Amherst Island Old Houses 3

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Amherst General Store
Amherst Island General Store and Post Office
Photo taken 2004.
This building was built in the late 1870's as one of 5 hotels on the Island. It housed the Dominion Bar, which is etched on one of the store's windows. Prohibition impacted on liquor sales and the hotel closed. The Glenn family bought it and ran a general store/post office in 1919. It also was operated as an ice cream parlour with lodgers upstairs. The counter top is origional.
From Maureen Deacon

Blacksmith Shop
Photo taken 2004.
The W. Brown & Son General Blacksmith building has always been a blacksmith shop. It was originally started by John Robinson, then taken over by Jim Brown and his son Wesley who made all farm implements, horse shoes, cooking pots and pans. The building operated as a "smithy" for 150 years.
A local resident says that the small building in the forefront was often seen to have smoke coming from it as the men sat out there smoking their cigars.
From Maureen Deacon

David Reid Farm
Photo taken 2004.
This is a 2004 picture of what used to be the farm house of David Reid and Mary Finnigan. The original front veranda no longer exists.The home has been wonderfully preserved, with the wide door encasements and foot high base boards still present.The floor on the lower level has been stripped down to the original wood and the only alterations to the inside were done in the kitchen to prevent a possible fire. Even the original outhouse is still present as well as the ice house and the milk house.
The current owner indicated she had found the mortgage papers for the home that are dated 1883.
I was thrilled to have Laura show me though the old home. It should warrant a "Heritage" designation.
In the Photos section, there is a picture, circa 1889 of David and his family taken in front of this very home.
From Maureen Deacon

David Reid Farm-Milk house
Photo taken 2004.
This is the stone milk house that still graces the old David Reid farm. Though no longer in use, it provides a glimpse into life during that era.
From Maureen Deacon

Old barn
While exploring Amherst Island by myself, I came across this great old barn. You can see that the base is done from the same thin slivered rock as built many of the Island fences.
From Maureen Deacon

The Islands: Amherst Island Old Houses 3