Up the Gatineau! Article
This article was first published in Up the Gatineau! Volume 8.
Brookdale Farm
Jessie Waterston
In the Quebec Gatineau Hills, near Wakefield in the Farm Point area, lies a beautiful hidden valley with fertile fields and rolling hills. Nestled in this valley was Brookdale Farm. A fast flowing stream fed chiefly from springs of very cool water, flowing the full length of the farm, added to the beauty. High timber-covered mountains on the west and a high rocky mountain on the east gave this valley farm a quiet secluded atmosphere.
This farm was first known as the "Mulvihill Homestead". Land was cleared by Phillip Marshall Mulvihill and a small home built. Later a large brick house was erected in the 1870's.
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Mulvihill (Margaret Crilly) decided to sell the property and a young man from Wakefield, George Hyde, bought this two hundred acre farm for $7,000. On March 28,1912, he moved here with his wife Jennie and two little daughters, Mildred and Jessie. ln 1916 a baby boy, Ernest, was born. After a few years of hard work and careful planning the final payment was made.
The elder daughter, Mildred, taught piano lessons in the surrounding community, later became involved in the nursing profession in Ottawa.
About 1926 the family called their home "Brookdale Farm".
Ernest (Ernie) carried the responsibility of working with his father on the farm and after his marriage to Veneta Stevenson continued to farm until 1953. His father built a small home on the front north-east corner of the property, where he and his wife lived until his death in November 1960.
The second daughter felt the Call of the Lord to a life of service in Home Missions in Western Canada. So, after training in the Winnipeg Bible Institute and the Canadian Bible Institute in Regina (now called Canadian Bible College-Canadian Theological College) she served in Saskatchewan and Alberta from 1942 to 1949. Due to her mother's illness she was called home in October, 1949.
Thus began a new phase of life for Jessie Hyde. A few months prior to this, the Lord had given a very definite burden and vision for the establishment of a foster home for children in need because of the death of one or both parents, family trouble, illness or broken homes. The call to this seemed very clearly the leading of the Lord, for Mrs. Hyde had been miraculously restored to health and was once more able to be up and around.
After much prayer and advice from Christian business men and the sympathetic co-operation of Mr. Gerard Desjardins M.L.A., a Board of Directors was formed, a charter applied for and granted in May 1953. Mention should be made here of the kind advice and help of Mr. Philip Foran, Q.C. Advct. The first men to serve on this Board were, Donald F. McKechnie C.A., Foster Faris, Hibbert Vipond, Howard Harris, James Thomson, Alex Kilgour, Hillary Hobbs, Reginald Clarke and Allen Carey.
The farm home and forty acres of land were rented by the Board of Directors from Ernest Hyde. Plans and renovations began in preparation for the opening of the Home before the cold weather in the Fall. The farm was now called Brookdale Farm Incorporated.
Dr. Harold Geggie of Wakefield was of very vital assistance with his advice and recommendations in securing this Government permission. He knew of children in real need ready to enter.
The next problem was "staff" as the folks interested in the establishment of the home could not fill this need because of their occupations. A very capable young high school girl, Violet Cross, helped out all she could.
In Buckingham, Quebec, in the Spring of 1949, at approximately the same time the vision of such a home became so real to Jessie Hyde in Alberta, although unknown to each other, a young man, Lloyd Waterston, answered the Master's Call to full time service. He enrolled in the London Bible College in September 1949 and graduated in April 1953.
On December 15, 1953, the evening before the first two children were admitted, contact was made by James Thomson, Buckingham, with Lloyd Waterston, whom he highly recommended. Lloyd was working with the Canadian Sunday School Mission near Sherbrooke at the time. As his work was terminating for the season, he agreed to visit Brookdale. He was invited by the Board to become Business Manager, which he accepted and on January 11, 1954, arrived to take responsibility and assume a heavy load.
There were at this time eleven lively children requiring care, love, and constant supervision.
Thus began "Brookdale Farm Home" which was just ‘as normal as possible’ a home where the goal was to give these young folks love, physical care, education and a spiritual foundation based on the Word of God and faith in a Saviour who loved them and died for them.
That quiet valley became the scene in winter of young folks skiing, sliding or tobogganing on the hills or building snow forts around the grounds. In summer little children playing on the well-equipped play ground provided by donations from kind groups such as Kiwanis, Knockers Club, Air Force personnel and others. Many other beautiful donations and gifts also added to their pleasure both outside and in. Other children enjoyed fishing along the stream, roaming over the hills or climbing the mountain. Teenagers also took part in helping in the farm work, milking cows, feeding pet calves or learning to drive a tractor. The girls were interested in learning to sew or cook.
The Lord had brought two lives together, namely Jessie Hyde and Lloyd Waterston, so in July 1954 they were united in marriage.
The Home began financially on faith in God's call and promises alone. But each need was always supplied. It became evident that many more children needed a home. The Hull Social Service was interested and desired to place children here. The doctors, in order not to overcrowd, advised that twelve children was the limit. To embark on a building programme required another step in faith.
During that time and the years that followed, Dr. Harold Geggie and his sons, Doctors Hans, David and Stuart gave unselfish care to all the children.
By a wonderful series of events and God's provision, an architect's service was offered, also the freewill supervision of a contractor, Mr. George Cooper of Ottawa. One of the first pledges towards this new building was a widow's love gift of $1,000. Donations of material, discounts on lumber, plus many, many donations of money from kind, interested folks made possible the building of a new Home. This project began in August 1957 and, much to the delight of all, the first meal served in it was Christmas dinner, 1957.
The complete structure was an "H" shape, each Wing 128 ft. x 28 ft. and the cross section approximately 30 x 30 ft.
By April 1958 only three thousand dollars were needed to complete full payment on the first wing and cross section which had been built — also an additional two thousand to purchase more farm land from Ernie Hyde who sold the land to the Home at a very reasonable sum.
One day, near the end of April 1958, a cheque arrived — "special grant" from the Quebec Government for the amount of $5,000. Staff and children together thanked God for another answer to prayer. In 1960 the second wing was completed and all payments met on time.
There were usually about 35 to 40 children being cared for in the Home and for awhile this number rose to 45. Among those who assisted in the care of these children for a number of years was, Miss Shirley Orok, who came in 1954 and continued in loving faithful service for over fourteen years. Miss Marjorie Moffatt cooked for approximately eleven years. Mr. and Mrs. Allyn Dennison served for over five years, lovingly known as Aunt Betty and Uncle Al. Other faithful and loved workers were Hazel McDonald, Irene Budd, Christa Hesse, Frank and Pauline Wilkins, Miss F. Cameron, Mr. H. Hicks. When it became necessary to establish our own school in the Home, because of the large number, Miss Betty Reside came to teach and assist Shirley Orok who already was doing a wonderful job of teaching those who required special attention. Mrs. Robert Newcommon of Farrellton also taught for a term, when Miss Reside left for Africa in foreign missionary service. Later the local school board, largely through the efforts of William Caves, invited this school to merge with the local elementary school.
The Quebec Government decided to recognize Brookdale as a public charitable institution, declared it as such and agreed to support it with two thirds of the cost of operation.
In 1969, the Board of Directors agreed to allow Lloyd and Jessie to give their time to Morningside Homes, then in operation since 1960. Rev. and Mrs. Fred Kreick became the Managers of Brookdale Farm.
Under this new Government plan the Home became more institutional and the number of children in residence fewer.
Among those who served at this time and brought joy and comfort to the children were: Miss Marilynne Kilby, Judy Wocks, Mrs. Sadie ' Crabbe and Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Richardson.
Mr. and Mrs. Aubry Ayer succeeded Mr. & Mrs. Kreick and were in charge until June 1975 when the Home was closed because the Société d’Amenagement de L'Outaouais expropriated about 1600 acres, including Brookdale and Morningside Homes.
On June 30, 1975 the Home was closed and the few remaining children placed in other homes.
Now the Valley lies deserted and silent. But many former children plus their children are still "in touch" with Uncle Lloyd and Aunt Jessie and a number of them with each other. They still enjoy meeting together to talk over childhood days at Brookdale.
Morningside Homes Inc.
The story of Brookdale would not be complete without the story of Morningside also. Some of the Board members of Brookdale served on the Board of Morningside.
In October 1959 the definite call and need for a Home for folks "growing older" and unable to care for themselves was laid upon hearts. In a very unusual and miraculous way the Lord led in the purchase of the property across the municipal road from Brookdale. This property was the Baldwin homestead, farmed by a son — Philemon Baldwin, and sold to Albert Gauvin, from whom it was purchased at this time. It was a step in faith. The Government granted a charter to operate this Home but it was never Government supported. However, all payments were made on time and in order and loving care was given to senior citizens for thirteen years.
Morningside was staffed mainly by kind neighbours and friends who served sacrificially with only a very low financial remuneration. Two or three of the teenage girls from Brookdale found employment and training here when old enough to work. lt was officially opened December 16, 1960, closed December 16, 1973 and the property expropriated in the Spring of 1975.
The name Morningside Home was chosen as older folks whose trust is in the Lord are looking forward to the Morning of an Eternal Day. The motto for Morningside was "A place where loved ones find loving care".
This article by Mrs. Lloyd (Jessie) Waterston of White Lake, Ontario, was granted one of the two principal awards in the tenth annual Essay Contest sponsored by The Historical Society of the Gatineau — 1981.