BEAR SWAMP

A Freetown swamp located on the Main Freetown Road (code 65) just east of the Clow farm homes and buildings was inhabited by black bears in the mid 18005. It has been reported that Tucker’s swamp further west on the south side of the road (code 62) was also known to be a bear abode.

One ofthe Tucker men who lived on this road (code 62) caught a bear in the Clow swamp with a noose trap attached to a tree.

BEAVER DAM SOUTH FREETOWN South of Milton Drummond’s residence (code 129) there was a beaver dam on the Dunk River. On the site of this dam, a small island which was sodded over existed in 1943.

In July 1943, six boys from South Freetown camped on this island for a week, they were Stuart, Thane, Garth, Irwin, Lowell and Ross Drummond. They cooked their meals and slept there.

During the day they had many visitors including Gail Drummond, lone Wright, Florence Montgomery, Agnes, Hazel and Myrna Heffell.

Needless to say all these young people will often look back and remember the good outings they had on the Beaver Dam in the Dunk River.

A “Flashback” appeared in the Summerside Journal on 8 July, 1953, relating this camping experience.

“Now enjoying the fresh air and sunshine while camping along the green banks of the Dunk River and with thoughts of school relegated to the background are six boys: Stuart, Thane, Garth, Irwin, Lowell and Ross Drummond?’

Submitted by Jesse Drummond

SPORTS FISHING The Dunk River has long been popular for sports fishing. According to Johnston & Cheverie (1980) it is among the most heavily fished on P.E.I. Because of its popularity, the Dunk has been restocked with hatchery raised brook trout since 1913. An article by T. Enman, under the penname of Tom A. Hawke in the Island Magazine (issue #9,198—) tells how fishermen from Charlottetown would take the train to Freetown

Ronald Lewis (sitting), Corneilus Blanchard, Brewer Auld at Wall’s Bridge.

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