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STORIES, CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND DETERMINATION

Peter Sheehan was a resident of Bear River, and although now gone, has left memories which will live on in the many buildings that he has constructed. Many of these structures still stand tall and stately, not only in the community of Bear River but in many other localities throughout the countryside.

Peter was an all-round carpenter who could start construction with the foundation, complete the project, and build a flue. He had very few tools or blueprints. Many times, he sketched out the plans himself on a piece of paper. On one occasion, he was building a large barn and did not have a transit. He used a garden hose as a substitute. His idea being, apparently, that water will seek its own level.

In these times, cement did not arrive already mixed at the site. Instead, it was mixed by hand, placed in a wheel barrow, and poured to form the foundation. This was something that everyone could not do, because the proper amounts of sand, gravel, cement, and water had to be used; otherwise, the foundation would not last. This was something that Peter was very knowledgeable about. Peter not only built the frame, but finished the structure on the inside, as well. He would put up the gyprock, and then complete the job with seam—filling. Building cupboards and vanities was another of Peter’s skills. He had very few modern tools, and he used a hand-saw when a skill-saw would have been more efficient.

In later years, he worked under a foreman, and helped build larger structures such as schools, health centers, churches and the Souris Post Office, to mention a few. While building the Souris Post Office the foreman became ill, and Peter was qualified to take his place, which he often talked about as one of his greatest achievements.

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