SPRINGFIELD, P.E.I. - Springfield would not be the same without the Haslam family.
Thomas and Elizabeth Haslam came to P.E.I. from Ireland 200 years ago where they raised both a family and an entire community.
The Haslam family commemorated their ancestors with a weekend of celebration in Springfield on Aug. 11 and 12.
Roughly 140 family members came from all over Canada, the United States and Europe — many experiencing P.E.I. for the first time.
“Even though some of these people have been away for five, six generations they still know what’s been passed down to them and they’ve arrived here today for the reunion for the love of P.E.I.,” said David Haslam, a fifth generation Haslam who was part of the planning committee. “It’s folklore for them, but they feel it.”
Springfield was nothing more than a parcel of undeveloped land in Lot 67 when Thomas and Elizabeth first landed on P.E.I. in 1818.
The eastern and western ends of the Island were busy with activity, so Thomas decided to connect them with a highway through his land and build an Inn to attract people to the location.
“I have pictures of it and it’s just a bare, red track,” said David.
“Even though some of these people have been away for five, six generations they still know what’s been passed down to them and they’ve arrived here today for the reunion for the love of P.E.I.." - David Haslam
However, the community still needed a name.
“He was the first person in the community so he named the community Springfield because of the springs that were behind his log cabin,” said David.
After that, Thomas started to clear the land and built a saw mill. He then started to saw lumber and create ship masts which he would float over the Dunk River to England.
The church in Springfield is also an integral part of the Haslam family’s history.
Thomas built the church with his seven sons after his wife passed away in 1848. He named it St. Elizabeth’s Anglican Church after her.
They cut the timber themselves from the nearby forest and stones from his property.
“We call it a pioneer love story,” said David.
A Haslam family member has been a warden at the church ever since it was built.
“I think it’s quite an honour and it’s a pleasure, though, and I want to share it,” said David, who is the current warden.
While many Haslams have stayed on the Island, many have also moved away over the years. Some have never been to P.E.I. where it all started.
Eleanor Haslam travelled from Denmark to celebrate the occasion with her family members, most of whom she had never met.
Eleanor’s great-great-grandfather was Thomas Haslam. She was raised in Saskatoon and had never been to the Island before.
When she heard about the family reunion she decided her usual trip every two years to Saskatchewan should be to P.E.I. instead.
“I’ve lived in Denmark for 40 years so the roots of being part of this big family are so distant to me,” said Eleanor. “Just the thought of being able to be together with so many people that are actually in some way related to me, that was really something sort of important.”
The weekend consisted of children’s activities, a heritage skit about the Haslams, a church service, and it concluded with the unveiling of the “Haslam Founders Stone” at St. Elizabeth’s Anglican Church.
The stone was taken from Haslam land. On it was a plaque recognizing the Haslam Irish ancestors that started it all.
David said the history of the Haslam family has stayed alive over the years and this way it can continue.
“It was one family and it was a very strong bond,” he said. “He (Thomas) was very supportive of his sons and they really grew to love the Island so the connection between family and the land that they cleared, it’s really kept bonds.”
