faith of our fathers which rests upon the unfallible and inerrant Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments."  

     A Church of Scotland cemetery is situated in Milo, Lot 9.

Below: I took these photos by placing the camera lens square against the window glass.

     There's still regular services held here - here's their website - http://www.peifreechurch.org/

History

Dating from 1843 but with its roots in the Reformation, The Free Church of Scotland owes its distinctive title to its historical struggle to remain free from state interference in its internal affairs. It is an Evangelical Presbyterian Church. It has close and active relations with many other Reformed churches of Jesus Christ throughout the world and stands firmly in the tradition which accepts the Bible in its entirety as the Word of God and, therefore, derive its forms of teaching, worship, ministry and government from it. The main emphasis of our worship is the preaching of the gospel — the good news of a free and sovereign salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

The Free Church has had an extensive history on Prince Edward Island with historical associations with the ministry of Rev. Donald MacDonald. An ordained minister from Perthshire, Scotland, came to the Island in 1826. He preached wherever opportunity presented itself – in private homes, barns and hillsides. The content of his messages was strongly Calvinistic. Such preaching is in great contrast to that of present day ecumenism in which the great doctrines of the Reformation – “Justification by faith alone” and “Divine Sovereignty” are obscured if not completely obliterated.

In the years since, the ministers and elders of these congregations endeavoured to uphold the everlasting gospel. However, following a series of church unions they became more or less isolated and as it was unsatisfactory to continue in such isolation eventually a link was established with the Free Church of Scotland. The church is Presbyterian in government and the congregations on Prince Edward Island, at present, form three pastoral charges united under one Presbytery. The next superior body is the Synod of North America.

At the time of Donald MacDonald’s death in 1867 the population of the church was numbered in the thousands. Shortly thereafter, Rev. Mr. James MacColl spent a brief time ministering to these people. In 1875, Rev. John Goodwill, a former missionary commenced a lengthy ministry. Although there was not entire satisfaction with his preaching at first, a widespread revival occurred in the latter part of his ministry and the church greatly strengthened. During Mr. Goodwill’s time some elders also conducted services beings set apart as preaching elders. These elders included Ewen Lamont, George Bears, Elias Roberts, and John Compton. Other early ministers were Rev. D. M. Campbell and Rev. William Campbell.

The Free Church of Scotland bears testimony to the Christian faith as stated in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the well known shorter catechism. As a church she steadfastly contends for a return to this faith of our fathers which rests upon the infallible and inerrant Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.

“…that in all things he may have the preeminence.”   Col 1:18

Old barn in Knutsford

     After we left the Canadian Potato Museum we took a drive out to Knutsford on the O'Leary Road.

Below: old barn on Smallman Rd. in Knutsford.

Below:  the late Edwin Dennis farm on the O'Leary Rd. in Knutsford.

The Canadian Potato Museum, O'Leary

     We recently took time to visit the newly renovated and revamped Canadian Potato Museum  http://www.peipotatomuseum.com/index.htm in O'Leary.
     Last winter a major reworking of the museum took place in the form of a large new gift shop and cafe/restaurant; the Community of O'Leary Museum; the Canadian Potato Museum and the new Antique Farm Equipment Museum.  Also on the museum grounds is a heritage walk to visit four local historic buildings - Alaska School; Telephone Office, Chapel, Log Barn.
     Be sure to take time to enjoy the food in the Cafe/Restaurant - they have potato soup, potato biscuits, baked potatoes, hand-cut french fries, potato fudge, etc., etc.
     Adjacent to the Museum is a Community Park with playground, a mini walking trail and picnic tables - easily you can spend the whole day in the area.
     Here's their new new brochure...

See previous posts (Summer 2011) in this blog about the Potato Museum -

http://peiheritagebuildings.blogspot.ca/2011/08/pei-potato-museum-oleary.html

http://peiheritagebuildings.blogspot.ca/2011/08/oleary-telephone-office.html

http://peiheritagebuildings.blogspot.ca/2011/08/alaska-pei-schoolhouse.html

http://peiheritagebuildings.blogspot.ca/2011/08/log-barn-oleary.html

http://peiheritagebuildings.blogspot.ca/2011/08/heritage-chapel-oleary.html