A History of Elmsdale, Elmsdale West, and Brockton, Prince Edward Island

sides; then a second set of four—inch studs was put in place against the outside wall to create a four-inch air space; then the inside wall of pine was placed over the studding. The doors were about ten inches thick and were on the side facing the railway tracks. There were also doors on each comer facing the DoCk Road and a small door facing towards “The Corner.” Due to the extreme weight and moisture, portions of the main floor would have to be replaced every second year.

The Palmer brothers grew} seed potatoes and started out with twenty or twenty—five acres. They hired a crew at the’farm in Roseville and would grade the potatoes there first and then haul the “number one” potatoes to Elmsdale and store them in the bins. In the fall of the year the seven-mile trip to Elmsdale was long and rough. Their route took them from the Shore Road in Roseville to the Center Line Road, the Old Tom Road, then the Dock Road to Elmsdale. They would grade their potatoes again before shipping them. Everyone who rented bins graded their own potatoes. Before the potatoes could be shipped by rail, the shipper had to obtain a weigh bill from the station agent at Alberton. ‘

The Palmer brothers continued to increase their acreage and when they soldtheir business in June 1944 to Ronald McKenna of the Dock a

Road, they were groWing approximately sev- enty acres.

Ronald McKenna’s - In June 1944 Ronald McKenna purchased the warehouse that had been built by the Palmer brothers in 1925. In 1947 Ronald McKenna and Wilfred Griffin formed a business partnership. The business then became known as McKenna and Griffin, with Wilfred Griffin as manager. Ronald sold the warehouse to Wilfred in 1957. It continued

t0 . . . Ronald McKenna’s potato warehouse (l) and the first be known as McKenna and GI’lfflIl 11111111 Elmsdale school, in 1946 (r). LEFT T0 RIGHT: Ruby

1969. . Adams and Norma Rix in foreground)

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