Montrose United Church

     Montrose United Church sits, facing east, in a grove of mostly maple trees at the far east end of the Centerline Road.  It served both Montrose and Alma communities as a regular place of worship until 1969 when amalgamating with Alberton Pastoral Charge, thus becoming known as the Alberton-Elmsdale Pastoral Charge.

     The church was erected in 1945 after fire destroyed the original church on May 21, 1944 – seventy (70) years ago.  The new church opened one and a half years later on November 11, 1945.

     The planning, faith, cooperation and hard work put into rebuilding was well worth the effort.  There was once again a place to give thanks and worship in Montrose.  Fellowship meetings for both the youth and adults (Sunday School, Young Peoples Society, Bible Study, etc.) resumed in the church.

     It must have been a glorious day as people congregated for that first service in 1945, in their new Montrose United Church.

     A couple of photos shows a few people of the congregation gathered at the church entrance following Sunday Worship.

     In this summer 1959 photo...

Muriel (Baker) Barbour – (wife of Roy Barbour); Marion Barbour – (later wife of Jack Donald); Ann Barbour – (later wife of Barry Sandercock); Shirley Barbour – (later wife of Leslie Hardy); Jean Barbour – (later wife of Billy Oliver); between Marion and Shirley, in the door, is “Artie” Arthur Pridham of Montrose – a faithful man to his church.

     The Rev. Robert A. Crooks served as Minister at the Montrose Pastoral Charge for the years 1959-61.

           

     Standing outside the church in this 1963 photo...

Lynda Bowness – ((later wife of Allan Leard); Donna Barbour  - (later wife of Ronnie MacPhee); Revada (Rayner) Barbour – (wife of George Bowness); Kay (Lockerby) Barbour – (wife of Jack Barbour); Daisy (Rix) Barbour – (wife of Waldron Barbour)

      Mr. Brown M. Jardine served as minister at the Montrose Pastoral Charge for the years 1962-65.

** The write-up,  pictures and 1950’s postcard of the Montrose United Church courtesy of Donna (Barbour) MacPhee.

Dr. D.A. Dunbar

     I came across the following information about Dr. David A. Dunbar of Alma.  He was the son of Wm. Archibald Dunbar and Sara Rix (of North Bedeque, b. 1842) of Centerline Road, Alma.  Dr. Dunbar studied medicine at McGill University in Montreal - he later lived and practiced in Vancouver, B.C. where he died in 1954.   
     Dr. D.A. Dunbar was a brother of James *Jimmy* Dunbar who lived across the road from Spurgeon Jeffery.  Dr. Dunbar's ashes were sent back to Alma for burial - Wilbert Jeffery recalls visiting Jimmy and Hattie that day in 1954 - Hattie said to Wilbert, "Jimmy's not feeling so well today - his brothers ashes arrived in the mail this day".

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

     The following information comes from the City of Vancouver Archives http://vancouver.ca/your-government/city-of-vancouver-archives.aspx

Reference Code: AM54-S4-2-:CVA 371-1578.  Date: Dec. 11, 1952.  Part of the Major James Skitt Matthews collection.  

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

Students Attending McGill, 1909

From the Daily Examiner, Jan, 22, 1909.

List of Prince Edward Island students at McGill – Medicine.

First year:

     Wm. E Williams, Mount Pleasant.
Second year:

     Lester G. Houle, Charlottetown; Fred H. McKay, Mt. Stewart; James S. McLeod, Charlottetown; Louis W. McNutt, Charlottetown; Alex. V. Webster, Marie.
Third year:

     R.S.P. Carruthers, North Bedeque; B. H. Champion, Summerside; D. A. Dunbar, Alma; Arthur W. Furness, Vernon; S. E. Gillis, Indian River; Percy L. Lavers, Georgetown; John A McPhee, Charlottetown.
Fourth year:

     F.M. Auld, Covehead; John R. Cameron, Charlottetown; James W. Dorsey, Charlottetown; John J. Gillis, Miscouche; George C. Lawson, Charlottetown; Walter P McBride, Central Bedeque.

Submitted by Christine Gorman / © Dave Hunter and The Island Register:

http://www.islandregister.com/1909mcgill.html

Last Updated: 10/2/2004 9:13:24 AM

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

     Below: a Dunbar tombstone in the Alma Baptist Cemetery noting the following deaths. William A. Dunbar 1840-1908 / His daughter Elizabeth A. Keith 1864-1940 / His daughter Annie M. 1880-1886. /// on the side Dr. D.A. Dunbar 1883-1954. 

     Dr. D.A. Dunbar had the following siblings as listed in the 1891 PEI Census: Hugh B. (21); Emma (21); Joseph A. (19); Emma A. (16); Sarah H. (13); James W. (4); infant girl (4 mos).

     See 1891 Census -

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1891/001081-119.02-e.php?person_id_nbr=3160403&page_sequence_nbr=1&interval=&PHPSESSID=oudpa6rgqrh7up7k8d765ord27

===========================

Above: back reads - Dr. Archie Dunbar

Photo courtesy of Donna (Barbour) MacPhee Collection

Alma Folk

     Here are some photos from the Donna (Barbour) MacPhee collection of a few people around Alma and Laruetta.

 Above: Daisy (Rix) Barbour and Raigh Currie.

 Above: 25th Wedding Anniversary of Isaac and Edna (Herlihy) Dunbar.

    Above: Jean (Barbour) Oliver; Wanda (Barbour) Matthews; way in the back, Daisy (Rix) Barbour; Eva Jeffery; Geralda (Shields) Arsenault and Velda (Dunn) MacRae.  The date on the photos is 1962 - fifty years ago.

 Above: Mrs. Allan Clark; Blanche (Gordon) Clark and Scott Clark.

     Above:  Taking a break from planting potatoes - Leslie Mountain; Blanche (Mountain) Bowness; Sid Vincent: Lila Mountain; Geralda Shields; ? ; Preston Murphy.