code 72.) Abraham Schurman owned the land at that time and sold the lot to the Foresters. The purchase included permission to have hitching posts along the east and south side. Little is known about the design of this building except that it had two floors. Among the members of the Foresters in Freetown were R. Aretus Burns, R.B. Auld, Roy Burns, Frank Deacon, J. Davis Schurman and L.U. Fowler, the latter lived at Ross’ Corner. The order was established on P.E.I. in 1886. Most of the members took out insurance (disablity, old age) with the order, which enabled them to receive benefits when they needed them. It is known that

the organizational meeting for the Freetown Peoples Cemetery was held in this hall in 1907. In 1913 the Foresters sold the hall to the Orange Lodge.

Older people recall Gospel Services held in this hall by Go Preachers. Mrs. Irene Baker had an organ placed in the hall and there gave music lessons. There was a boxing ring set up on the second floor and this was the scene of more than a few sparring and official matches. In 1920, the Orange Lodge sold the hall to Charles and Ben Beairsto. Eventually part of the hall was used for a house built by Frank Adams on the present site of Harold Drummond’s home. In a later year, this house was moved to Summerside by Harry Waugh. The rest of the hall was used for a building on the Beairsto property.

BIRCH GROVE HALL In 1919, George Jardine sold a lot to the Birch Grove Hall Company. It was located at the junction of the main Freetown and the Mill Valley Roads. On this site the Birch Grove Hall was built and still remains.

The Hall company drew from many of the community’s residents; two of the secretary treasurers were Everett Schurman and Silas MacFarlane. The Hall was a going concern until the 19505. Following the Lower Freetown Hall’s demise the Baptist Minister for Central Bedeque held services in Birch Grove Hall. Many people from other denominations attended these services and the hall was generally well filled. The singing was lively and spirited; and the choir included members from the other churches, with Mrs. Frank Deacon as pianist. In a number of years, drama players from Freetown put on plays. This involved much practise and was well rewarded. The funds derived from these plays were used for the upkeep and maintenance of the hall. Other communities also put on productions in the hall. At various times throughout the years, the hall hosted variety concerts. Pie and basket socials were also held; there would be a concert for an hour or more and then pies or baskets would be auctioned off. The young women of the community would supply the baskets and pies and would attach their name to them. Purchasers shared the pie with the girl whose name was attached and expected the privilege of seeing her home after the social. School concerts, especially

Berh Grove‘Hall

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