Bonshaw House, 1840-1945

     In 2002 I drew the plans for "Bonshaw House" built by W.W. Irving. Also is information I compiled about this wonderful house.

     Much of the information below comes from: 

BONSHAW: A Stroll Through Its Past

by William M. Glen and Elizabeth A. Glen, 1993

     The Ground Floor was divided into the formal rooms ( the entrance hall, dining, grand and drawing rooms ) and the support rooms ( the kitchen and storage rooms ).  The floors in the entrance hall, grand, dining and kitchen rooms were hardwood.  The entrance hall had a notable staircase and banister.  Some of the Flooring and banister was utilized in the McLeod House which now stands on the site.

     -Extracts from the Annie Laurie Robertson diary 1888 to 1903, the location of the original now unknown, extracts inthe possession of Ann Coles, Milton, Queens County, PEI, Dec. 1992.

     The Second Floor was  serviced by three staircases; one to each section of the house.  The three sections were not connected.  In March 1900 it was noted that Bonshaw House was empty as "it was hard to get help to keep up a big house".

     -Based on the recollection of Christine McNevin nee McLeod, who lived in the house for 14 years in the 1930s, Argyle Shore, Sept. 1993.

 ...By March 1845, WW had moved to Charlottetown and offered Bonshaw Farm for lease or let.  He described the farm as having a house and offices and was available for immediate possession.  No record of anyone taking up the offer has been found so it is likely the house stood empty, although the land was probably still being farmed.

  In the early part of 1848, WW was having financial difficulties, probably caused by living beyond his means.  In April he gave up the lease of the 2718 acres in Lot 30 he had from David Stewart in lieu of rent arrears to the value of 192 pounds.  He also left the Legislative Council although this may have been due to expiration of his term in office and not a reflection on his financial troubles.  The letter to explain his replacement on the Council noted "he quitted the Island".  As the year progressed, things got much worse, and WW advertised Bonshaw Farm for sale.

Valuable Property for Sale.

     Private offers will be received by the Subscriber (who is about winding up his affairs in the Island,) for the following Property, viz:
     BONSHAW ESTATE. consisting of 315 acres of Freehold Land, beautifully situated on West or Elliot River, of which it commands a view.  It is 12 miles from Charlottetown, bounded on the South by the Tryon Road and on the East by the West River - one of the finest trouting stream; in the Island, from which oysters can also be obtained a few miles lower down.  It is in the immediate vicinity of Saw and Grist Mills.  About 70 acres of the above are under cultivation, and the remainder under a growth of Hardwood, with a sufficiency of Spruce, Fir, and Hemlock, for building and fencing purposes.  The Dwelling House was built about seven years ago, and consists of a Centre, with projecting Wings and Colonade having Drawing and Dining Rooms, two Bed Chambers,  Entrance Hall, 14 feet square; back Hall, (all papered) and Kitchen on the ground floor.  There are two Chambers above , and also Servants rooms.  Frost-proof Cellars under the Centre and South Wing.
The Farm Buildings consist of a Barn 50 feet by 27 feet, and with 20 feet post; and one-half is cellared and walled; - a Stable, with 4 stalls and loose box, Cow House, Poultry House (2 floors) Stone Well- house, with a pump, Pig - , & c.
     The Subscriber also offers for sale about 10,000 Junifer (Halmatak) Sleepers, two-thirds of which are 9, 10 by 5, and the remainder 9, 9 by 4-1/2, at St. Peter's Bay and Naufrage; 500 tons Hemlock Timber, principally 13 inches square, and mostly in lengths of 15 and 27 feet, at Bedeque, Richmond, and Orwell Bays also a quantity of large-sized Birch Timber at Bedeque and Three Rivers.
     Also, a considerable amount of Book, Debts, being advance made on Timber Contracts during the Winter of 1847.
     Every information will be afforded, on application to Wm. Forgan, Esq., Solicitor, Charlottetown, or to W.W. IRVING.

Spring Park, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, August 14, 1848.

from the Royal Gazette 29th Aug 1848, page 4.

New Glasgow c. 1960s

     We were into Bibles for Mission store the other day and got this great photo. We took it out of the frame and realized it was a calendar photo. Note the stooked grain in the foreground. The olde mill restaurant was beside the church and now across the road where the Olde Glasgow Mill Restaurant is today.

Webster's Mills of Marie

     I recently got a copy of the community history, Morell: Its History by the Jubilee Senior Citizens Club, 1980. I was interested to read the story about Webster's Mills of Marie - the following informations comes from Pages 46-48, written by Cuyler Dingwell.

     Edward Warrel Webster (b. 1810) was known as Edward the Miller. He married Henrietta Maria Bowley and, as a young man, established mills on the Marie River building a dam for power, possibly about the year 1835. The first lumber mill was powered by an overshot water wheel and used what is known as "up and down saws." The flour mill used stones to grind either barley or wheat into flour.
     The older sons of Edward Webster operated these mills with their father for some years; but on the death of Edward the Miller on Nov. 12, 1891, his son Robert R. Webster (1865-1956) took over their operation. Robert was married to Mary Dingwell (May) who was sister of my father, James E. Dingwell. They were the children of George H. Dingwell (postman), whose wife was Margaret Dingwell. Margaret, the daughter of Charles Dingwell and Mary Dingwell - nee Webster. She was the sister of Edward the Miller.
     After Robert took over the operation of the mills he did extensive renovations. With the lumber mill he put a modern gate type water wheel; also a rotary or circular saw and carriage; as well as adding a shingle mill. In the flour mill, the stones to be recut or sharpened at intervals. The last time this was done was by a man named MacLeod from Strathcona, who was a professional stone cutter. This information was told to me by Mr. Webster himself.
     About the year 1912, Robert bought a roller mill that had been built on the River John in Nova Scotia. he had it dismantled by a man in Nova Scotia, who re-erected it for Robert on the previous site of the flour mill, on the Marie River. Because the mill was new, the 35-horsepower water wheel did not have enough power to operate it successfully. So, R.R. as he was known, purchased a steam engine and boiler and had it installed in a shed on the side of the mill. Since it was fifty horsepower engine, it had plenty of power, but not everyone could fire the boiler properly, with the slabs from the saw mill.  I have been told that a young lad by the name of Douglas Sanderson was the only one who could do this adequately. Doug, as he is called, now lives in Cable Head. The mill operated by steam for a few years; as it became older and worn, needing less power, it was then operated by water power for it's duration.
     As well as milling, Robert Webster made brick. The last kiln of brick was moulded by Alan MacDonald, one of the "strong MacDonalds." The clay for the brick was dug just west of the mills in a field - the hollow can still be seen to this day. I cannot recall the exact number of bricks Mr. Webster told me was in the kiln, but it was up in the thousands. The bricks were baked or burned right on the site, using hardwood for fuel.
     After the war of 1914-1918, Robert's son William (1896-1969), took over the operation of the saw mills. Later, about 1930, when Robert retired from milling and moved to Midgell, Wilbur, who was married to the former Ida Jay took over the operation of the flour mills and operated them until the early 1940's. At this time, because of a failure in the wheat crops and other reasons, the flour mill never started again. Wilbur continued to operate the saw mill on a part-time basis until failing health forced his retirement in the 1960's. Somewhere around 1965, the Dept. of Highways built a new dam up stream from the old dam and put a bypass in for the fish to go from river to dam and vice-versa. About this time Wilbur's son, Garth, operated the saw mill part-time for a few years, using a gasoline engine for power. Today (1980), what was once Webster's Mills, is just a pile of rubble in the stream of Marie River.
     Part of this story are from tales my father remembered as told to me; other parts were told to me by Robert R. Webster, whom always called Uncle Rob since his wife was my Aunt May, a very dear old lady whom I will never forget. Other part are memories of my own.

Former Cutcliffe house demolished

   The former Frank and Winnifred (McDowell) Cutcliffe home at Fredericton corner was demolished on Thanksgiving Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. A young couple had purchased it a few years ago and during Hurricane Dorian it sustained too much damage. 
   The photo below was taken in the summer of 2007.

   When the Cutcliffe house was built it was the largest in the community. Frank Cutcliffe had a store between the house and the Malpeque Road (Rte.2). They were successful merchants. After the Cutcliffe's the store was operated by Martin Jorgensen and at one time the store was an antique shop.
   On Nov. 7, 1935 the Guardian newspaper report, "The members of the Pleasant Valley United Church Women (UCW) held a very successful chicken supper at the spacious home of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Cutcliffe. The ladies served supper to about 170 people. An enjoyable social evening was spent in music and games. A substantial sum was realized for the church. A hearty vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. & Mrs. Cutcliffe for their hospitality."
   In the late 1960s or early 1970s the house was bought by two couples, one by the name of Pryor from Quebec and was turned into an inn. It was famously known as the Seven-Keys Inn. The end of the house facing the road featured seven large wood keys fanned out. The seven rooms for rent were decorated differently in styles from around the world.
    Over the years many different people lived in this house. 

    The following photos were taken in the summer of 2007 when Route-2 Highway in Hunter River was widened. In the photo below the former Cutcliffe house is on the left and across the street, Fredericton Station Rd., was the old Howard Weeks home. Howard was a master carpenter and built many houses in the area in the early 1900s. The Malpeque Rd. (Rte. 2) is at the bottom of the photo. 

   That summer of 2007 many, many buildings in Fredericton along Rte. 2 highway were torn down or moved - it surely changed the look and feel of the community.
   Below the beige house was the first Fredericton School turned into a house where Whitfield and Daisy Abbott lived. To the right was the old Fredericton Hall.

Below was the Church of Christ, also torn down that summer of 2007.

   Below was the last Fredericton School converted to a house. It belonged to the MacKenzie's who moved it to the Smith Road in Pleasant Valley to a vacant lot once owned by Willa Smith.

  Below, way back the driveway was the farm of Miller and Francis (McDowell) Stevenson. The house at the top of the driveway was the former Church of Christ manse where Miller and Francis lived and their son and daughter-in-law lived in the old house. The old house was torn down to make way for a new house and the bungalow was moved to Hazel Grove. 

  Below was the old feed mill originally owned and operated by the Cutcliffe's. In later years it was owned by the MacKenzie's. It too was torn down.

Miminegash United Church closed

     I was sad to learn the last service was held in the little Miminegash United Church in early July 2019. The church is located on Route 14 in St. Lawrence in western PEI. This little church was part of the Alberton-Elmsdale Pastoral Charge.
     Though it might seem insignificant, the church had a very interesting history as outlined in a 20-page booklet celebrating their 100th anniversary in the summer of 1981.
     Below are photos I took of the church last week.

 

     Below is the anniversary booklet I scanned so the history may be shared.

Old Forsyth Homestead destroyed

     The old Forsyth homestead at 187 Dock Road in the community Union (between Elmsdale and Alberton) was destroyed in April 2019 by a "control burn" by the local fire department.
     I took these photos on Apr. 11, 2004 from the road before the leaves came onto the trees - the house was quite a distance from the road.
     The 1880 Meacham's Atlas of PEI shows John Forsyth Jr. living here with 104-acres.
     The 1928 Cummin's Atlas of PEI shows John W. Forsyth living here with a bit more acreage. It notes his wife, Martha Minnetta Hodgson and their four daughters: Margaret, Jean, Mary and Dorothy. (Margaret never married; Jean married Lloyd Wilkie; Mary married Russell Lockerby; and Dorothy married Leslie Hardy).
     The last person to live in this house was Margaret Forsyth. I believe she passed away in the mid-1980s. She was the secretary for the Town of Alberton for many years. No one lived here following her passing. The contents of this house were sold. By chance I found a box of 1940's Christmas cards at Riverview Antiques and bought them.   

     This house displays two eras in architectural periods and style. The original house is the kitchen wing (left) to the rear of the main house (right) and was built in the "center-dormer style" in the 1850s. The main part of the house was built later, possibly around 1900 when a new generation might have taken over the homestead.

Since 1873 the Province has lost scores of...

     It's interesting to read the lament of a Guardian correspondent 91 years ago about the loss of old buildings.

     Since 1873 the Province has lost scores of carriage-building shops and saw and grist mills, also scores of carriage-buildings, carpentering and blacksmith shops and its only woollen factory. Cutting away limited forests has made us more and more dependent upon imported coal for fuel. And we have lost our luscious and once world-famous Malpeque oysters. On the other hand we have gained a silver fox-breeding and fur-farming industry of great value, the benefits of which we are now shared by many nations.” -The Charlottetown Guardian, June 30, 1928 (www.islandnewspapers.ca)

Leard's 1888 Grist Mill

It's great to drive by Leard's Mill and see it restored. Here are a few recent photos.  The open house we held in mid October 2018 saw over 300 people come through in three hours.