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

Head

Hoop

Sta ve

Bung Hole

Lillian Adams sketch Ralph Woolner Coll.

Parts of abarrel Aulay Matthews Jr., cooper, son of Aulay Matthews Sr. Eventually Aulay Jr. moved to California.

cles which fit into grooves near the ends of the staves. Barrels that hold liquids such as molasses, have a bunghole in one end or in the side.

Eileen Oulton interviewed Merritt

Ramsay of Campbellton, a cooper, July 14, 1974 and he said: '

I started making barrels around 1915. I cut the spruce wood for the staves myself - then you split them and shave them. If some were too dry, you’d have to put them in the brook to soak - so . . they’d be soft. The staves were curved with a illianA8C011- jointer, a machine with two plane irons. They ' (staves) were tapered on the ends and that al-

William T. Matthews, cooper

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