Rev. CR. Ashdown Stated supply

Rev. Gordon Nichol Stated supply

‘ Rev. J.A. MacGowan 1942-51

1 Rev. EC. Evans Supply 1951-53

Rev. E.H. Bean Minister 1953-63

Rev. Peter Ruddell lntern Mod 1963—64 Rev. George Tannahill Minister 1964-66 Rev. Malcolm MacQuaid Intern Mod 1966 Rev. Robert Sandford Minister 1966-67 Rev. John S. MacBride 1967

[n 1968 after a year of probation the Freetown Church approved the decision to become part of the Summerside congregation.

Presbyterian Church History compiled by Robert Jardine.

Q

1 HISTORY OF LOWER FREETOWN SCHOOL

Freetown School was first mentioned in the records of the Department of Education in 1848. The teacher at that time was Donald R. Stewart. Lower Freetown School was first mentioned in 1858 with 58 pupils enrolled and Mr. Ephraim Muttart was teacher.However, after studying the pattern of early settlements on P.E.l. we feel that the school listed as Freetown in 1848 was actually what is now our Lower Freetown School. As the settlers came to P.E.l. they settled near the shores and along the rivers and gradually penetrated inland. lf this reasoning is correct, and we believe it is very logical, Lower Freetown as it is now known was Freetown and this 1848 school was here. Then as settling progressed and the railway was built, Freetown became a station and village with Lower and South Freetown area designated.

The 1880 Atlas shows Upper Freetown east of the railroad. Freetown Post Office at the “Birches” (R.B. Auld, Post Master) and Lower Freetown at Stewart Burns’ Corner.

The first school was built on a hill along the south side of the Freetown road. a little south and west of the present school. on the James Burns place now owned by his grandson Ralph Burns. This school was hauled up to the old Charlie Reeves place, now owned by his grandson Orville Reeves.

The second school was built on the old Malpeque road. (leading from Bedeque to Malpeque) a short distance north from the Freetown road on

and from the old Charlie Reeves place. This school was used until the early pring of 1951 when the teacher Miss Helen l. Cairns and pupils moved irectly across the road into a bright new modern school, with a large layground on land from the Frank Cairns place. The old school across the oad was fixed up and used for some time as a Gospel Hall.