Building The Approaches And Foundation 3

HISTORY BEGINS AT HOME

A community history begins at home and the people of Wilmot Valley have been making history for almost two hundred years. It all started at Wilmot River and the old maps use such names as: Blueshank Road, Clark’s Mills, Taylor Road and Wilmot Grove Road. For many years Bedeque was the place name that was widely recognized and the others seemed to exist for a time in its shadow. Bedeque, Bedeque Bay and Bedeque Harbour were used in early references to this area which makes research a little more difficult.

Today Wilmot Valley is a small community in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is five miles from Summerside and is partly in Lot 19 and partly in Lot 25. The Lot line running east and west through the district has been known since early times as the Blueshank Road. It was formerly School District Number 71 but is now included in School Unit Number 2. The district contains approximately 3200 acres of land and there are 88 households. Wilmot Valley must not be confused with its good neighbour, the village of Wilmot, which was incorporated in 1965.

It is not necessary for every writer of a community history to delve into the story of the discovery and the early settlement of Prince Edward Island. This story, old but ever new, and with great historical significance, has been recorded by leading historians in several carefully researched and well-written books. These books provide a good foundation for a study of the Island’s past. Notable among these writings is a book entitled “Explor— ing Island History” published in 1977. It is edited by Harry Baglole, a former resident of Wilmot. This book is a “Guide to the Historical Resources of Prince Edward Island” and is now widely used in schools all across Canada.