Some ofthe enjoyable activities were: the river in summer was used for boating, swimming and fishing and was known for many years as a “fisherman’s paradisef’

In winter the pond froze over and the young people in the surrounding districts came to skate, and at evening, around a lighted bonfire. Many people cut ice cakes from the pond and packed it in sawdust in outdoor ice houses for their summer ice supply. There were no fridges or deep freezes in those early days.

In summer the neighbors from Freetown, Newton and Kinkora came to pick raspberries which grew abundantly in the wooded area surrounding the river.

The Francis home was always a centre for young people, everyone was made welcome in their home, music played a big part in the lives of young people in those days and the young people had to make their

own entertainment as this was before the days of radio and television.

Happy evenings were spent around the parlor organ singing in harmony. The light was provided by a kerosene lamp and heat by wood stoves that burnt slabs, the slabs being a “by product of the lumber mill”.

The Dunk River Mill was one of the busy spots for the surrounding districts as people came many miles for their milling and sawing needs and as well it was a recreational centre.

Weston and Catherine (Duggan) Francis had a family of 12 children as follows:

2a Vera Blanche b. in Spring Valley 12 Aug. 1897. She m. Harry Tingley Crossman in Boston, Mass. 26 Sept. 1925. He was born in Freetown 1885. He d. 16 Mar. 1959 in Freetown. She d. in Charlottetown 3. Feb. 1980. They are bur. in Freetown People’s Cem.

2b Laura Belle b. in Spring Valley, 3 Feb. 1899. She m. John Archibald Reeves in Boston, Mass. 26 Apr. 1924. He was b. 7 Nov. 1897. They had five children. (See Reeves history.)

2c John William b. in Spring Valley ca. 1900. He d. in infancy and is bur. in the Anglican Cem. in Irishtown.

+2d John William b. in Spring Valley 9 Sept. 1902, she m. Ruth Estelle Rogers 23 Nov. 1921. She was b. in Freetown, 27 Jan. 1905 and d. 8 Sept. 1977. William and Ruth had three daughters.

2e Reagh b. in Spring Valley 27 Sept. 1905. He m. Evelyn Yeo of Harmony 14 Mar. 1925 in the US. They had two children. 1. David Reagh Jr. He m. Bernice Trenholm in Boston, Mass. in 1952. They had two children. (a) Donald living in Mattapan, Mass. and (b) Shelley living in Maine, US. 2. Lorraine Emma was b. in Cambridge, Mass. 6. July 1932. She m. Eddie Simon in 1952. They have five children: (a) Paul, b. 1954. (b) Susan, b. 1955. (c) Patty, b. 1957. ((1) Nancy, b. 1958 and (e) Michael, b. 1960.

2f Freddie b. 21 Dec. 1906 in South Freetown. He was drowned in the mill pond, 2 July 1909. He is buried in Freetown People’s Cem. '

2g Hilda Pearl b. 2 Sept. 1909 in South Freetown. She m. Edgar Keir Reeves in Detroit, Michigan, 15 Jan. 1930. Edgar was b. 15 Oct. 1910. They had three daughters: Phyllis, Kay, Wave. (See Reeves history.)

2h Annie Erma b. 18 May 1912. She m. James Fera in 1934 in Boston, Mass. They had three daughters: 1. Barbara m. John Green, now deceased. They had two children Debbie and Joye of Somerville, Mass.

2. Gail m. Lewis Martill. They have a family of five children. 3. Judy In. Mr. Lopez. They have one son Stephen.

+ 2i Charles Everett b. 28 Sept. 1914. He m. Vinie Reeves, Freetown. 30 Sept. 1932. They have three children.

2j Lorne Lea b. 5 July 1917 in South Freetown. He m. Erma Rankin 5 June 1948 in Toronto, Ont. ‘1' hey have two children: 1. Ronald, b. 8 Mar. 1951. He is single and lives in Ottawa. 2. Lorna b. 3 July 1954. She m. Peter Warrel now of Thunder Bay, Ont. They have three children all single; Adam, Erin and

Alexandra.

+2k Clifford Wheelock b. 19 Apr. 1919 in South Freetown. He m. Blanche Reeves of Freetown 13 July 1940. They have three children.

21 Reginald Ernest b. 19 July in South Freetown, n.m. He d. 8 Mar. 1946.

+2d John William Francis

William and Ruth resided in the Boston area for several years where William worked at carpentry. Later they returned to Freetown where he bought a farm on the North Freetown Road (code 24) from William Auld. After several years, he sold the land to Elwood Paynter and moved the house to a lot on the Main

Freetown Road (code 35) where he still resides.

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