7. THE RECTORY 
     
    
   
   
    
     Members of the Parish of Port Hill constructed their third parsonage a few yards from 
     
     St. James’ Church in 1915. Five acres of land were purchased on November 11, 1913 from 
     
     Herbert Yeo. The cost of the site, three hundred dollars, was paid for by Hon. John Yeo. 
     
    

    
     The $4558.48 contract was awarded to a Summerside resident, Percy Tanton, who 
     
     completed the job with quality materials and workmanship. Mr. Tanton is said to have not only 
     
     "carried out the plan to its fullest specifications, but in many cases, supplied superior material 
     
     and advised extra finish which greatly added to the beauty of the new rectory". An additional 
     
     amount was paid to the contractor for building a china cabinet in the dining room and a grate 
     
     for the fireplace in the study. A plumbing contract of $355.00 was given to Messrs. Morrison 
     
     and MacDonald of Summerside, with septic tank piping requiring an additional $35.00. The 
     
     spacious attic was the location of the water tank which was filled by a hand pump located in the 
     
     basement. 
     
    

    
     Laurie Birch, who has lived next door to St. James’ Church all his life, vividly recalls 
     
     the construction of the new four-bedroom rectory. At age eleven, he filled the position of 
     
     "errand boy" by carrying water and cleaning up garbage. He recalls loading and transporting 
     
     stones from surrounding fields by horse and cart for the concrete foundation. Laurie also helped 
     
     his father, Swabey Birch, with the transportation of bricks by horse and wagon from a kiln in 
     
    
   
   
    
     Richmond.