THE HANDSOME MAN IN THE PICTURE-FRAME
Charles Sheehan was born in Madison, Maine, U.S.A., on December 8, 1907. His parents, James and Emily, had moved there in 1906, where James was employed. When Charles was two years old, the family returned to Prince Edward Island, living in Gowan Brae,
Souris, St. Peters, Cable Head, and Bear River.
Charles married Margaret MacCormack of Armdale, in St. Margaret’s Church, on June 10, 1931, and from this union there were five children.
In 1940, while living in Souris, Charlie enlisted in the Prince Edward Island Highlanders. Maggie was left alone to raise the family while he was away. She moved to the Dempsey place in Bear River, near the property where John and Shirley MacKinnon live at the present time.
In 1941, Maggie and Charlie built a house of their own, on land they bought from Jack Paddy MacDonald, in Bear River North. While Charlie was away in the war, Maggie had all the responsibility of designing and building the new structure. Alfie MacCormack, Maggie’s father, came to her rescue, and with the assistance also of Kenneth Kelly, the house was built. At that time, lumber was not bought ready—to—use. So, Jim Alex MacDonald cut down trees, and took them to Larkin’s Mill in Selkirk, where Raymond and Eugene sawed the lumber. They also provided them with some types of lumber they found difficult to find. Kenny later lost his life in the war while serving in the Canadian Navy.
In 1942, Maggie and her five children moved into their new home, still alone, and wondering if the house would win the approval
of Charlie, who had not seen it yet. In 1942, Charlie was sent overseas, and served in England,
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