the Boston states, they would board the train and bid a tearful goodbye to their families and the Island, which many would never see again.

The Keefe household was neXt to the train station and it became a popular gathering place. It could be said that the Keefe home was Kinkora’s version of Grand Central Station. Although the Keefes did not have much in material possessions, they freely shared what they had with others. They were gracious and hospitable. Many people would visit, stay for a meal or a cup of tea, and often remained overnight, especially if they were catching the train in the morning. Frequently, strangers would come to the door for a glass of water. The Keefes never turned anyone away, and the doors to the Keefe home were never locked.

The railway also brought visitors of another kind. On one occasion, a family from Tryon by the name of Warren was involved in a collision with a train in front of the Keefe house while driving through Kinkora. They were treated by a doctor at the Keefes, placed in casts, and stayed for two months in the front parlour where they were cared for by Angelina. This was reportedly the first—ever collision between a train and a car in Prince Edward Island. As a result, Kinkora received the first set of warning bells at a railway crossing in the province.

Kathleen quickly got used to the comings and goings of family,

friends and neighbours to the Keefe household. From early life, she was ingrained with that spirit of hospitality which had become part of the DNA of most Islanders of that generation, which meant that no one who came for a visit would ever leave without a cup of tea.

However, as a young child, Kathleen was never allowed to go to the railway station itself, although it was located

just 50 yards away from her home. Kathleen with her older sister Edith The station was a popular gathering (“I'm 1930) spot for local residents, and it was a

42 KATHLEEN MURPHY, MAITRIARC