The Orwell Church was built in 1861 by the Scottish Presbyterians of trie community. Services were conducted in English and in the Gaelic language. During construction, the parishioners supplied all or the material and much or the labour free of charge. The pews were rented to the highest bidder and cost from 50 cents to 2 dollars lor a three month period. The pews were numbered thus the minister could easily see who was, and who wasn't, in attendance. When a pump organ was purchased in 1891, some members of the congregation believed that the instrument would become an unnecessary distraction. The adjacent cemetery dates bach to 1884 and is still used by members of the Orwell congregation. 1888 Orwell Presbyterian Church - 1861 ;' Life In The Community - Early diet consisted of potatoes, oatmeal, salt cod, and pickled herring .... home remedies: onions were used to clean cuts : and dandelions were used to cure coughs .... the failure of potato crops in Ireland in 1845-47 brought many to the Island .... it was not until ■ 1888 that -women were extended voting rights and even then it only applied to unmarried women .... one had to he sick in order to legally purchase : a bottle of liquor .... most or the settlements had a wharf close by tor trading goods .... one wharf was at in Orwell Cove .... ; schooners were later replaced with coastal steamers .... the boat trip from Orwell Cove to Charlottetown took about two hours and cost 25 cents Orwell Sch 1895 The Orwell School offered instruction from grade one to grade ten for students within walking distance. On average 20 students attended the school in any one year with most students only staying to complete the first 5 or 6 grades. Those completing grade 10 wrote provincial examinations to be eligible to attend college in Charlottetown . The teacher's salary was a modest $150 to $400 per year. Some teachers were required to take part of their payment in cords of firewood if the community was unable to raise its supplement in cash. School started as late as 9:30 in the morning so that chores at home could be completed before going to school. There was a water pump in the school yard which eliminated the ..'>''^sSS^ S ^gS'- necessity of carrying water from a stream or farmhouse. V School Outhouse