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work of Women’s Institute was directed at keeping the school running. The Christmas concert and the end of the year school picnic were events everyone anticipated.

Because of school consolidation, under the Prince Edward Island Development Plan, the schools of Lot 16 closed one by one and the children were bussed to larger consolidated schools in nearby Miscouche and Summerside. Lot 16 was able to keep community youth connected through the 4-H program and church youth groups.

Socializing with neighbours played a large role in the life of early settlers. This too was something that never changed until the appearance of the automobile and, later, the television. An excerpt from the Belmont History states that “early entertain- ment consisted of riding, racing, dancing, and drinking rum.” When the day’s work was done, neighbours travelled to nearby homes for a visit which might include a game of cards and a lunch. There were barn dances in the early days, and in later years, house parties. Children gathered at the ponds to ice skate and in hay fields to play ball. Both men and women held work parties for whatever need arose. If a neighbour was sick, people helped nurse them or did their work. People counted on their neighbours. Women formed groups, such as the Women’s Institute and church groups, to meet the needs of the community.

For many families of the community the time available to socialize with neighbours decreased as the workplace became located outside of the home radius. The ease of travel meant events could be attended throughout the province and friends made in many places. As well, the needs that were once met on a daily basis by neighbours were often now filled by social and government agencies. Yet Lot 16 still retains the tradition of neighbours helping neighbours.

RELIGION

For the early settlers, religion was a private matter. When organized churches began to be formed, religion either unified a community or drew boundaries within, depending on the number of denominations to build houses of worship. In Lot

LOT 16 UNITED CHURCH AND ITS PEOPLE