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SJHS NO. 600331
SOURCE: Sault Star July 13 1996
DATE: June 18, 2000

Bishop Homestead, circa 1878: Lot 22 & 23, Concession I

Children that were born at home, bread that was raised through the 
warmth of quilts in a cold log house, horses pulling out tree stumps 
as the land was cleared for farming and a house later built from those
same trees are only some of the experiences that make up the 
foundation of the Bishop family homestead.

Owned by Milton and Christina Bishop the land was originally 
registered to Thomas Bishop, his father's uncle, under the Free 
Grants and Homestead Act on February 18, 1878. It was later turned 
over to Milton's parents, Ambrose and Adeline.

According to Chris the original log house was replaced by the current 
house in approximately 1917, followed by a barn in 1918. Milton recalls
there was close to 50 acres of land cleared when the homestead was 
first settled in the late 1870's and early 1880's.

"It was a lot of hard work to clear the land," he said. "I later 
helped clear more land bringing it up to about 80 acres."

A small stream, that drains into Gawas Bay, cuts across the frontage 
of the property resulting in the necessity of a small bridge to access 
the property. Both recall how, through their experiences and those 
before them, beavers and natural causes have resulted in flooding. 
Once across the bridge, however, the land rises to the house, tapering 
off slowly down the back acreage.

"A living couldn't be made selling cream so it changed over to beef 
cattle, we're pretty well out of it now." said Milton. 

The Bishop homestead also includes the original log I Line School 
where Milton's mother once taught. It was relocated to this property 
in 1933 after a brick schoolhouse, which is now part of the Island's 
museum complex, was built.

The Bishop's children, now grown up and with families of their own, 
feel that connection as well. Only Dennis, who lived in the Sault, 
left the Island. Blaine and Steven remain on the Island, with Lois as 
close as the property next door.

"None of them have really moved far away," said Chris, who in 1948 
moved from her native island of Scotland to settle and raise a family 
on another island halfway around the world.