Howe Island Old Houses 4

Garrah Farm House Lot 9 Howe Island

"I owned this in the late 60's and my Dad and did some renovations especially the windows. I ploughed the lawn up prior to leveling and seeding it. The upstairs was really low and the beds were close to the side walls. Dad told me that sometimes when you woke up early in the morning you couldn't jump out of bed to quick as you would hit your head on the ceiling. After a couple of head bumps on the roof you caught on really quick. The logs were visible on the inner portion of the main house and the stairways went up the west wall. A summer kitchen was on the back of the house and used during the warmer seasons as it was not protected from the winter environment. In later years my Aunt Evelyn, my Dad's sister and my aunt, informed me that a diamond ring was lost along the chimney on the inside of the house but never found. The lilacs trees in front of the house were always a curse as you could never stop them from growing and spreading like wildfire.

As the SS#2 St Joseph's School was nearby, I strongly suspect that the building was moved to this site prior to the 1900's as my grandparents were married in 1895. This property was previously registered with Thomas b1821 & Catharine b1822 Kane (ne Powers). Their first child was born 1843 so I assume they were married in the early 1840's."
Thanks to Wilf Garrah for photo and info!

Garrah Homestead

"This pic would be the north west corner. The door on the summer portion of the house was the entrance, however, a matching entrance was on the other side of this portion of the house. Front doors were only used on special occasions a I understand. The driveway was along the side of the house that's visible in the picture."
Thanks to Wilf Garrah for photo and info!

House, Cottage, School

The building in the background is the SS#2 school. The picture of the school is not quite the true one as the porch on the entrance on the front was moved around to the side. In the 50's they came up with the idea of siding similar to roofing shingles that came in rolls. The idea of covering the wood was it improved the look of the building and supposedly was an insulator. It was found out in later years that the siding retained dampness in it and rotted the wood. When we were renovating this school for a cottage, the boards underneath were a grayish blue. In 1951 an actual deed was drawn up stating that should the school ever discontinue being used as one, the property would go back to the original owner's. As my Dad inherited the property from his grandparents and in accordance with the agreement it was returned to him in 1969. The school was put up for sale but had to be moved if sold. As a buyer I placed a bid of $100.00 on it and was successful. Not bad considering I sold the teachers desk to a Queens student for $60.00 and I don't recall what happened with the teachers bell (I recall having it in my possession) as all contents were included in the building. Since I wasn't going to move the building I purchased the property from my Dad and we renovated it and rented it as a cottage. In the early 70's I sold the property to Elvis Presley (not the real Elvis) and he and his wife were going to winterize it and make a home. Unfortunately the school house (home) was lost in a fire but the good news, lives were not lost."
Thanks to Wilf Garrah for photo and info!

Dick Picketts barn 1958

"The barn was just to the right when you come off the ferry boat. In the pictures of old photo's the addition to the west side of the barn was put on probably in the 1970's. Where the sheep are standing is the runway to the barn where loads of hay would be taken in and stored for feed for the animals in the winter. This was one maybe of two barns on the island in early years that had running water bowl for each animal.This was a great time saver as the animals did not have to be let out during the winter months. The sheep had a barn of their own. The barn also had a milk house and milk cooler just inside the front door. It did not have an automatic stable cleaner, however, the animals faced the east and west walls. One could drive a manure spreader and tractor down the middle of the barn behind the animals. Shovel the spreader full every day, in one door, load it, and drive out the far door and then spread the fertilizers on the snow covered fields. You certainly would be interested in the sheep as Mr. Pickett use to pasture them on the spit head of the island. He called upon by Dad, myself and brothers to safely drive them up the road and bring them back in the fall of the year. Mr Pickett had run a fence to prevent the sheep from going out on the immediate point also from falling over a high bank of land on the right side of the point west of the old farmhouse and barn. As I mentioned before when in later years the sheep pastured there a gate was put in place as the sheep could walk over the streamers that the bars set upon. The cattle could not cross as when they placed their feet on the round piping it would roll and their feet would get caught. The bright red Dodge Fargo truck, yes it belonged to Mr. Pickett who was bachelor. Every two or 3 years he would buy a new vehicle as he had just himself to keep. In 1958 the gearshift on the steering column was something new as before the gearshift was on the floor of the vehicle. New technology but power steering was just around the corner. Just past this barn on the top of the hill when you turn to go to Cassidy's Point if you made a left turn the next barn on your right next to the brick house, was almost identical. It was built in the early 40's by Dicks brother Art Pickett. It was discovered that Art has a brain tumor shortly after the farm became operational. After surgery in Toronto he returned to the farm and was told to sell everything as he had 6 months to live. After 6 months My Dad told me that Art told him that since 6 months passed and he felt fine he better start looking for a job. Art moved to the City and was employed by the School Board for several years as a caretaker. Art passed way when he was in his 90's. Interesting enough back of this barn was the baseball field."

Thanks to Wilf Garrah for photo and info!

The Islands: Howe Island Old Houses 4