Homestead wells

     I was asking my father, Wilbert Jeffery, about dug water wells in the area of Alma and Lauretta.  He said there were few of them around.  Most homesteads relied on ground springs bubbling up into brooks and waterways for water used in the house and for livestock.
     He said in Lauretta the only people who had a dug well were John Smith and Birt Smith (neighbours) who lived across the road from Lauretta School.  Wilbert said when they were going to school they had no water at the school, so they would go into Birt Smith's porch and help themselves to the water.
     Digging a well was a large project - not only was it great labour to dig, then it had to be lined with sandstones to keep the walls from falling.
     Below is an image of digging a well.  cf. http://www.nzdl.org

     After the well was dug an enclosure was built around it to keep out dirt, animals and people from falling in.

Archie & Mildred Barbour celebrate 40th Anniversary - 1978

     The following was published in the Journal-Pioneer newspaper in October 1978.

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Alma Couple Celebrates Anniversary

     Many friends, neighbours and relatives gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Archie Barbour, Alma on October 12th to offer their best wishes and congratulations on the occasion of their 40th wedding anniversary.
     Mr. and Mrs. Barbour, nee Mildred Dunbar, were married at the Baptist Parsonage, O'Leary on  October 12, 1938 by the late Rev. J.G. Duncan and made their home in Alma where they still reside.
     Their attendants were Mr. Barbour's sister Zena, Mrs. Wentworth Yeo, who was present for the occasion and Mrs. Barbour's brother Keir who could not attend the celebration.
     The table was centered with a beautiful three-tiered anniversary cake made and decorated by Mrs. Wendell Weeks, Alberton with vases of red roses on either side.
     Receiving the guests and assisting in serving a cold turkey and ham luncheon during the afternoon were their daughters, Carol and Helen and daughter-in-law Shirley, while their niece Ann, Mrs. Barry Sandercock, replenished the presided over the tea service.  Their grand-daughter, Leann Barbour, was in charge of the guest book.
     The living room was tastefully decorated with ruby and white streamers and wedding bells.
     Following the open house in the afternoon, many gathered in the evening to offer their congratulations and presented them with many lovely cards and gifts, including one from the Alma Women's Institute.  The family gift was of monetary value and an address was read by their daughter Carol who also presented the gift.  Gifts from several relatives were carried in by Eldon Barbour and Earl Barbour while the presentation was made by the bride's brother, Isaac Dunbar, Alma.  Cousin of the groom, Mrs. Jack Donald, Montrose, read the address.
     A beautiful floral arrangement of red roses and white mums decorated the living room table, a fit from Mr. and Mrs. Archie Rayner and family of Toronto, Ontario.
     Following the opening of the gifts, a cold turkey and ham buffet-style supper was enjoyed with the ladies of Alma Women's Institute pouring and serving.  Aprons in the colour scheme of ruby and white were made and presented to each member of the Institute by Mrs. Barbour who is an active member.  Mrs. Isaac Dunbar and Mrs. Ellis Smallman served the anniversary cake.
     During the evening, music was furnished by Mr. and Mrs. Warren Leard, Mr. and Mrs. Allison Silliker, Alton Hardy and Willey Dunbar.
     Message of congratulations were received from Mr. and Mrs. Keir Dunbar, Victoria, BC; Mr. and Mrs. Rae Runge, Devon, AB; Mr. and Mrs. Ben Barbour, Mississauga, ON; Mr. and Mrs. David MacDonald, MP and Mr. and Mrs. J. Angus MacLean opposition leader of PEI.
     They also received several telephone calls from relatives and friends.  Amoung the many guests who called were Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Duncan, Mrs. Lawrence Coffin and daughter Audrey and sister Florence, all of Charlottetown and Mrs. John Cameron of Summerside.
     Mr. and Mrs. Barbour have a family of one son and two daughters.  Robert who lives with his wife and three sons in Burford, ON; Carol, Mrs. Dennis Rainka, Victoria, BC; and Helen of Toronto, ON.
     They also were foster parents to their niece, Ann Barbour, who is now Mrs. Barry Sandercock, Lucerne, QE and who also have two children.
     The family members were all present for their parents anniversary.

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     Postscript.  When I told my mother, Verna (McDowell) Jeffery that I posted Mildred and Archie's 40th Wedding Anniversary write-up on this blog, she told me about the apron Mildred made for each of the Women's Institute members (of whom Mom was one) who served that evening.  She said Mildred worked for weeks getting ready for the anniversary.  So!  Mom still has the apron that Mildred made 35 years ago!!!  I photographed it last week and here are the photos below - front and back, designed to be reversible.

O'Brien-Jeffery House, Lauretta/Elmsdale

     I always thought this house was a 1970's bungalow, but no.  My father, Wilbert Jeffery, told me this house once belonged to Peter O'Brien of Lauretta.  It was located on the south side of Centerline Road behind (west) of Bona McLellan's farm.   In Cumin's 1928 Atlas of Prince Edward Island it shows that 50-acre property being owned by Geo. Barnett.  The house was small with two rooms, a large kitchen and a bedroom.
      Peter used the house when he was working over on the farm.  His main homestead was beside Abram/Louis/Kerras Jeffery's - the first property in Lauretta on the north side of Centerline Road.  

     In 1947 Gordon Jeffery (son of Louis Jeffery) and his wife Freda Barnett moved this house to the Western Road in Elmsdale (across from the Griffins) and fixed it up.  In recent years the house was raised and added to.

     Not long after Gordon and Freda moved this house, Gordon went to Montreal for back back surgery - a disk problem.  Wilbert thought it was 1948 or 1949.  After surgery Gordon arrived by train and came off on a stretcher - he was in full body cast.  A big surgery in those days, however, he recovered well.   

     After a few years Gordon and Freda sold the house and moved to Alberton.

Jenny *Beatrice* (Clark) Irving

Jenny *Beatrice* ( Clark ) Irving

1918-2012

             The death occurred at the Margaret Stewart Ellis Home, O'Leary, with her family by her side, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, of Jenny "Beatrice" Irving (nee Clark) of Alberton in her 94th year. Beloved wife of the late George Kenneth Irving. Born at Alma, P.E.I. on March 22, 1918, she was the daughter of the late Allan and Barbara (nee Hardy) Clark.

            Loving mother to: Ian (Dianne); Don (Janelle), Anita Mercier Janice, Allan, Eleanor, Kent (Cynthia). Grandmother to Shani (David) Henderson, Jason (Jodi) Mercier, Stephen and Bryan Irving, Geoffrey, Olivia, Brandon, Anne and Jennifer Irving. Great grandmother to Meaghan, Allison and Sarah Henderson, Zoe Gaudet, and Ashton and Max Mercier. She is also survived by a sister-in-law Blanche Clark of Maplewood Manor, Alberton, and by several nieces and nephews.

            She was predeceased by brothers, Preston (late Dot) and Jack Clark, and by a sister Muriel (late Heber) Ramsay. She was also predeceased by sisters-in-laws: Ethel Donavon, Bell (Sutherland) Bell, and Doris (George) Horne.

            Bea taught school in the community for over 20 years and served as a longstanding member of the Dock Women's Institute, the ladies Auxiliary at the Maplewood Manor, and the Gordon Memorial United Church. As an avid gardener, her flowers and vegetables were appreciated by many within her community.

            Resting at the Rooney Funeral Home, Alberton. Funeral on Friday afternoon Jan. 6, from the Gordon Memorial United Church Alberton, with funeral service at 2 p.m. Rev.Robert Lockhart officiating. Interment in Hillcrest Cemetery, Alberton. No visiting hours or flowers by personal request. As an expression of sympathy memorials to the Montrose United Church Building Fund, Hillcrest Cemetery Fund, or to the Alzheimer Society would be gratefully appreciated. 

Local Residents Working on the Road 1941

     The Province has a new website listing their documents since 1894 - below is one I found which shows local residents, mostly men, who worked on the road that year and how much they were paid.  The higher paid men were likely Road Overseers.

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Annual Report of the Department of Public Works

and Highways of the Province of Prince Edward Island

for the Fiscal Year Ending December 31,  1941

cf.  http://www.peildo.ca/fedora/repository/leg%3A6250?startpage=&solrq=george%20jeffery

Details of Expenditures

R O A D S - Prince County

Section No. 8

Donald Barbour $6.75; Waldron Leard $6.51; Frank Barbour $10.00; Eldon Barbour $4.50; Arthur Barnett $2.50; Claude Barnett $6.84; Charles Barnett $5.00; Harold Bearisto $1.75; Roy Burns $59.40; Lloyd Burns $14.22; Hubert Burns $10.78; W.H. Burns $7.27; William H. Burns $3.78; John Cannon $16.75; Edward Clements $12.75; Antoine Clements $2.78; Frederick Clements $0.25; John A. Clements $0.25; George Costain $25.65; John W. Costain $0.25; John A. Costain $8.60; Gordon Costain $0.25; Raymond Costain $0.25; Wallace Costain $0.25; Tennyson Costain $9.31; Chester Costain $0.25; Ralph Costain $6.25; Clifford Costain $4.00; Daniel Dalton $17.87; Daniel Danton $4.78; Wallace Donald $0.86; Peter Donahue $0.28; Gregory Donahue $6.75; Mrs. Gertrude Doyle $2.28; Ralph Duggan $22.50; Hudson Duggan $5.44; Roy Duggan $0.36; Isaac Dunbar $0.78; Howard Dunbar $0.28; Leo Ellsworth $0.25; Robert Fitzgerald $2.02; Kenneth Gordon $2.50; David Gordon $1.06; Sanford Green $0.78; Veniah Green $17.53; Sanford Green $36.87; Reginald Green $2.00; Richard Hustler $16.00; Louis Jeffery $22.50; David Jeffery $0.78; Gordon Jeffery $9.12; George Jeffery $4.82; john R. Jones $3.75; Edward Jones $10.12; Alberton Jones $0.25; James Jones $0.25; George Jones $2.50; John A. Jones $9.00; Keith Kelly $4.50; Edmund Kelly $0.28; Paulinus Kelly $0.28; Herman Kennedy $2.25; Austin Kennedy $14.40; Frank Kinch $1.53; Benedict Kinch $2.75; Andrew Kinch $$11.75; Earl Kinch $4.50; James Kinch $0.78; Charles Mallett $5.74; Mrs. Clarence Murphy $0.26; Wilbert Murphy $6.99; Ernest Myers $60.26; Mrs. Elizabeth Myers $1.75; Patrick McIntyre $4.75; Wilbert McInnis $0.78; Robert McInnis $0.78; Guy McInnis $0.25; John McLean $19.76; Harry McLean $1.25; John McLellan $19.59; W.B. McLellan $3.32; Irvin McLellan $5.75; Stanford McNeill $0.61; Anselm J. O’Brien $7.06; Peter O’Brien $1.36; Albert O’Brien $1.25; Roach O’Brien $4.20; Jervis O’Brien $14.00; George O’Brien $0.78; Cornelius O’Brien $2.53; Hedley Palmer $7.23; Hedley L. Palmer $16.92; James Palmer $2.25; Heber Ramsay $41.04; Frederick Rennie $2.80; Arthur Rennie $9.72; Harvey Rix $14.92; Mrs. Lida Rix $0.60; John Sawyer $6.50è Emmett Sentner $1.96; Wilfred Shields $13.00; George Shields $2.25; John J. Smith $8.91; Bertram Smith $9.60; John H. Smith $15.43; Sidney Smith $13.75; John D. Thompson $3.75; John Wedge $14.75; Joseph White $5.50.

Meeting the Train in Alma - 1940's

     I was quizzing my father, Wilbert Jeffery, about who was responsible for the Alma Train Station in Alma.  In those days at the small, whistle stop stations, like Alma, had no Station Agents like some of the bigger stations like Alberton - so there was a local person who, "met the train", in the morning and in evening.  Wilbert recalls the person in Alma was Tommy Henderson who lived on the Western Road in the hollow below the Anglican Church, next to the Curries, in the house where in the latter part of the 1900's Keith and Blanche Bowness lived.

     Tommy Henderson met the train to get the mail and would take it over to Wallace and Annie Donalds who had the post office in their home (Desmond & Hazel Gallants today) on the Western Road near Alma Corner.

     Above: Carter's photo of the old Alma Train Station -see upper right where

the Alma sign used to be - most recently owned by James *Jim* MacNeill.

     Wilbert said when he was young, in the mid-1940's, he and other local fellows use to go out to the station mostly on Saturday evenings (there wasn't much else to do) to hang out and wait for the train with Tommy and when he got the mail would go with him to the Donalds.  The train came up from central PEI every evening, ending in Tignish, then leave the next morning to the middle of the Island again.

     Wilbert couldn't recall who met the train after Tommy.

Above image, by Massey F. Jones, cf.

http://yourrailwaypictures.com/OldDiesels/indexCN-Diesels.html

George Hilton Barbour

     There was a new website launched today "Prince Edward Island Legislative Documents Online"  www.peildo.ca   There's quite a variety of searchable information on this site.  One such category is Biographies - we had a local Alma born resident, Hon. George Hilton Barbour -  MLA and Minister of the Prince Edward Island Government.  Here's a photo of Mr. Barbour from the new website and a link to his biography 

http://www.peildo.ca/fedora/repository/leg:25510

See previous post on this blog -

http://almalauretta.blogspot.ca/2012/03/hon-george-hilton-barbour-mla-senator.html