Jimmy Smith's House

Every time I'm home I make a trek up to Hopefield and check in on Jimmy Smith's place. I have about 30 years of photographs of the house as it has gotten closer and closer to falling in. I could see a big difference in it from last July. The east wall is splitting and it is leaning further to the east. Plus a lot of the kitchen wall on the front is gone now. I really don't think it will be up much longer.

It is 35 years this year since Jimmy passed away and the house has been empty. It is still a magnificent house.

The New Spillway

After driving around downtown Murray River, and went and took a look at the new spillway. It looks pretty good, and once the trees and shrubs fill in, I think it will look great. Still, its different than it was and that is hard to accept. Everything changes.

 

 

I'm usually here in the summer when the trees are full, so it a a treat to be able to see the house for the first time from the dam!

The new condos at the edge of the golf course. There are three buildings with 2 units in each. Everything changes.

Main Street

There is a plan afoot to tear own all of the buildings on the west side of Main Street in Murray River, to straighten the road so, I guess, speeders can get through faster. The buildings have been empty for a long time, but still, they could be saved, and I don't think straightening the street is going to solve anything. The biggest tragedy in all this is that the original Murray River Train Station is still there, but will be one of the buildings torn down. The thing is, all over the Island they are reconstructing old train stations as services for the Confederation Trail. Why can't this original station be repurposed for the same use?

 

The station was moved many decades ago away from the tracks and made into the storage area for Bairds Store. I have vivid memories of going into Baird's with Mom and Ola on a regular basis to get groceries, and peaking behind the door at the back into the old station. Its a shame to loose more buildings, especially for a dubious reason.  

This building has had many uses, the last being the Post Office. It is a handsome building and could be a great business block.

 The little red house is already gone. It was built as the Station Managers house about 1903.

Looking north on Main Street. You can see the curve that they will straighten, so the street will go through where the buildings are. When that is done you will be able to drive even faster through the town. That must be the goal.

The old train station on the back of Baird's store building

The mill will go too

Baird's

Part of the mill was moved away by the owner

Murray River Train Station. This will be a big loss to the history and heritage of Prince Edward Island.

By the time I retire to Murray River, Murray River will be gone

Photos from Ralta

Ralta sent me these great photographs of Mom and Dad. I believe they were taken July 31st 1988. I have other photos from several people that I have posted before, taken the same day. These are great, thanks Ralta! Where did the last 25 years go?

I am sure that when these were taken, they had no idea they would someday be living there!