Excursion to Bonshaw by Steam The Steamer Jsln, with a pleasure party of about 80 persons on hf,arJ,left the Steam yesterday morning,at 10 o'clock, for the head of the Elliol Uiver (Bomdiaw Bridge.) On arriving sife at like Bridge, they all landed, and after spending some time on shore, Again embarked for town, and bail not proceeded more than 30 yards when the Steamer took the ground, the tide falling fast at the time. About a dozen of the party hired conveyances, audi returned to town by land last night; the rest remained behind, anil took up theis, quarter* for the night at the Farm Houses in the vicinity of the Bridge—the greater portion, we hear, were bilited at House . An Amateur Bund, together with np Ama¬ teur Vocal party, were on board the Ma, and we hear from a person who passed House this morning at four o'clock, that it was illuminated, and the Band was playing right merrilv. The hla, it is expected, \vW return this evening. Islander 21 Sept. 1849, page 3, column 1 View from "Hilltop Farm " looking south pre 1940 showing the barns of " Farm " courtesy of Peter Hicks A unique item in Bonshaw was the use of gravity water systems for a number of houses. Due to the presence of springs on most of the hills it is possible to pipe water to a number of houses without the use of pumps. House had a well high on the hill behind it and water feed both the barn and kitchen. At least three houses in the village still use type of system today. Hilltop farm owned by the McRaes, now David Gibson, used a hydraulic ram to pump water from the spring at the foot of the lane. (This spring, also known as Lizzie Murphy 's, was the one that fed the creamery and watered horses pulling loads to and from Crosby Mills .) References for Chapter VI 1 Extracts from the Annie Laurie Robertson diary 1888 to 1903, the location of the original now unknown, extracts in the possession of Ann Coles , Milton, , Dec 1992 2 Interview with Marjorie Gibson formerly McRae of Bonshaw 1985 3 Examiner, 1903, March 20 pg 3 4 Canadian Inventory of Historical Buildings, Lot 30, surveyed in 1974 copies in the possession of the authors 5 Guardian , 1969, May 3rd, pg 2 6 Interview with Fred Hickox of Charlottetown , son of Spurgeon Hickox ,1986 7 Guardian , 1962, February 21st, pg 1 8 Guardian 1957, December 5th, pg 3 col 3 9 based on the recollection of Christine McNevin nee McLeod, who lived in the house for 14 years in the 1930s, Argyle Shore , Sept 1993) •93-