| No. 8 | September 2008 |
Mystery ImplementThis newsletter highlights an item in the collection at the Agricultural Museum at Orwell Corner Historic Village. This artifact has an element of mystery, so readers are being called on to help answer some questions. Two views of the item are shown below: 
It is assumed that it was used as a root hoe, and it is likely that it was constructed by a local blacksmith, but neither of those assumptions |
has been confirmed. John's father has no recollection of the machine and
since his grandfather passed away a number of years ago, the knowledge of
what it was used for is gone.
Readers are invited to share any ideas or knowledge they may have about equipment like this one. Was it used as a root hoe, or did it have some other use? How many horses would commonly have been needed to pull it? Was this a rare (or even unique) machine or were others of a similar design used in other Island communities? If you can shed any light on this little mystery, get in touch with Tom LeClair, Site Manager at Orwell Corner, by email at tom@isn.net or by phone at 902-651-8513. UpdateThere is an update note on an item featured in an earlier newsletter. Issue # 2, September 2007, told how an antique engine that once powered a saw mill in Indian River was being restored by group in the Hamilton- Kensington area. Michael Delaney reports that the group has been successful in getting the engine running smoothly. Congratulations to the group on the completion of a project that involved many, many hours of work. The Agricultural Heritage Newsletter is an informal newsletter published electrically with the assistance of The Community Foundation of Prince Edward Island and edited by Charley Coles, Don Glendenning, and Tom Hall. Feel free to forward it to a friend. To be added to or removed from the mailing list, or to suggest ideas for future newsletters, please contact charlescoles@eastlink.ca |