Richmond Hill Public Library News Index

Tweedsmuir History, Sunnyside Women's Institute, Volume 2, 1955-1990, p. 15

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a bush road was cut to the north of the clearing to join the Cloudslee road with the one going north to the bridge on the Thessalon River just west of Jack's Rapids which led to such farms as the Acheson's and John's on the prairie. Mr. & Mrs. King with their daughter Elvira moved to western Canada in the late 1800's. Mr. & Mrs. John Horricks bought the farm on August 5th, 1895 and were the second occupants of the log home. It was during their stay that the present barn was built. In 1910 they moved to Bruce Mines and Mr. & Mrs. William Brandon bought the farm. Previous to this the Brandon's had established a farm about two miles north of Ansonia school. The land had "run out" there just as it had in Kirkwood. They moved their frame home the one still used on the farm, to its present site. Since there was already a barn on this place, their barn was moved from the "prairie" to the John C. Owens' farm, now owned by Morgan Anderson. This barn has suffered the fate of so many unused buildings and is crumbling into the soil. In the spring of 1916 Mr. John C. Owens passed away and was buried on a raw, cold April day. Mr. Brandon, dressing in lighter clothes than usual for the funeral developed a cold and died shortly after from complications. They had no children and his wife who suffered from asthma sold the farm and moved to southern Ontario, where she had relatives. Her name appears on her husband's tombstone in Cloudslee but her body was never brought to the north for burial. Matthew McCrea was the new owner, having bought the farm from his uncle's widow, Mrs. WM.Brandon. He set up bachelor quarters in his new home in Ansonia but still spent some time at his parental home in Rose Township until his marriage to Mabel Morrison of Rydal Bank in March, 1919. They had one daughter, the writer of this history. This couple lived on their farm until 1950, experiencing the first post world war prosperity, the depression of the 30's, the second post war development. But actually in community living there were few changes. Through those thirty years the children of the area attended the same school at Ansonia and those wishing to go to High School in Thessalon had to board in town or arrange their own transportation. During their last winter on the farm the first attempt was made to keep the roads snow ploughed during the winter and school buses were soon put into use. In 1950 the present owners Mr. & Mrs. Elwood Seabrook bought the farm after their carriage in July of the 'year. Mrs. Seabrook is the former Mabel McCrea. Mr. & Mrs. McCrea reserved an acre of land on the corner of the farm and built their retirement home there. Mr. McCrea passed away in December, 1963 but Mrs. McCrea still lives in the same home. The Seabrooks continued a mixed farming operation until 1957 when they became dairy fanners, first shipping to Thessalon Dairy and later and to the present time to Soo Dairies. They have three children, Norma (Mrs. Murray Cochrane, Barrie), Joan (Mrs. Tim Woods, Sault Ste. Marie) and Garnet. Their places of education will give an idea of the changes since 1950. Norma and Joan both started to school in Ansonia but transferred to Thessalon Township Central School when it opened its doors in October, 1960. Norma completed her public school education there but Joan was a member of the first Grade 8 class which was bused to Thessalon for their final year in public school. By the time Garnet reached the senior grades both Grades 7 & 8 were receiving their instruction in Thessalon and the Thessalon intermediate pupils were attending the Township school at Little Rapids. Both Joan and Norma received all their secondary school education at Thessalon High, Joan being a member of the last graduating class from that school. Garnet spent only one year in Thessalon High | and is now attending the Central Algoma Secondary School at Desbarats. As are the changes in education so they are in every area of life in these last twenty years. It would be interesting to see what the future has in store for our own community and the world. TExt - Mrs. Mabel Seabrook Typing - Jean MacLean.a

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