Old St. Andrews

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Shiretown Items - Selections Part 5

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St. Croix Courier
Aug 2/1945
Last Word in Locomoives—50 Years Ago
By J. F. W.
Science and mechanics have made wonderful strides since the above picture  of old No. 12, resting proudly at the depot in St. Andrews, was taken 50 odd years ago. This funny looking old engine was one of the best on the road at that time and, so elaborately and intricately designed, was though tobe the last word in railway steam engine construction. Before reading further, if you are an old-timer from the Shiretown, try to identify the bystanders. Here are the name of most of them: from left, 1) Albert Storr, brakeman; 2) Colin Carmichael, plain citizen; Fred Stinson, baggage master; Frank Barnard, station agent; the bewhiskered gentleman, name unknown, was trackmaster; standing at the cab door, Richard Davis, senor, engine driver; on the ground, supporting the frail macine with his strong right arm, is John Davis, fireman; on the front end of the baggage car are grouped the passengers; at the side door is Bat Donahue, conductor; and on the steps between the cars, T/homas Richardson, engine cleaner.

 

Shiretown items
Censured
I have been severely reprimanded for failing to send in any items one week recently without having first consulted a couple of gentlemen who migh tbe considered as the self-appointed voice fo the public. That I have permission from the publisher to ski an occasional week when circumstances warrant it means nothing to these guys. Their ultimatum is that ihe items must appear and they’ve got to be good. No excuse short of death or imprisonment will merit their consideration. Mental prostration after a ard week in the office is beyond the understaing of these gentlemen of leisure. Lack of material is no excuse, say they. Such is the life of the unfortunate writer. It seems that it was eaier to get into this job than to get out of it.

 

A. Wesley Stuart member for Charlotte County.

 

St. Croix Courier
August 9, 1945
Shiretown Items
The Town Bell
For the past few weeks the town bell has been ringing at 8 o’clock in the mornign instead of at 7 as formerly. The idea has met with approval of all residents and it seems strange that no one ever thought of it before. It is several years now since anyone has been going to work at 7 o’clock, except during the ship-yard days, and that early bell has been a grievance of guests at Kennedy’s Hotel for a long time. In the old days, when the workmen laboured 10 hours a day, the bell rang at 7, 12, 1 and 6. When the 9 hour day was introduced the afternoon bell was rung at 5. The eight hour day has been in force for some years but the bell kept ringing as usual at 7 am, acting as a sort of alarm clock. Most of us like it for that reason but neverthess agree that the 8 o’clock ringing is more sensible as it no longer deprives our summer guests of that lst delightful and restful hours’ sleep.

 

St. Croix Courier
Aug 16/1945
Shiretown Items--Our Liquor Law
The sketch “Have a Beer,” by H. D. B. of SG, appearing in last week’s Courier was not only very cleverly written but it points out one of the chief defects in our present Liquor Law. The intention of the law is that the liquor shall be purchased at the provincial liquor store and consumed in one’s own home. In principle this idea may be all right but it won’t work out in practice, as is proved a score of times a day in every community where liquor is sold. It simply makes law breakers of otherwise honest and upright citizens more worthy and more useful to their country in many cases than the mean-spirited informer or even the Town Marshal who passes along the information or the Magistrate who imposes the fine, who will excuse themselves by saying they are only carrying out the duties of their office. The law states that liquor must not be consumed in public places. If it were put to the test it might be difficult to prove that a sand-pit away from and out of sight of houses and streets is a public place. Here in St. Andrews where we have many transient visitors during the summer, groups of young men may be seen almost any day of the week headed for the woods or the beaches with an armload of beer where, in the company of mosquitoes and blackflies on the one hand or sand-fleas and wharf rats on the other, they enjoy (?) their friendly bottle of beer. It is high time the province provided a respectable means of eliminating this unseemly practice. It is my own opinion and also the view of others with whom I have talked, that the only answer is a bar or cocktail room or beer parlor in connection with the liquor store and under government control and regulation. Such a place would have the added advantage that the man who likes an occasional drink after a hard day’s work could go there and get his drink, properly mixed, come home and get his supper and straightway forget all about it. Under present conditions he usually buys a quart, only too often takes too much when he gets home with it, gets in wrong with his family, then starts out on the rampage to make a night of it. The introduction of a bar will meet with opposition just as our present liquor law did, but if the administration now in power will display the same courage and boldness as was shown by Mr. Baxter and his colleagues a few years ago, it is quite possible, that by the time another election comes around they will find the majority of the people solidly behind them. the experiment might be tried in one or two town, and if found unsatisfactory, could be discontinued.

 

St. Croix Courier
Sept 13/1945
Shiretown Items—Society Formed
(Society formed. Summer residents have organized a Town improvement Society. Value of tourism and taxes.)
Our summer residents who own cottages here and who are our heaviest taxpayers, have organized themselves into a Town Improvement Society. Their object, as I understand it, is to offer advice and support to the Town Council in any efforts to promote the chief established industry we now have here, catering to summer visitors, and to discourage the introduction of any industry which would make the town less attractive as a tourist centre or summer home. If we are honest we must admit that it has been the influence of the summer people which has made St. Andrews what it is today. It is true we have done our part, but without our summer folks we could not have done what we have. The actual value of our property here is away beyond the figure fixed for taxation purposes and because of this fact we have had no difficulty in financing such public improvements as waterworks, sewers, a school building and a mile and a half of cement pavement. The opinions and views of these good citizens are worthy of most careful consideration and their advice is worth listening to. They love St. Andrews just as we do and are just as much interested in its prosperity. We have plenty of room here for a hundred more summer homes. Those already here will encourage their friends to come and build if we, through our Town Council, are careful to make and keep conditions favourable. If we can establish other small industries here by all means let us do so, but let us investigate well beforehand and have the promoters’ positive guarantee that the grounds will not be cluttered up with unsightly junk and that the plant will not smell to high heaven.

 

St. Croix Courier
Oct 4, 1945
Shiretown Items
No Meat
There has been no meat in St. Andrews for over a week and it is surprising the small amoount of grumbling that is heard about it. The general attitude of the public towards he sitation sems to be that every man shoul dknow best how to run hiw own business, and if, regardless of the reason, he does not wish to sell meat, or any other articles for which thereis a demand, he is under no oblikgation to do so. There have been some kickers of course, and no doubt the dealers have been made aware of it. Any man who devotes his life to the service of the public, whether as  storekeeper, a professional man, a politicisn, or in any othe capacity is sure from time to time to encounter criticism. There are some folks whose gretest joy in life is to find fault. Ther are many others so nice that we would work our heads off to please them. One of the true test of greatness is to be able to accept criticism with a smile and at least appear to be unaffected by it, whether we be a storekeepers, or the premier of Canada. Of course there is the odd case, where criticism becomes abuse, when a man is justifed and, in fact, defintely ads to his self-respect to tell the individual to get out of is place of busines sand never come back. The public, who are the real sufferers, do not fully understand either side of this meat situation. The autorities, on the one hand, who have access to all the facts regarding general suply and demand, shoul dknow best whetehr and to what extent, reationing is necessary, and on the other hand, the dealers, most of whom are grocers,, alone know the amount of humbug they have had to contend with during the . . . justified in going in protest of this added, and in their opinion, unnecessary imposition. Naturally, the public hopes for an early solution to the problems but in the meantime we shall continue to emulate the noted Bernard Shaw and subsist on vegetables, fish and cheese.

 

Soldiers Return
Our boys are beginning to get back, in greater numbers from overseas. Some to return recently are Allison McNichol, still on critches from a broken leg in Belgium; Burton McNichol, who has his skull fractured in Germany; Eddie Snell, who had a shot through his foot in Sicily; George Smith, who went swimming in the Dead Sea; Addison Dickson, who washed his face in the wines of Italy; Raymond bartlett and Alexander Bell, exploits unknown. There are perhaps otehrs that I haven’t seen or don’t recall at the moment; Richard Ross, Robert Storr, William Knijff and Herbie Henderson are on the way and are expected to reach home soon. As we welcome these boys with joy we need  mut shed a tear for those who eill never return, those heroic dead who sleep not in their native land beneath the flag for which they fought and died, nor in the shadow of the solumn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows which they loved. They rest beneath the sea or in a foreign land where vine and fig-tree bloom. But beneath the same blue sky that we know, although alike ummindful of sushine or storm, the slumber on,. If ever again the earth shall run red with the blood of war it shall conern them not. In the midst of battles, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. May they rest in peace.

 

St. Croix Courier
Nov 29/1945
Shiretown Items—Wind and Tide
(Account of waterfront damage in recent storm. Good descriptions.)
When wind and tide combine their forces it is surprising the damage they can do in a couple of hours. As far as can be learned, the destructive storm of last week did little damage to private property around the shores of St. Andrews. Most of the exposed weirs had already been stripped for the winter and suffered light in consequence. Boats and scows hauled up beyond high water mark were given an extra boost and came to rest in odd places, a net-boat at Eldon Doon’s front door at the foot of King Street, another on Gov. Clark’s lawn and a scow square across the railroad just this side of the Cove bridge. Very real and costly damage was done, however, to the breakwater and road around Indian Point and also to the C. P. Railway between Katy’s Cove and the Bar road. For four days the passengers, mail and freight were brought in from Chamcook. After that time the track, which had been washed out for several hundred yards and in places shifted smack up against the telegraph poles had been repaired temporarily, with timbers so tha the train could again come into the station. It is said that about 300 carloads of rocks and ballast will be required to put the roadbed back in shape. To repair the damage at the Point will also be an expensive job. The riprap of stones and timbers was completely destroyed in places and tossed clear across the driveway. Stones half the size of a flour barrel were left high and dry. Two old buildings from the “Factory” or Doon’s wharf were cast adrift, sailed gaily up the harbour, and across the western bar to fetch up on the shores of Maine. The old wharf was soon pounded into match wood and set adrift. The tide covered the public wharf and reached the Soldier’s Memorial on Market Square. Many wharf rats were drowned and washed ashore, others escaped by migrating inland. Employees at Conley’s Factory were carried ashore by booted men when dinner hour arrived. The DeWolfe wharf was two feet under water and CP/r employees there as well as Cliff Brown working at Pillow’s boat house were marooned and didn’t get home to dinner till 2 o’clock. Some rock-weed and drift wood was seen around the Commodore veranda but I think a neighbour must have place it there for effect. Most of the cellars in that section were well flooded and some damage done to store produce. The marsh was flooded—became part of the Bay—the waves lapped the dump, but I’m sorry to say this unsightly pile was not washed away.

 

St. Croix Courier
Dec 13, 1945
Shiretown Items
Rink to Open
Good news for the boys and girls—the Arean will definitely open this winter for skating and hockey. A new contract has been drawn up with the Department of National Defense by which they will retain one room in the building ot be  used as a barracks and storeroom, but which will not interfere with the activities of the rink. [details]

 

St. Croix Courier
Dec 20/1945
Shiretown Items—Attracting Tourists.
A splendid series of articles by Ian Sclanders has been running recently in the Telegraph Journal in regard to proper ways of attracting tourists. His description of native New Brunswick dishes in last Saturday’s paper was such as to make even a native’s mouth water. We must agree that Mr. Sclanders has the correct idea from the tourist’s standpoint but our own side of the question is just how well does this industry pay and how much money are we justified in investing in it. We know something about the tourist business here in St. Andrews as we have been visited by all classes for many years. Of course we don’t class our real summer residents as tourists. they own homes here, are bona fide residents from four to six months of the year, pay taxes, spend a lot of money, take a keen interest in local affairs and are a great asset to the town. As to tourists we have found that catering to the type who are prepared to stay fixed in one place for a considerable period is reasonably profitable. But about nine-tenths of the tourist are transients—here today and gone tomorrow. And further, about nine-tenths of these are persons from the lower income bracket. They want the best and are critical if they don’t get it and will kick at a moderate charge for a moderate service. To supply the accommodation and service which Mr. Sclanders suggests would required a considerable outlay of capital and to make it a paying investment for such a short season rates would need to be asked which nine-tenths of the tourists could not or would not pay. The visitors who have plenty of money and are willing to spend it should be made heartily welcome and every effort should be made to provide them with the accommodations, service and attractions they are looking for. Those who, at $1.00 per person, will accept a clean roadside camp without hot and cold water and inside toilet as a place to spend the night and who are satisfied with a plain meal at 85 cents, should also be encourage. But the hundred who are trying to make the grand tour on limited funds and who try to impress us with their importance by kicking at everything we have to offer would be better advised to stay at home. They are a plain nuisance. We don’t want them.

 

St. Croix Courier
January 10, 1946
Shiretown Items
Daniel Hanson
Over a long period of years and with a long list of public officers to chosse from it would be unfair to say that any one man was the best we have ever had in any particualr offic,e but I feel safe in stating that since the beginning of Customs collecting at this Port we hav never had a better collector than Daniel Hanson, who has recently retired after 33 years service. Mr. Hanson had the ability and faithfulness necessary to carry on the work in the best interestsof the Department and at the same time knew how to handle the public. It is frequently said that no matter how successful a man may be in any position, there can always be found someone to take his place. No doubt thisis true in the mein but it does not always sfollow, Wheover may be appointed to succeed Mr. Hanson, and who will try to fill the position with equal success, will have his work cut out fo rhim. Afte a long life devoted almost entirely to useful work it must e ifficult to adjust one’ sself to days of idleness. A olution may be found in voluntary public service andin hobbies. Mr. Hanson has served on the Town Council and as chariman of the School Board. He has been for many years, and still is, the efficient steward of Weslayan United Church. His hobbies are gardeing, hunting and fishing. As added pastimes we would suggest golf, for th esummer and chess and curling for the winter. With at least twenty years of activie life remaining he should be able to become fairly proficient at these ifficult games.
[I copy this article out because Daniel Hanson is the man who had framed the lithograhs of old St. andrews now in the Charlotte County Archives—the first by Lieutenant Wells of the view from Joe’s Point, and the second (a reproduction) of the view from Navy Island by Lieutenant Ashburton]

 

St. Croix Courier
Jan 17/1946
Shiretown Items
Old Friends are Passing
IT is a common experience to us all as we grow older to lose each year through death a number of our intimate friends. In the recent passing here of Thomas Pendlebury I have lost not ony a good friend of many years standing but one of Shiretown Items’ most faithful fans. I rarely met hom on the street without receiving some word of praise or encouragement, and many of my old time items were written from information I got from him. He bought four couriers regularly every week to sende away to his children. His death was not unexpected, however, as he was 82 years of age and had been in poor health for a year or more. The usdden death of Bev. Jordan and J. H. Stanton were on the other hand a decided shock to me as I had received Christmas cards from both of them as usual during the past few yeas and it is hard to realize that they are gone.I had known Bev. Intimately ever since he was Town Marshal in St. Andrews and have had many proofs of his frindship, his manly qualities and his sincere understading of human nature. As to Mr. Stanton of Oakland, Cal., he seemed to me likek some beloved character in a book. In our books we can turn up a passage at will and spend a few minutes communing with an old friend. And so it wasw with Mr. Stanton’s spicy little notes which have been coming quite regulary for a past four years. There was always something new and intriguing about them. We could glance over them at intervals, during dull moments, and enjoy a fellowship with one so far away as miles are measured but so near at hand as friendship is considered. His first and ma following notes were signed “Passer-by” and he kept me guessing for a long time before I found out his name or mch about him. His often expresssed withs to re-visit his natie New Brnswick was not to be fulfilled. He is gne and I shall miss him more han I can say. And so, dear Passer-by, farewell, a long farewell.

 

St. Croix Courier
Feb 21/1946
Shiretown Items—St. Andrews Exchange
(History of St. Andrews Telephone Exchange reproduced almost in full. Including 1900 Mallory-Algonquin line.)
In the January number of “Telephone News,” a magazine published for the employees of the N.B. Telephone Co., and a copy of which has been presented to me by our local manager, F. J. McCarlie, appears an interesting and well written story by C. A. Lee relating to the development of the telephone exchange in St. Andrews. Accompanying the article are good pictures of the Howard Rigby home, where the first exchange was installed in 1903, of the McDowell building to which it was removed in 1912, and of the modernly equipped brick and concrete building, erected and owned by the company, and completed in 1939. The introduction of the story consists of a sketch of the history of St. Andrews from 1604 up to the present time, with flattering reference to the many natural attractions of the town, and some interesting notes on some of our present-day inhabitants. The history of the exchange, which, I am sure, will be of interest to a much wider circle of readers than would be reached by the publication in which it appeared, is copied here almost in full.
            “In 1900 W. E. Mallory installed a private telephone line between his livery stable off Water Street and the Algonquin Hotel on Fort Hill. A little later Sir William Van Horne erected a private line between his residence on Minister’s Island and the CPR station. When a toll pole line was erected between Saint John and St. Stephen in 1901 a toll switch and station were placed in the residence of Howard Rigby on Water Street, St. Andrews. In conversation with the construction foreman, Sherman Hoyt, Mr. Mallory suggested the company established an exchange in St. Andrews. Mr. Hoyt told him if he could dig up thirty-give subscribers the company would put in an exchange. Mr. Mallory at once got busy and succeeded in getting thirty subscribers, which number the company accepted as a sufficient start, and at once installed a switchboard in the Rigby residence, with Margaret (Madge) Rigby, assisted by her sister Carrie, as the first chief operator. Descriptions of the various types of switchboards used are omitted here as being of little importance to the general reader. in 1911 Miss Ruth Greenlaw became chief operator with Miss Muriel Pendlebury (now Mrs. Stanley Deacon) added to the staff. In 1912 Miss Viola McDowell was employed as night operator and held this position until her retirement on July 31, 1943, a record of 31 years.
            “Late in 1912 the company purchased the McDowell building further west on Water Street, replacing the two position Bell Switchboard with a new Kellogg Switchboard with harmonic ringing. By means of selective ringing it was possible to install 4-party lines, the only subscriber’s bell to ring being that of the party called. There were 178 subscribers at the time. In 1914 a Private Branch Switchboard with 250 sub-stations and 5 trunks to the NB Tel. company’s switchboard was installed in the Algonquin Hotel. In 1930 a more up-to-date system was place in the main office which at that time was giving service to 385 subscribers.
            “In 1938 the company bought the Odell property on Water Street. This property had been the site of the Edwin Odell Dry Goods Store, one of the oldest and most outstanding business houses in St. Andrews prior to its destruction by fire in 1930. Here early in 1939 the company erected a modern brick building and installed a new Common Battery exchange. On Sept. 15, 1930, the old magneto system in the McDowell building was cut over to the Northern Electric Manual common battery in the new brick building, there being 388 subscribers at the time of the cut-over. The building and equipment are a credit both to the company and to the town of St. Andrews. Much credit is due to the McCarlie for the neat and beautiful appearance of the company’s building and grounds; during the summer months his window boxes and borders of flowers are the pride of Water Street.
            “Since 1903 the St. Andrews exchange has grown from a one position magneto switchboard with thirty subscribers to a three-position common battery multiple board with 450 subscribers and toll lines from a switch on a local iron circuit to six direct toll circuits.
            “Local managers stationed at St. Andrews from 1914 to 1933 were as follows: M. J. McCarroll, Skiff. McCarroll, Willard Lewis, Harry Leroy, Fred Kennedy, F. J. McCarlie, the latter still in charge.
            “Chief operators from 1911 to 1945 have been Ruth Greenlaw, Irene Rollins, Emma Stickney, Mina Pendlebury, Eileen Greenlaw. St. Andrews exchange has now a staff of six operators, Eileen Greenlaw, Norma Henderson, Donna McNichol, Irene McQuoid, Mina Pendlebury and Freda Leslie.”
            (Piece follows on death of Charles Mallory)

 

Sir Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, Viscount Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis and Baron Rideau of Ottawa, and of Castle Derg, county Tyrone
Governor General: 1946 - 1952
Appointed: March 21, 1946
Sworn In: April 12, 1946, Ottawa
Born: December 10, 1891, London, England
Died: June 16, 1969

 

St. Croix Courier
March 14, 1946
Shiretown Items
About Trains
When automobiles first appeared on our highways they wre of interest for a time because of their novelty. The same may be said of aeroplanes. Both of these wonderful mechanical contrivances have now become so commonplace that they attract no more than passing glance. It is not so with a train. Age cannot wither its fascination, nor custom sale its infinite appeal. Automobiles and aeroplanes appear just what they are, man-made machines. But apassing train puled by a puffing locomotive, seems like a living thing into which the breath of life had been introduced by some supernatural creator. To those who live, or have lived, near the tracks where trains are passing at all hours the long musicial a nd dee-toned whistles, piercing the stillness of the night seem like a message from another world and leave an impression which time can never efface from our memory. Even to stand on the tracks and look away into the distance where the rails aseem to meet arouses all sorts of fascinating pictures in our imagaintion. But when spring and early summer come around each year and we once more take up our regualr late afternoon walks one of our gretest delights, and heard to understand because it is such a simple pleasure, is to stand at gaze and watch the evening train go by, engine puffing, bell a-clanging and wheels a–rumbling.

 

St. Croix Courier
March 21, 1946
Shiretown items
M. and M.
Two of our young men, Charles Mason and Joseph Miller, afer several years service overseas with the R.C.A.F. have returned home and have established a dubisness in the Masonic block, to carry on all kinds of radio, electric and photographic work.

 

St. Croix Courier
March 28/1946
Shiretown Items
All Will Wish Him Well
Editor’s Note: Readers will share our regret that the author of this column, Dr. J. F. Worrell, has been ill since last week and will  be unable to resume writing for an indefinite period.

 

St. Croix Courier
June 6, 1946
Shiretown Items
Thanks for Everything
It was the fifteenth day and my spirts were still prettylow. Milk and buttermilk do no make an inspiring diet and become monotonous after a couple of weeks. I was reading the Courier and when I came to Theo’s item, my eyes filled with tears and I marvelled to ealize how one’s emotions can be affected by the printed word. As I read on, however, and came to the rreference to the shampoo regulation and the “panther sweat,” I laughted out loud so that he folks down sairs heard me and rejoiced. That was the turning pont in my sickness and from that day forward I improved slowely  butsurely. Good old Theo! Thanks a lot. I am also greateful to the Editor and to writers in other corners of our Courier for their kind expressions of sympaty and best wishes for my recovery. I am grateful for the many letters and “get well” cares, which will be answered personally in due time. Thak salso for the regular inquireis on the street, at the house and by telephone—it all helped to cheer us up. Thanks for the buttermilk, gallons of it, for the eggs fresh from the nest, for the puddings, dainty mayflowrs, fragrant and beautiful, for papers, magazines and books galore, for salmon from Chamcook Lake, for offers of other foods I dare not eat, for free shaves, for he good neighbour who came ot shovel snow, and last and most of all for the good friend who came regulary and faithfully to shovel snow, cut kindling woods and tend the furnce. I hope I haven’t missed anything. For all our blessings we are trul thankful.Of what sshall a man be proud if he is not proud of his friends! God bless them every one. It is an occasional experience such as this, that keeps alive our faith in the fundamental good ness of humanity. People are just chock full of goodness, kindness and sympathetic understanding.

 

A Common Ailment
It is said that one fo the most common afflictions of mankind is the peptic or gastric ulcer. Though ther emay be other contributory factors, such as faulty diet or too mch of it, doctors are quite generaly agreed tha the chief cause is worry. By a usficient exertion of will power we can control our diet but to avoid worry under trying circumstances is a difficult problems. It issaid that thousands who have ulcer trouble never suffer any further inconveience or distress than chronic indigestion---which is bad enough. But when the ulcer breaks and hemorrhages occur the patient is down and out for a long time. It takes several weeks on a liquird diet to allow the ulcer to heal, and much longe rfor a new blood supply  to be buil tup. After the patient is up and around he is disappoined to find, especially if he is no longer young, that it takes a long time to get any strength back. In th ewods of another old-timer “his legs is all gone.” Except during the hemorrhages and for a cuple of days afterwards when the patient is very sick, and when the pendulum of life swing so far out that we are forced to wonder I fit will ever swign back again, ther is very little distres or discomfort as long as we remain flat on our back. But raise the head or try to sit up in bed nd the room begins to rock and spin. The well known sensation of the “the morning afer” is mild by comparison. The worst feature of the ulcer is that once it has developed it is ther efor life. It may be healed but never permanetley cured. An operation is sometime ssuccessful but in many ases a new ulcer develops elsewhere. We must just accept it as one of the manywoes that flesh is heir to.

 

St. Croix Courier
August 15, 1946
Shiretown Items
Bicycle Trips
I was much interested in  anote in The Courier about a Saint John boy, 14, doing the 80 miles from Saint John to Oak by in eight hours. To average 10 miles an hur for thatdistance is good riding for any one, and he probably had to taake time out for lunch, as syccling is hungry work. The hills on the main highway have been cut down a lot since my bicycle days and the pavement must make the going a lot easier, to say nothing of th ecoaster brake, which was uknnown in th eold days. I road to Eastport and back oen day 104 miles, with Jim Clinch. We restd an hour in th esadine town and covered the distance in 11 hours, 13 minutes riding time, not as good time as the Saint John lad made in his recent trip. Riders here and in St. Stephen and Calais were always trying to make a record between here and St. Stephen. I did the run once in 1 hour 28 minutes, but I think Elbridge Short could best that easily but never heard his record. A Saint John boys claimed he did it in 1 hours, 17 minutes. Long distance cycling is great sport but is not much favored by the youth of today.

 

St. Croix Courier
Sept 26, 1946
Shiretown items
Men’s Club
The St. Andrews’s Men’s Club have taken a lease of mrs. Handy’s shop opposite the Commodore Hotel, and if possible plan to make the club a year round affair in order to hold the room which is ideally located. A larger . . . yea rot make the undertaking a success. The first year the bluc had over a hundred membes, many of whom rarely visited the rooms, but contributed their dies to help out a good cause. Last year, expenses beign less, only shoe actively interested joined up. Now again the club needs the support of every man and boy, sixteen or over, in order t keep the monthly dues ow as formerly. This club is a fine thing in the town and provides regualr harmless amusement for many during the long winter eveings at chess, checkers and cards. No gambling, profanit or lquor are allowed. A meeting will be hald in the room tomorrow, Friday night, Sept. 27, to elect a new slate of officers and lay plans fo the winter.

 

*St. Croix Courier
Oct 3/1946
Shiretown Items
Conley’s lobsters has been in operation for several months. Some construction still in progress. Started in small building near town center several years back. Good descriptions of inside and operations.

 

St. Croix Courier
Oct 31, 1946
Shiretown Items
Practical Jokes
Fortunately for the rest of us only a few people in the world can be considered confirmed practical jokers. The few who are always up to some skuldggery may be divided into two classes, those whose jokes are always harmless, good for a laugh and even enjoyed by the victim, and those whose pranks savour of meanness and often cause injury. The later are always unpopular and sooner or later become cured when the play the joke on the wrong person. We are sometiems surprisd at the person who pulls off a good one. A gentleman in town recent had a son married. For several years this man held a position of honor and trust in th town. To see him on the street in uniform performing is daily duties one would supposed that he was the very personification of dignit and decorum and the last person in the world to think of playing a pracical jokie. The wedding ceremony was performed at the bride’s home in the country. After the reception the young couple went to their separate rooms above staris to pack and change for their wedding trip. Asw the groom was removing his outer garments he suddenl heard terrifying screams from his wif’e room accompanied by a din os squawks and cackling. He rushed in and found two hens flying about the bedroom and his wife in a real or assumed stae of panic. He pacified her and in the usual sure-fire manner which all good husbands know and learned tha the hens had been shut in the suitcase and flew out in her face when she opened, it. The groom’s father was immediately suspeted as he had been seen to leave the room during the ceremony. He was accosted and accused. Rather than stand trial he admitted the chage and was rewarded for his devilment by smack on the jaw—the kind of smack that only oung brides know how to administer.

 

St. Croix Courier
Nov 31, 1946
Shiretown Items
A Bag of Sugar
During the summer a lady required a small amount of cement to have her cellar wall patched. There being none on hand in the stores a kind-hearted gentleman hearing of her need gave her five pounds from his own private stock. When she was leaving recently she came to his house and presented him with a bag of sugar. He inadvisedly boasted of the mater to some of his supposed friends. When they threatened to inform and instigate legal proceedings against him he began to protest that it really was only a small bag—not more than five pounds. This statement his friends apparently refused to believe and soon had him quite worried. He went one day to a hardware store to buy some nails. The dealer said that nails were very hadrd to get but thought he might locate some if the gentleman would make it worthwhile. He proposed an exchange of 20 pounds of sugar for the nails. The gentleman, who is not noted for his preciousity, which I think is the term aplied to fastidious refinement in speech, made a few unprintable remarks, and left withou the nails, more owrried than ever. If there by a any moral to this sotyr it is this: be cautious how you talk about your own affairs and alt least be sure never to exaggerate.

 

March 13/1947
Shiretown Items
Win Championship
The Senators of St. Andrews have won the New Brunswick Intermediate Hockey Championship for 1947.
Plans to install artificial ice in arena.

 

St. Croix Courier
March 27/1947
Shiretown items
Plebiscite Being Called
The 15th day of April 1947, is a day that will go down in local history. On that day a plebiscite is being held to vote for or agaisnt a proposition to install a reezing palnt for artificial ice at the St. Andrews Arena. . . .

 

St. Croix Courier
April 10/1947
Shiretown Items—Indian Point (on need for development of other side of Katy’s Cove for locals)
The land at Indian point, now owned by the Town has been leased by the Kiwanis Club for a period of five years. It is planned to fix it up as a recreation center. Just how much will be done will, of course, depend on funds available, but the ground will be levelled off and a ball field made for a starter. I haven’t heard where the ball players are coming from, whether an attempt is to be made to develop a team here or whether the ground is to be put and kept in shape to attract visiting teams on holidays and Sundays. Not having heard any of the discussions I am uninformed as to what the real plans of the Kiwanis Club may be and what hopes they may entertain for the success of the undertaking. I know that many hours have been spent in former town Councils in the discussion of all sorts of crazy schemes for developing this area. It has been learned that there is a very definite opposition, among both permanent and summer residents, to any attempt to commercialize the property or to erect buildings of any sort there. One proposal, which I am told has been given some thought by Kiwanis, is the erection of a bathing pool which would be filled at high tide and remain filled as the tide receded. This idea was gone into very carefully by the town Council and discarded for two reasons, 1. the cost was found to be prohibitive, 2. it would required a row of bathing houses to be erected which would destroy the natural beauties of the spot. One of the chief attractions of a sea-side town is salt water bathing but most people find the tide water too cold. The Algonquin Hotel Company have a splendid private beach at Katy’s Cove where the water is always warm but this is reserved for the Hotel and Summer cottages. Local people, who like to swim use the opposite side of the cove near the railway bridge, which necessitates undressing at home and a long walk out and back. The ordinary visitor to St. Andrews has no place at all to enjoy salt water bathing. Just before the ar the Town Council got permission from the Hotel Company to fit up a beach on the Cove on this side and build a driveway over their land so it could be reached by car. A start was made on clearing the land and building a road which was an extension of King Street, but the War put a stop to the work. If the present town Council and Kiwanis Club would cooperate in completing this undertaking it seems to me that its practical value would be much greater than any work done at Indian Point.

 

Talking Pollock
This incident happened many years ago but I only heard it recently and as news seems scarce it willhelp and may be good for a laugh. In his youth Tracy Johnston was a professional acrobat, dancer, comedian and ventriloquist. He left the show he had been on the road ith and settled on Deer island. As first step towards becoming a fisherman he purchased ainghy. The pollock here running and as the boas were preparing oen morning to visit the fishing grounds Tracy asked the first man he met for a tow off. To his surprise this small favour was refused, but anoehr boatman was more oaccommodating, and on the way off Tracy learned that the first man he had approached was not very well like by the other fishermen. After an hour’s good fishing the pollock suddenly stopped biting. Most of the men took it as a mater of course, but the mean man did a lot of grouchign and finally Tracy told him he could soon find out what the trouble was. He pocked up a pollock from the bottom of the dinghy and asked it very seriously to explain why it sgrealtiosn down ther had stoped biting. When the pollock bgan tot alk with a life-life wagging of the jaws the mean man looked startled but when it be gan to recite a list of his own sins and shortcomings, including his refusal to give Tracy a tow, he became really alarmed. The pollock closed his bitter and abusive harangue by stating that no more fish would be cuagh as long as the at blankety-blank mean man remained on the grounds. The latter, taking the hint conveyed by the talking pollock, pulled anchor and left for home. Sure enough the fish again started to bite and everybody got a good haul. That was Tracy’s first real introduction to the people of Charlotte County and he hs been apopular character ever since both on Deer Island and in St. Andrews, where for men years he has made his home.

 

St. Croix Courier
May 1/1947
Shiretown Items—Old Fire-Engine (When gin flowed as fast as water from the old hand pumpers in St. Andrews.)
One of the old hand pumper fire engines has been sitting on the square in front of the town hall for a week or two. One day I asked an old fellow who I am sure has attended hundred of fires to tell me which engine it was, No. 1 or No. 2. “I don’t know” said he, “there was always so much gin at the fires in those days that I never knew which engine I belonged to or which one I was pumping on. I generally picked the one where the bottles seemed to be circulating the fastest.” Where that liquor came from at any hour of the night, and in such quantities, was always a mystery to the younger men of the company. there was always a race and a money prize between the two engines for first water but before the hose could be run out the gin would have circulated a couple of time and every man on the pumper would be feeling as if he, single-handed, could pump that water over the moon. The old engine is quite a curio now and will be greater in years to come. It is to be cleaned, sand-papered and varnished and kept under cover for future generations to marvel at. It is made from mahogany inlaid with walnut and is really a fine piece of work.

 

Warning
Truckmen are warned not to haul sand from indian Point. A breakwater is beign placed there at consideable cost to protect the shoreline and if the sand is removed the sea would soon undermine the breakwaer and cause it to settle. Small amounts of sand may still be obtained at Joe’s Point but most of what is now needed in St. Andrews coems from Bayside.å

 

St. Croix Courier
May 8/1947
Shiretown Items—S. J. Anning
S. J. Anning, after a painful sickness of about four months, passed away last Sunday morning. Syd was a very active citizen and will be greatly missed. he came here from England about 1910 and immediately became absorbed in community affairs. He has been active in the Kiwanis Club, the Curling club, the Golf Club, the Masonic Lodge and the Church. But perhaps his outstanding achievement in community affairs was to reorganize the St. Andrews Band about 15 years ago and maintain it as a going concern until most of the boys were called away at the outbreak of the war.
Sydney Anning of SA, formerly of Herfordshire, England. Various offices, including St. Andrews Light and Power Company, listed.
            Arena to have artificial ice Dec. 1.

 

St. Croix Courier
Oct 2/1947
Shiretown items: More water needed. Present system no longer meets needs of town. “The Town Council has taken the matter up with the CPR and . . . we may look for some action early in the spring. During the past summer the pump at the lake and pumping station could not supply water as fast as we were using it, working 24 hours a day. The level of the water in the reservoir at length became so low that watering of plants and lawns had to be discontinued. We have many more people here now during the summer than when the water system was installed and it is in the interests of the hotel company as well as the town to keep the water supply well within the bounds of safety. The CPR brings the water to a point at the head of the town from which it is distributed to householders by the town. The Algonquin and hotel cottages are supplied directly from the CPR main.

 

Worrell: “Influential Friends”: “Nothing is more valuable on occasion than the service which can be rendered by an influential friend. We are fortunate here in St. Andrews in having so many prominent people among our summer residents who are real folks and who are always ready to come tour rescue when we get in a pinch. Such incidents have happened many times during the past few years and we have had two such within the past month. 1. We had difficulty getting a certain material needed for the Arena through the regular channels. One of our summer friends was called on and we not only received it promptly but without cost! 2. Young wife gets passage back from Scotland, when notice of husband’s losing weight on own cooking reached sympathetic ears.

 

Archie Skinner Algonquin pro wins St. Croix Open second year running.

 

St. Croix Courier
Oct 9/1947
Shiretown Items: Each year when the Algonquin and most of the cottages close, the bottom seems suddenly to fall out of everything, but this year it was more noticeable than ever. We had a very busy season and everybody was tired out and when the opportunity came to relax most of us went to bed for about three weeks. During the summer there would be hundreds of people and scores of cars on the street every morning but it is surprising how quickly they disappeared.

 

St. Croix Courier
Dec 11, 1947
Shiretown items
[after several months absence from Shiretown Items]
Thanks Again
It’s getting to be an old story now—this rendering of thanks, but the many favors, both small and good, that I’ve received each time I am laidlow , are evefr as fresh and welcome and so I trust that this work of thanks will be acceptd in the same spirit. The specials in the food lien were timed perfectly, ice-cream, partride, and venison. The oyster,s alas!  Are too rich for my worn out digestive organs even at their best, but may thanks just the same. I appreciate the cards and letters, many from the old faithful and some from new found friends. Most of all my thanks are due to the good old friend who comes to tend the furnace. Though three years older than msyefl I hope he will outlive me as I dn’t know what we sshould do witout him. When we suffer a succession of attacks from a sever type of illness, we cannot help wondering if the struggle to recover and survie is worth while. But the fac that we continue to be spared makes us believe that perhaps we have still some useful purpose to serve in the world.

 

St. Croix Courier
Jan 29, 1948
Artificial Ice Plant Officially Opened Before 1,500 Spectators at St. Andrews Arena Last Week. Photo of ice surface
Also relavant item from Shiretown Items

 

St. Croix Courier
March 18/1948
Shiretown Items: Lobster Factory
Sure enough, as I had hoped, Owen Rigby remembered when lobsters were packed here and says that the plant was situated about where Fraser Keay’s warehouse now stands. It was near the head of Clinch’s wharf, long since disappeared. An extension of the railroad ran up along the shore-line as far as this wharf, and although the rails had been taken up,, many of the buttresses were still standing in 1889. I got some further information from Herb Greenlaw on this subject. He says that the lobster plant at the head of Clinch’s wharf was run by George Young, a Saint John man who boarded with William Little in a house, no longer there, situated next to that in which Mr. Atkinson now lives. I can remember the house well and also Mr. Little who was a railway engineer in the wood burning days. I have his copy of “Rules of Railroading.” Mr. Greenlaw says that W. D. Hartt also packed lobsters in the factory, originally built to pack sardines, and located on what was then called the “Long Wharf.” River steamboats landed at this wharf in those days. Many now living can remember this old factory. It was burned one day about noon, a bright sunny day, around 65 years ago [1883]. The wharf was then bought by Gardner and Doon who put up buildings and handled fresh fish there for many years. The last remains of it went out to sea in a bad storm just a few years ago. W. D. Hartt also packed clams in the old building. The factory at the head of Clinch’s wharf was destroyed by fire about 1880 along with Whitlock’s livery stable situated back of the “American House” now the St. Andrews bakery. Wm. Little was the father of Mrs. Wm. Burton, matron of Chipman hospital for many years and who was buried here last week.

 

St. Croix Courier
April 15, 1948
Shiretown Items
Alfred Jones
It was with genuine regret that the many friends here of Alfred Jones learned of his sudden death. With Mr.s Jones he had been spending the witner in the south, Florida, Jamaica, and more recently in Trinidad, where he died. Mr. Jones was an upright, conscientious and enterprising citizenand will be greatly missed in St. Andrws. He was a man with extensive experience in travel and business affairs, and since settling here as proprietor of Sea-side Inn has done much to improve and build up the premises shared with his wife (nee Marjorie Clark), where hundeds have been coming to spend a sumemr holiday. He had plenty of good ideas and carried them out as far as his means would allow, making improvements each year, and catering to person sof moderate means he had one of the finest hostelies in the Maritimes. Mr. Jones was doing business in Russia when the rvolution broke in 1917. He had acummulated about a quarter of a million dollars but was forced to leave most of it behind when he escaped. He then spent two years in Japan where he built up once more a fair bank account before returning to his home in England, where with his son he establsihed a business which is still floruishing. On his first visit to Canada he came to St. Andrw and was so enamoured withits charms that he decided to remain here. He took a keen inte4rest in the affairs of the town and soon made a host of friends. His loss will be felt by the entir ecommunity and we wish to extend our sdeepest sympathy to Mrs. Jones in her time of bereavement.

 

St. Croix Courier
May 6/1948
Shiretown Items: Golf: Kent Ross president golf club. Other officers listed. Membership of 50 men, 30 ladies and juniors. Lady members full voting members first time this year. Local ladies have increased interest in game over last few years. “The Algonquin Hotel Company who own and operate the fine golf links here primarily as an attraction for their guests have always given hearty support and encouragement to local players as well and afford the use of their excellent facilities with certain restrictions as to hours of play, at very reasonable rates.” Many began as caddies.

 

St. Croix Courier
May 20/1948
Shiretown Items: Clean Up, Paint Up, Light Up
Beautify your town drive on across Canada. “A little elementary arithmetic will lead to the conclusion that a minimum of $1 million is spent in St. Andrews as a summer residence and tourist resort. A continuing effort on the part of the community could double that amount.”

 

St. Croix Courier
May 20/1948
Shiretown items—Hanging of Dowd
Few people now living in St. Andrews remember the execution of Thomas Dowd who was convicted of murdering Thomas Edward Ward, of New River on the 18th of September, 1879, but all the older folks here have heard the story many times. Jack Smith, M. P., a friend of W. A. Stuart in Ottawa, recently came across an old “Toronto Globe” which gave all the details in a full column write-up and my good friend Wes sent the paper along to me. In reading the article I was stuck chiefly at the apparently different attitude of the public of those days to such an event as compared with the reaction of the present inhabitants of St. Andrews to the recent hanging here of a young airman. The latter incident occurred in the middle of the night with no one present except the necessary officials. The body was buried quietly with little ceremony or celebration. Not a carpenter in town would aid in the construction of the gallows and the work had to be done by the officials themselves. What thoughts this young man may have had during his last few days of life were known only to himself, to his clergyman, and to his God. In the case of Down, however, elaborate preparations were made for the occasion, his execution was carried out with pomp and pretentious religious ceremony, and he was provided with a funeral worthy of a potentate. The hanging took place in broad daylight and his address to the audience in attendance might well be classed with those touching words of Mark Anthony over the dead body of Julius Caesar. Dressed in his dark trousers and vest and clean white shirt, standing there before an admiring group of spectators and holding the centre of the stage in this thrilling drama, this man Dowd no doubt felt that he was the hero of the hour. And yet hanging is supposedly a deterrent. I offer no opinion as to the value, or otherwise, of capital punishment, but I do believe that Anglo-Saxon civilization, at least has come a long way in the past seventy years.

 

St. Croix Courier
July 8/1948
Shiretown Items: O’Neill’s Market
O’Neill’s Market and Grocery store is having anew front of Vitrolite to correspond with the front of the adjoining building which was done last year. Frank Gilman’s crew doing the work. This business was established by Henry O’Neill, great grandfather of the present proprietors, in 1823. The first store was in the building down town just below John Garnett’s residence, the owner then living across the street where George MacKay now lives. Later the store building was extended to provide living quarters. The store end remained as originally built until last year when it was remodelled for form an apartment. After doing business at this stand for several years the proprietor moved farther up town to a building on Market Square, about where the present post office stands. This place was burned about 1876 and the building now in use was moved up from the Gove lot near the depot as was also the one now used as O’Neill’s restaurant. When Henry departed this life the market was carried on under the same name by his three sons, Hugh, Charles and Henry. After the death of all three brothers the business was continued by A. B. O’Neill, son of Charles, and now his two sons, John and Bill are carrying on under the original name, H. O’Neill. Many changes were made in A. B.’s time and the present owners have continued to improve and modernize. I can recall the old store in the days when round steak was 10 cents a pound, and sirloin two pounds for a quarter. Two long and well worn wooden counters extended on either side from front to back. At the rear an archway disclosed a stove in the center. Near the stove was a chair or two and half a dozen soap boxes to provide comfort and rest to loafers at all times and to the proprietors during leisure moments. On the few occasions when I dared to poke my nose into this room, which to me at the time was a veritable sanctum sanctorum, I can recall that the conversation was always clean and elevating, especially when Charles O’Neill was present. Young as I was he impressed me as being a fine scholar and a great gentleman. Conditions the habits of men and their line of thought have changed since those days, we hope for the better, but we sometimes wonder!
            Presentation—On the occasion of his superannuation Alphonsus Cummings was given a “farewell” by the staff of the Algonquin Hotel where he has been employed for over forty years. The event which was a complete surprise to Mr. Cummings, consisted of cocktails with caviar, a banquet in the Algonquin dining room and a picture show at the Casino. During the banquet, Mr. Cashman, manager of the hotel, have an address appropriate to the occasion. He presented a dozen roses to Mrs. Cummings and to Mr. Cummings a purse containing a hundred dollar bill and a yard of satin ribbon on which were printed the names of nearly one hundred members of the staff along with a little farewell message to their good friend “Fonsis.” It must be a great compensation to a man retiring from a position in which he was been employed for so many years to be made in this way to feel that his life on the job has been worthwhile, if for no other reason than that he had made so many friends.

 

St. Croix Courier
July 22/1948
Shiretown items: “Loyalist Tales” highly successful in St. Andrews. St. Andrews Music, Art and Drama Club 75 strong--put on scenes adapted from Mowatt’s “Diverting History” to packed audience at Andraeleo Hall. Mowatt herself addressed audience to explain destination of proceeds--MAD itself.

 

St. Croix Courier
Aug 5/1948
Shiretown Items: Memorial Park--idea of Mrs. Payne (daughter of R. S. Gardiner) summer resident, to put plaques on benches around the Kiwanis bandstand to the memory of the departed, but war cancelled the concerts and now the benches, though well-placed for the comfort of residents and visitors, lie scattered throughout the town, much to the annoyance of Dr. Worrell, who considers this a disrespect to the dead. For particular dedications on the benches and donors, see St. Croix Courier Sept 1/1938. Mostly summer people, often in memory of children or spouses, as for example Edward Maxwell.

 

St. Croix Courier
Aug 12/1948
Shiretown items
Comments of visitors to St. Andrews men’s Club recorded by Worrell, two of which refer to having been coming to St. Andrews in summer for 40 to 45 years.
            Anecdote about weary traveller who lured by sign advertising tourist cabins with heated cabins and running water discovered the heat was in the form of wood you had to split yourself and the water ran from a hole in the bucket from which it had to be carried from the well.

 

St. Croix Courier
Aug 19/1948
Shiretown Items: Mineral Spring
Do you remember Tom Bailey? If so you were not born yesterday. He lived in a little house near the road going to the cemetery. Weather forecasts by radio were unthought-of of in those days but Tom proved a good substitute. he came into town nearly every day to get his provisions. If he carried a basket, the weather would continue fine but if he brought a kettle we always looked for rain. In the field below his house and a short distance from the brook which empties into Katy’s Cove was a spring with water as pure as that of the well of St. Keyne. It was most commonly called the “mineral spring,” but was also known by many as the “wishing well.”
            If I remember rightly, it was Mr. Gardner, one of our earliest Summer residents who had the water analyzed, found it to be exceptionally pure and induced the Land Co., who then owned the property to wall it up with cement and build a roof over it, with a circle of seats around. It was an attractive spot at which to rest, to study bird life, to chat with a friend of jut to contemplate. I haven’t been out there for a long time but have been told that the house and seats are in ruins and the place is all grown up with weeds and shrubbery. It seems a pity as this spring was one of the land marks of the community. I believe the property now belongs to the Algonquin Hotel Company and they are not much given to matter of sentiment. They could have no objection to having the place fixed up, however, if someone would be willing to undertake it. If the several men’s and women’s organizations in town would get together on the matter could be easily done and we should all feel that we had a share in it. It needs some one individual to start the ball rolling. Who will it be?

 

St. Croix Courier
Sept 2/1948
“Caddy” Norris fatally injured at St. Andrews.
Children’s Friend Paid Striking Tribute at Largest Funeral in Years.
John Cadman Norris, better known to St. Andrews residents as “Caddy,” died in hospital in St. Stephen Friday morning as the result of injuries sustained in an accident Thursday after noon at SA, where he was born and lived all his life. The circumstances of the fatality are not completely known but he was found unconscious on the golf links about noon Thursday, not far from a team of horses he was driving for W. J. McQuoid and Sons, with whom he was employed.
            He was born in St. Andrews in August, 1890, the son of a civil war veteran, Charles Norris, and Maria (Brickson) Norris, and was the last surviving member of a family of six children. He lived in St. Andrews all his life, attending school and later playing in the band and the St. Andrews orchestra. A great favorite with all, the children of the town and Summer people especially looked upon him as a friend because of his kindness toward them.
            Many and varied were the floral tributes sent by townspeople and prominent Summer visitors in token of the esteem in which he was held. Among those who sent beautiful flowers and set pieces were Lieutenant Governor McLaren, Algoma Steel employees, staff of McQuoid’s, management and staff of the Algonquin Hotel, and staff of Fort Tipperary. One of the finest tributes in the group was a blanket of flowers eight feet by four feet centered with a white cross, sent by 85 children in the town.
            The funeral service was held Saturday afternoon, Aug 28, at All Saints Church, and was one of the largest ever held in St. Andrews. People from all walks of life came to pay their respects to a beloved citizen and friend. The rector, Rev. Joseph McAlden, conducted the service, during which the hymns, “Unto the Hills” and “Abide with Me” were sung. Pall-bearers were Hope McQuoid, Warren Stinson, Henry McQuoid, Alfred Cummings, Forrest Ross, and Frank Dougherty, sr. Interment was made in the St. Andrews Rural Cemetery.

 

Shiretown Items—Cadman Norris
A fatal accident resulting in the death of Cadman Norris occurred here last Thursday. “Caddy,” as he was popularly known, had been teamster for McQuoids for many years and was an excellent horseman. How the accident happened will never be known. After the team had returned home without their driver a search was made and Mr. Norris was found lying by the road, unconscious. He was taken to Chipman Hospital but died, early next morning without having regained consciousness. The funeral, held Saturday afternoon, was one of the largest in the history of the town and the profusion of flowers surpassed anything ever seen here. This whole-hearted tribute by permanent and Summer residents alike showed human nature at its finest. Mr. Norris was a colored man, for many years the only one living in St. Andrews but beneath that colored skin there was a heart of gold, and when angels write his name upon the scroll it is sure that they will mark him down as “one who loved his fellowmen.” From childhood up he had been treated “almost” as a white person, but Caddy who had a sensitive nature, knew that there was a distinction, however slight, and for this reason he learned to show his appreciation more than mot for every little kind word and friendly act. He loved the children of the town and of the cottages and they all adored him as they proved by weaving an enormous mat of flowers which took four men to carry. he was a member of the St. Andrews Band and the boys as an acknowledgment of this fact and to pay respect to his memory, donned their uniforms and attended the funeral service in a body. Living alone for many years, always working hard, early and late, Caddy did not have an easy life but hose who knew him best believe it was a happy one and that he would not have wished it different. He has left no family and no relatives to whom we may express our sympathy and regrets. For many years the whole community has been his family, more carefully and more tenderly providing for his needs when necessary, and his comforts when occasion offered, because his color and consequently his situation in life, was not jut like our own. Caddy was one of the landmarks of the town. In fact, he was more than that—he was an institution, now closed forever by his tragic death. In that beautiful plot of ground just outside the town, where brooks the spirit of everlasting peace, his mortal remains are now forever laid. May he rest in peace.
            Street Dances—The weekly street dances held here this summer as a benefit for the community arena have become so popular that they are likely to continue a permanent attraction for years to come during the summer months.
SA Men’s Club numbers Lt. Gov. of NB, President of Bank of NS and Royal Bank among members.

 

St. Croix Courier
Oct 28/1948
Shiretown Items—Mrs. Payne
The recent death here of Mrs. Payne has removed one of the oldest and best known of our Summer residents. She had been coming here for over 60 years. Her father, Mr. Gardner, was a member of the St. Andrews Land co., which really put St. Andrews on the map as a summer resort, building the Algonquin Hotel and laying out the park at Indian Point. Mrs. Payne had a keen interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the town and made many friends among the natives. Although she had long since passed the allotted age her death was learned of with the deepest regret and we shall hold her memory dear forever.

 

St. Croix Courier
March 10/1949
Artist’s drawing of proposed addition of St. Stephen School (now Middle School). Would fill gab between Ganong Memorial School and Mark Street School.

 

Shiretown Items
Barbara Ann Scott
Barbara Ann, world champion figure skater and the whole world’s sweetheart, is coming to St. Andrews to display her art in two public appearances at the Arena. The dates are March 17 and 18. These will be her only appearances in the Maritime provinces at this time. In other years St. Andrews has entertained many famous personages but the coming of the charming Barbara Ann will, without a doubt, surpass any event in the history of this small town. How did we do it? You may well ask, as it seems like accomplishing the impossible. In the first place through the initiative and persistency of W. C. O’Neill, manager of the Arena, who has been working on the idea for over a year. In the second place through the influence of Norman Wilson of Ottawa and SA, and in the third place, and chiefly because Barbra Ann wanted to come! She said she had heard so much about St. Andrews from friends in Ottawa and Toronto that she was anxious to pay us a visit. It is an expensive proposition even at the reduced rates her manager is offering us and unfortunately the Arena will only accommodate about 1500 spectators. A packed house for both nights is assured, however, and the management of the Arena should at least break even. Within 24 hours of the definite word being received that Barbra Ann was coming there was a call for over fifteen hundred reserved seats. Visitors are coming from all over the province and Lieutenant-governor McLaren will be here to extend an official welcome. Mayor Hachey will also welcome her on behalf of the town and we shall all be at the train to meet her with a hearty, rousing cheer.

 

St. Croix Courier
March 17/1949
Shiretown Items
Mr. Mallory
Being the oldest living specimen of former St. Andrews mayors Dr. Worrell had the honor of presenting Mr. Mallory with a brief case on behalf of the people of St. Andrews. He spoke of the excellent work Mr. Mallory had done for the town over the past twenty five years in hi offices as Torn Treasurer and Town Clerk and also of the efficient manner in which he had carried out the duties of County Secretary over an almost similar perod. He said he was proud to recall that he had been able to play his small part in supporting Mr. Mallory’s aplications to all of these positions and felt that the years had proved that his own choice and the choice of the others who supported Mr. Mallory at that time had been a wise one.  The speaker referred to an editorial in the S. Croix Courier at the tiem Mr. Mallory announced his decision to resign his town offices which said among other nice things, that Mr. Mallory was not a “yes” man, (one of those fellows who agree with everything you say even if you don’t believe it yourself). He said he knew, athroughhis long association with Mr. Mallory, that the latter had opinions of his own, always had good reasons to support them, knew when to express them and when to keep them to himself. He was not preparred to say whether this trait of character could be develpoped or acquired by study or practice but knew that in mr. Mallory’s case it was inborn and told of an incident happening about 56 years ago to prove it. “It was on Christmas day,” and the speaker, “which occurred on a week-day tha tyear and I was passing Frank’s home on my way to church service at 11 o’clock. Frank, then a little fellow about 5 years old, was playing all alone at the corner of his house. He had evidently been having a diffeence fo opinion with the rest of the family in regard to what day it was. Just as I approached the church bells startd to ring and frank, paying no attention to me but doubling up his little fist and swinging it emphatically towards the house said, as if to bear out some previous statement he had made, ‘I told you it was Sunday.’”

 

St. Croix Courier
March 24/1949
Shiretown Items
First Performances
The first public performances here of the new world famous Barbara Ann took place on Thursday evening, March 17. She was supported by a strong cast from the Figure Skating Club of Saint John, NB, and by Dick Nutter, a professional skating comedian from Sherbrooke, Quebec. Casey’s Concert Orchestra supplied music for the skating numbers and the program was intersersed with seldctions from the Deer Island Band. The Saint John skates have an excellent exhibition of their art, the small children being expecially appreciated by the spectators. Dick Nutter was a “scream” and drew a laugh fromt eh most sour-faced individuals. He and also the Saint John group, will receive a cordial welcome her at any future time.  What can I say about Barbara Ann’s performance that has not been said a thousand times before by nobler pens than mine? Rather than try I shall express my own opinion, and the opinion of everyone with whom I have talked, in the one word, “erfection.” I must, hwoever, add just a word about her interpretation fo her own favorite number, “Ave Maria.” It was soul-sitrring. It thrilled the spectators. It graipped them and held them in a breathless, reverent and religious silence. It seemed as though an angel, alive with grace and beauty, appeared on the ice in supplication fo rthe sins of all mankind.

 

Official Welcome
At the close of the program Barbar Ann was officially welcomed to New Brunswick by Lieutenant-Governor McLaren. “It is a great pleasure for me,” he said “to welcome to our province such a distinguished visitor and one who has brought so much honor to our country.” On behalf of the province, he present the smiling star with a bouquet of blue violets, telling her that byAct of Legislature and Royal proclamation the violet was the official flower of New Brunswick. He also presented a turqoise blue vase, made from New Bunswick clay and wished her every success in her future life. Mayor H. B. Hachey gave Barbara Ann an inscribed broze key after officially welcome her on behalf of the citizens. He said: “barbara Ann, with a pair of skates you found your way into our hearts and into our town. With thiskey to the town I tender you’re the symbolic assurance of rightful possession.”

 

Reception
Through the kindess, thoughtfulness and generosity of the Hon. Marguerite Shaughnessy, one hundred and fifty townspeople and a few from elsewhere were invited to Fort Tipperary afer Thursday evening’s performance to be presentd to Lieutenant-Governor McLaren and Miss Barbara Ann Scott. Delicious refreshments were served and two hours of social fellowship enjoyed. Miss Scott is just as lovely off the ice as onit and her charming personality, no doubt has contributed as greatly to her exceptional popularity as has her figure skating ability. I had the pleasure and the honor of a few minutes personal chat with her. I wanted to herar from her own lips just why we had been so fortunate in getting her to come here. She said: “When I received the invitation I was delighted. I have friends in Ottawa who have visted St. Andrws in he summer. They gave me such a glowing picture of its beauties and attractions that I welcomed this aopportunity to come for a little visit. I have enjoyed my  stay immensely and Miss Shaughnessy has been just wondeful. I hope to come again this summer and bring my golf clubs.” When I told this to my friend Arnold Wilson, manager of the Bank of Nova Scotia here, he said he would immediately apply for the chance to caddy for her.

 

Matinee
On Friday afternoon, March 18, a matinee was held for the benefit of the school children of Charlotte County. Barbar Ann gave her full program as in the evening peformance, most of the Saint John skaters took part and Dick Nuter put on two comedy acts. About 1500 children attended, accompanied by their teaches and observed perfect decorum.  They are interested how in getting an instructor her for next season so they may all learn figure skating.

 

Last Performance
The last performance of Barbar Ann and her supporting cast took place on Friday evening. There was a larger attendance than on the first night as the standing room was packed to capacity. The program was the same as on the previous night,a nd met with the same fervent response. The International Band from S. Stephen and Calais did the bandk numbers and Hon. J. J. Hayes Doone, provincial Secretary Treasuerer, spoke for the people of the province, while H. O. McQuoid, president of the St. Andrws A.A.A. rrepresented the people of St. Andrws. Presentations were made to barbar An by the I.O.D.E. by Conley’s Lobsters Ltd., by China Chest and by Douglas Maxwell, of St. George.

 

The Arena
The St. Andrews arean was spick-and-span for the gala occasion. All painted white within and decoreated with green sharps and shamrocks in honor of Saint Patrick. Big WELCOME BARBARA ANN signs appeared at each end of the rink. Many favorable comments were heard from visitors who had never seen it before. No one except those who took part can know the tremendous amount of work involved in carrying out this underaking—and the work was all done by voluntary workers. The entire ince curface was painted white then further adorned with shamrocks. Seven hundred seats were brough to the rink and place din rows on the ice at different elevations for which  framework ahd to be built. The boxes in each side for the hockey teams were torn down and will have to be rebuilt. A beautiful caqrpet and two truck loads of furniture, loaned by Chip Thompkins, were used to furnish Barbar Ann’s dressing room. Several paris of curtains were provided by women of the town for the same purpose. Barbar Ann said she had never had a lovelier dressing room anywhere, and had at times dressed in rooms unheated and snow blowing in through cracks in the wall. To answer the telephone calls for sixteen hours a day for over a week was work for several people—but they did it gladly and uncompaliningly.Unfortunately, owing to the Arena’s limited seating capacity several thousand persons were unable to obtain seats for this outstanding and history-making event. But I sincerely believe that Barbar Ann will be here again, and soon, to make a longer stay. May all of us who had th ehonor, the privilege and the pleasur eof seeing her and meetin her on this
occasion be still here to see her, to meet her and to greet her, when she comes again.

 

St. Croix Courier
March 24, 1949
Shiretown Items
The Great Day Arrives
Never in the life-time of the oldest inhabitant ahs ther ebeen an event which so stirred the hearts of our citizens, an event awaited with such eager anticipation. The cares and duties of the work-a-day world were forgotten and neglected. Flags and bunting, signs of welcoem and string sof colored lights were erected. The sole topic of conversation was the coming of Barbar Ann. The day broke learnd cold, the 16th day of March, 1949—a day that will be forever marked in bold red capital letters in the annals of the little town of St. Andrews. Long ebfore the arrival of the train crowds began to gather at the depot. What mattered it that fierce, chill wind blew from the North? The sun shone brightly overhead in a clear and cloudless sky and the warmth and glow within our hearts made our bodies impervious to tteh cold.

 

His Greatest Moment
As I watched W. C. O’Neill, “Bill” to his many friends, standing there on the platform with the other members of the reception committee I thought of what a thrill the occasion must be to him! He is the boy who really put it over. When he proposed the idea, about a year ago, it was scoffed at by some, derided by others and deemed impossible by most of us. But his unfailing courage and optimism, which stood the test of the burning of our first Arean in 1939, and whose leadership at that time directed us in the erection of a better building, were not be be denied. Much praise is due to all, who worked day and night to make this occasion the grand success it was but primarily and chiefly the credit must to the “Bill.”
           
“That She Blows”
When the train blew for the station, though nearly a mile away, a cheer went up from the waiting crowd. The pent-up thoughts of the joys to come could no longer be restrained. More and greater cheers sounded when she hove in sight around the bend. We seemed to think this great inanimate but life-like thing could hear our voices and transmit to Barbar Ann our cheers of welcome. With a-hissing of steam and a screeching of brakes the rain ground to a stop. The reception committee, headed by Mayor and Mrs. H. B. Hachey and including Hon. Marguerite Shaughnessy, hostess to Barbar Anna nd her mother, Mr.s Clyde Scott, during their visit, henry O. McQuoid, president of the Arena Assocation; and Mrs. McQuoid, Principal F. T. Atakinson of Prince Arthur School, and Mrs. Atkinson and W. C. O’Neill, maanger of the Areans, boarded the private car provided for the distinguuished visitors from McAdam Junction down. In a fe wmoments they re-appeared, followed by Barbar Ann and her mother. As Miss Scott paused on the car steps to have photos snapped and to wave to the surrounding throng a deafenign cheer arose. Then the daint little queen of th eice, honey-blonde hair reflecting the sunshine and eyes of sapphire blue glancing at everhone int urn, tripped down the patform waving in all directions and throwing kisses to the two hundred school children lined up as a guard of honor. She entered flag-bedecked car, and still smiling and waving her hand, was driven to her temporary home at Fort Tipperary.

 

Afternoon Practice
Instead of resting on Wednesday afternoon after her long trip her fro Philadelphia, as one would have expected, Barbar Ann spent three hours in practice along with Casey’s Concert Orchestra. The Arena was closed to the publci but a few of us more fortunate one shad the priviege of watching her. Personally, I had the great honor of appearing in a picture with her, along with her mother, Mrs. Clyde Scott, W. C. O’Neill, manager of the Arean and Mrs. Windsor Dewar of Milltown, who was at the Arean with her husband, a member of the orchestra. It is a picture I shall prize very highly and it will occupy a top spot in my treasury of souvenirs.

 

St. Croix Courier
April 7/1949
Resolution proposing construction of tourist bureau on King St., St. Stephen.
Shiretown Items
Bank Robbed At. St. Andrews
Don’t be alarmed folks—it happened over forty years ago. The Bank of Nova Scotia her at that time was a one-room affair with an ordinary safe tin which to keep the money and othe valuables. It was located in the room which is now the office of the Quoddy Boal co. the manger’s name was Kerr and he boarded at Kennedy’s Hotel. He was a golf enthusiast and he and Charlie Kennedy used to go out for a roudn every morning at 7 o’clock. One firne Setpember morning Herb Henderson, who was manager of the Livery Stable which stood on the stie of the present Post Office, called at the hotel as usual to drive the folfers out to the links. Mr. Kerr went over to the bank to get his rubbers but came back on the run saying the safe had been blown opena dn robbed and there would be no golf today. There were no telephones here at the time but word was quickly apread by foot messengers and within an hour a good sized copany of mena nd boys with rifles, shotguns and revolvers were ready for the great- man-hunt which lasted for several days, combing the woods for miles around, without producing the hoped for results. But local and imported detectives were busy on the job, but blues were scarce and hard to find. Local nit-wits seized upon the first real clue to implicate two St. Andrws ctiziens notwithstanding the well-known integrity and irreproachable character of the altter,. To muffle the sound several blankets and an old coat had been used to cover the safe. The coat and one blanket were proven to be the property of Foncie O’Neill while the rest of the blankets came from the lviery stable. “Yes,” said the Watsons, Pinkertons and would-be disciples of “ Sherlock Holmes. “Foncie and Herb did the job all right!” Could you imagine anything more ridiculous?

Hand-Car Missing
When the setion men went t work in that eventful morning the discovered that the tool house had been broken open and the “umper” was missing. When this news reached “headquarters” it was immediately connected with the bank robbery. It was later learned that Frank Howe, who was doing some early morning fishing at Chamcook lake, ahd seen the pumper with the supposed section men pass there about daylight. Suspicion now centered aroudn two strangers who had been seen about town for several days. The slept in Henry Quinn’s fish camp and took their meals at ira Stinson’s restaurant. These men had disappeared and so had the hand-car. It was all a great mystery. Months later Alber tStorr, brakeman on the railwya, spotted the missing pumper from the top of a boxcar as the train was passing through the strip of woods near Rolling Dam. Evidence was also found of some one having “holed-up” in a barn in that vicinty. The excitement died down at length and the incideen with its mystery still unsolved became history.

 

Cherchez La Femme
Several years later the chief actor in this local drama was captured, convicted and sent to prison by the artifices of a jealous woman. Among the valuables in the bank at the time of the robbery was a $500 diamond ring. Perhaps because he was afraid to dispose of it, perhaps because he was somewhat of a Romeao, one of the robbers carried the ring in his pocket until he met his Juliet of Portland, Maine. He pressented the ring and foolishly told her its history. But alas. His one time charming Juliet soon ceased to satisfy his craving for “infinite variety.” He fell for another gal—a dame with honey-blonde hair, sky blue eyes and lots of curves in the proper places—and this fall became his downfall. His Juliet learned of his infidelity and took the ring and its story to the police. The robber Romeo was arrested and held for indentification. Henry Quinn and Ira Stinson were taken down to Portland and identified him as one of the strangers seen here at the time of the robbery and he confessed, although testifying that he had no knowlede of the whereabout of shis confederate. The other man was never found. The loss to the bank was said to be about $15,000.

 

St. Croix Courier
April 14/1949
Photo of house Barbara Ann will inhabit from June 15 to Aug 15 this year. Gordon Reed cottage on Water St. Looks like Tatterscott B and B.
           
Shiretown Items
Coining Words
Along with many others, who love our language as it has been handed down to us by our remote ancestors, I have no patience with the modern coiners of words. To mention a few examples which always get under my skin, we have ‘contact’ used as a transitive verb, ‘stagger’ meaning alternate, ‘finalize,’ and latest and worst of all, ‘permanentize.’ I am no etymologist and my ignorance of the origin of words is as great as that of the average literate person, but like all careful eaders, I do at times pause to ponder over the beginnins of some of our words which have such musical sounds and such brilliant suggestiveness. Our ancestors looked with fresh eyes on the phenomena  of nature and of life and sought to find in speech sounds tha twould convey appropriteely what they say. We can all think of hundreds of words that are beautiful both in appearance and in sound. Take “dawn” and “dusk” for instance—so simple yet so expressive. Dawn suggests the slowly spreaking light and th glories of the day to come; disk the soft and slowly creeping darkness and the gloom of appreachign night.  The word “thunder” is most evocative. Can’t you hear itrrooo and see the lightning flash as you pronounce it? I think the great popularity of churchill as a spearke and a writer is not only beccause he awlays has something worthwhile to say, but that he says it in such simple yet beautiful and expressive language. So many of his words have a suggested significance apart from their explicit and recognized meaning. Some of his phrases  will go down in history to take their ppalce along with the lines of shakespear, the greater, perhaps, of all time.

 

St. Croix Courier
April 14/1949
David Walker, a resident of SA, has a story entitled “The Rescuers” appearing in the April issue of the Atlantic Monthly. Mr. Walker is a Scotsman who was brought up in the country, and just before the war married a Canadian. While serving in the Black Watch he was taken prisoner in 1940. Later he escaped and went to India as comptroller to the Viceroy Lord Wavell. He began writing when he retired from the army in 1947 and first novel, which is about the Highlands, will be published later this year.

 

St. Croix Courier
April 21/1949
Shiretown Items—A Fishing Trip
This story is written for St. Andrews folks who have been away from home for many years and also for old-timers who, like myself, through stiffening joints and other infirmities of age, are no longer able to enjoy the delights of fishing in reality, in the hopes that it may revive some pleasant memories.
            Frank and I packed our gear, about a weeks’ grub, and went out on the evening train for a two day’s stay at Spruce Hill cabin on Chamcook lake. After a hasty but substantial supper of T-bone steak and friend onions supplemented by a generous hunk from one of Ira Stinson’s superlative apple pies we made ready to try our luck at trolling on First Lake. We had brought along some live minnows captured that afternoon at the First March and started down to the boat house in high hopes.
            As we approached the shore of the lake we saw an apparently unattached young lady standing there beside a canoe. Frank, at that time, was a great admirer of the opposite sex and I never have felt any aversion to a beautiful female myself, but I warned him of the onions and said we had better keep our distance. The attraction was too great, however. She was dressed in a blue sports shirt, brown slacks rolled to the knees to display her beautiful limbs, and her dainty feet enclosed in Indian moccasins. She had luxuriant brown hair and gorgeous brown eyes, a delicately moulded but firm little chin, a stubborn but delightful nose and between the nose and chin the most luscious lips any man had ever looked upon.
            She started at us fearlessly but politely as we approached. By way of getting acquainted, Frank put on his best smile and inquired: “What are you using for bait?”
            When she spoke her voice was soft and throaty and her conversation, though brief, was replete with nuances and inflections, including those of hands and eyes. “Debates?” she replied. “I vant no debates. I tink you better go jump in the lake!”
            Somewhat stunned by her reply and seeing at the moment a husky gentleman approaching from a near-by cabin we thought discretion the better part of valor and retreated to our boat house with as much dignity as we could assume.
            “Dago,” said I, as we entered. “Squaw,” replied Frank. “Didn’t you see her moccasins?”
            But that was only sour grapes. As we listened to her delightful laughter and fluent conversation in French with her companion we felt that we had been cheated.

 

St. Croix Courier
May 19/1949
Shiretown Items
The Rescuers
I have read with great interest “the Rescuers,” a short-story by David Walker in the “Atlantic” for April. Mr. Walekr now makes his home in St. Andrews and I count him among m friends as we have many similar interests. He is an Scotchman and an army man, having served with “the Black Watch.” In 1948 he was sent to India a Comptroller to the Viceroy, Lord Wavell. To us this sounds like a life of romance and adventure but Mr. Walker says it was a very ordinary existence. His first novel, being published by Houghton Mifflin, is, to appear in September. He has another novel almost completed. Just before the last war Mr. Walker married Willa Magee who has been a smmer resident of St. Andrws since childhood. On my first reading of his story I like it. On the secon reading I enjoyed it. On the third reading Isaw the beaity in it and why it was accepted by the Atlantic.
            There are two kinds of short stories—the commercial and the literary. In a good commercial we find mystery, struggle or romance. The story “marches” from beginning to end. Every word is like a sudden sound in the dark. Every page is like a ride on a roller-caster. The literary type of story follows no speical technique but is written in the personal style of the author. He can freely express his own thoughts and opinions and inseribe his own experiences. He can pholosophize and even preach, if he wants to.
            Mr. Walker’s story was definitely of the literary type. He did not preach and his pholosophy was understood, rather than expressed. He told a story of a simple incident in the life of common people. Whether from experience or from imagination, he made the picture very real. I particualry liked his paragraph about the crows as I have watched them so oftten. Let me quote: “The light had begun to fade, and already the crows were beating up against the wind. On still evenings they would come to that place at a rreat height, and then would dive with abandon, stoping in the wildest exuberance down almost to the ground. You would hear a thousand wings sigh with the speed of the diving, and a multitide of horase voices cry with delight from the sky. But tonight there were no antics. They labored below the reetops, battling their way towards the rookery at the head of the valley.” A commonplace picture in nature—but so beautifuly painted. The whoel story was in the same vein and had to be read criticaly to be appreciated.  We shall look forward to reading Mr Walker’s coming novel, of which we have been promiised an autographed copy, with the keenest interest.”