Hidden message reveals clues to century-old P.E.I. farmhouse

A Prince Edward Island family recently received a message from beyond the grave, written by the original owner of their century-old farmhouse.

The discovery came as MoniqueVermuntand her family were renovating their home in Elmwood, P.E.I.,where they have lived for the past 13 years.

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They found a message as they were examining a staircase in the farmhouse, to decide what work it needed.

"I lifted off the bottom stepand [there was] a piece of wood," Vermunt said."I picked up and flipped it over and there was a note on it."

The note waspenciled by a man who said he was John McKinnon. In it, he said he was 51 and built the house in 1904.

"By the timethis is again seenI hope by the grase(sic) of god to be in heaven,"McKinnon goes on towrite.

He also expresses the hope that the finder of his message has it printed in the local newspaper.

"It's just neat finding a piece of history, finding out who made the house and how old exactly it is," Vermuntsaid.

Now that they've discovered the message, the family wants to knowmore aboutMcKinnon, she said.

It isn't the first timethe family has uncovered a clue to their home's history.

A few years ago, they found a newspaper from 1912 during renovations to the attic.

While more renovations planned for the house that McKinnonbuilt early in the last century,the family plans toframe the piece of wood on which hisnote is written, to remind them of their home's past.

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