fim Bruce

Ida had to pump all their water by hand and carry it into the house and heat it on the wood stove. With the advancement of the pump, they no longer had to draw water from their well. All their clothes were washed by hand on a washboard using lye soap that they made themselves. Clothes for the most part were hung outside to dry winter and summer, and if ironed, they were pressed with the old hand irons that were heated on the wood stove. The Sunday best clothes were carefully washed and ironed and only worn for a wedding, funeral or church services. The women usually only had one good dress.

All their food, meat, vegetables, preserves, etc. had to be canned by hand in glass bottles and crocks. Ida used to say that when they killed a pig, they cooked everything but the squeal. } They made their own sausages and potted meat (now called head cheese).

Then the depression hit. They were poor before 1929, but were devastated after. The old Model T car that they had, had to go as they could not afford the gasoline. The phone went the same way - no money to pay the bill. In 1930, Ray's sister Alice, her husband and family returned home from Boston, making for a grand total of 14 living in the house. After they were settled on the property owned today by Evelyn Bruce, his sister Mabel and her husband Manning moved back to the Island and Ray helped them establish on the Willie MacLean property.

In 1937, the Federal Government decided to build a harbour and establish a wharf at Basin a Head. Ray was one of the men hired as he had good horses, a Scoop and most importantly a strong back. One was needed to scoop sand ahead of the dredge for more than 10 hours a day. Ray was as strong as a horse and just as stubborn, a trait Ida said was in all the Bruce's. At this time there were seven in the family and Ida and the children who were able, did the best that they could during the day and Ray would do the rest at night. Along with the scooping, he would haul a truck wagon load of large rocks over to the Basin every morning. The rocks had been hauled off the land as it had been cleared over a number of years, and had been stored at the back of the farm. He would load the wagon at night with the help of the family, if they did nothing more than hold the lantern.

For all his hard work, Ray received the grand sum of $200.00. He would laugh about it later when he told the story of a co-worker, Barton MacDonald, saying one day when they were all so tired they were ready fx to drop. "just think, with every passing hour a new shiny quarter goes x into our pocket". Imagine all that hard, back-breaking work, and only receiving 25 cents an hour. The Basin Head Harbour saw the construction and maintenance of wharves, a cannery and a wooden bridge to cross over the run. In 1973, the Basin Head Fisheries Museum under the direction of the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation was opened to the public. Today the area is a Provincial Park and it provides access to the world renowned singing sands beach, a popular destination for local and visiting swimmers alike.

Then came the second war. From 1939 to war's end, farmers made some progress. They finally received liveable prices for their produce. When the war was over, Ray thought he had it made when he was able to buy a Ford tractor. They still had the horses, but in a more limited capacity. The older children, now grown, worked along with Ray - and just as hard to obtain the things that made life a little easier such as electric lights and indoor plumbing. Norman and Kermit established their own farms at South Lake and with Merton, the four of them farmed together and prospered. In his mid 70's, Ray's body wore out and he retired leaving the farm to Merton. No matter how hard their 7 life was, Ray and Ida never lost their affection for each other. One would _— Kermit, Sylvia, Norman, Elma, Emery, Elva and Merton go into their home in the latter years of their life and see them sitting side by side holding hands. One never went any place without the other. They celebrated their 65th. wedding anniversary, the week before Ray died.

Children: 32. i Elma Mae Bruce born Sept. 23, 1921. 33. ii Laura Lavina Bruce born Sept. 9, 1923. iii Walter Basil Bruce born October 25 1924, Red Point Prince Edward Island, died Nov. 10, 1924, Red Point Prince Edward Island, interred at Kingsboro Prince Edward Island, in the East Point Baptist Church Cemetery. 34. iv Elva Fern Bruce born January 18 1926. 30. iv Norman Stuart Bruce born April 11, 1927. 31. vi Kermit Young Bruce born May 27, 1928. vii Emery Manning Bruce born August 1, 1931 Red Point Prince Edward Island, resided in Windsor Ontario, occupation: Accounting, now retired. 35. vili Sylvia Alice Bruce born April 6, 1935. 36. ix Merton Richard Bruce born Feb. 13, 1942.

Ohe (Bruce Cyamily of Red Point (Prince Edward sland 1840-1999 42