Read more Aerial Photos 1935 - 2000
The Government of Prince Edward Island's Interactive Mapping Website is a great resource. One of the things available are aerial photos taken over the years. It is a great opportunity to see natural regeneration of forest lands on the island. Here is collection of aerial photos focusing on the macphail homestead.
Aerial view of the homestead in 1935.
The first photo in 1935, shows the macphail woods in a very active state. From my information, the homestead was abandoned shortly here after. Notice the agricultural fields surrounding the homestead. For interest sake, the sweeping loop on the right hand side of the photo is the railway. During this time much of PEI was in agricultural use and forested land over the island was at it's least.
Aerial view of the homestead in 1958.
In 1958, as the second photo shows, the farm was abandoned and the fields around the homestead were no longer in use and are filling in with transitional tree species, including white spruce. This "old-field" white spruce has grown and become one of the dominant forest types on PEI.
Aerial view of the homestead in 1974.
In 1974, not much is happening at the homestead. There are a couple of fields aroud the homestead that are still in agricultural use, but the rest is continuing to grow.
Aerial view of the homestead in 1990.
By 1990, the Dept of Forestry was involved with the management of the woodlot. As the aerial photo in 1990 shows, there was a larger clearcut to the north as well as some smaller clearcuts. In it's place was a black spruce plantation, a larch plantation, and some small yellow birch and butternut plantings.
Aerial view of the homestead in 2000.
The last aerial photo is from 2000. Here you can see that the homestead is alive once again. There is a new entrance carved out of the woods to access the property. Also, the native tree and shrub nursery can be seen.
