Page 16 - At Home Prince Edward County

Al had a gorgeous tin ceiling custom crafted for the dining hall.

droppingly beautiful with 15 Victorian-style way to resorts and beaches – and it raised
light fittings in the main hall and six more awareness that something interesting was
in the foyer leading to the Chapel. happening at the old church. She hosted a
Al laughed at our reaction. “Yep, we couple of socially distanced pop-up mar-
concentrated on the floor in the Chapel and kets, too, which brings us back to the idea of
the ceiling in here,” he says. The tiled floor keeping church buildings alive as places for
in the hall was given multiple coats of pale people to gather.
paint that reflect back the light from that in-
credible ceiling. A SHOWCASE FOR LOCAL HISTORY
After finishing work on the Chapel they “I wanted this place to be a real showcase
took a break in Mexico before tackling the for local history, so I searched out actual
hall. “When I walked back in and saw the photos from the past,” says Al, and this is
wires hanging down from the ceiling and where Peggy deWitt comes in.
everything that still had to be done my He jokes that she’s his calling card. “If
heart sank.” Then the Covid crisis hit, people don’t know I’m originally from the
which good news/bad news. Bad because County I tell them she’s my cousin and they
events they had booked for 2020 would not say, “Oh, you’re related to Peggy? You must
happen, good news because suddenly they be alright!”
had more time to finish their work. They “Peggy and Steve Campbell at County
would have preferred the pressure of Magazine helped me gather historic pic-
getting ready for paying customers, but tures. I couldn’t have done it without
they’re philosophical about it. “Most of our them,” he says. They enlarged photos,
clients postponed until 2021 and we’re tak- mounted, framed and hung them around
ing bookings all the time,” says Cindy. the hall and chapel to make a fascinating
“People are optimistic for the future.” display. He’s on the lookout for more.
In Summer 2020, Cindy set up a little “Some pictures came from the archives,
vending wagon in a shady spot beside the some from Steve’s publications and a lot
church to sell pies and other local produce from Ian Robertson, a history buff who col-
on weekends. The red wagon, shaped like lects County postcards and gave us some
a gypsy caravan, caught the eye of people great images.”
streaming past on County Rd. 10 on their Al also collects antiques and artefacts
that reflect County history from farm tools
16 @HOME CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION & GARDENING DIRECTORY