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When the Bay Froze Over

St. Croix Courier

March 9, 1950

St. Andrews Bay Frozen Four Times in 74 Years

By Chester Allen Dixon

So outstanding has been the change in climate in recent years in the Passamaquoddy Bay region, especially in regard to the winter of 1949-1950, that a cold reminder may be in order. The result may cause readers to shiver, but nevertheless, it can be mentally digested with pleasure. Luther Stuart of Lord's Cove has supplied G. M. Haddon of the same village with some interesting material concerning the frigid air of the past, and Mr. Haddon has submitted it for publication in the Courier. A fisherman's memory is as keen as that of a shag that has been driven countless times from the vicinity of a weir that is full of herring – and we all know what that means. Luther states that within the memory of those living, St. Andrews Bay has been frozen over four times, thus presenting much opportunity for adventure. Some personal experiences with Old Man Winter are given, as follows.

In 1876

In the winter of 1876, Calvin Pendleton, accompanied by his dog and carrying a shotgun, walked from Pendleton's Island across St. Andrews Bay to within gunshot range of the beacon, turned about and retraced his steps to Pendleton's Island. A few days later, he and others hauled a dory lashed on a hand-sled over the ice to St. Andrews. After having visited around the Shiretown, he made the return trip to his home across the bay without accident.

In 1907

On March 1, 1907 St. Andrews Bay was again frozen over. Mr. Pendleton thought he would like to repeat his former experience. Accompanied by Luther Stuart, Bibber Stuart and Sydney Lord, and with a dory lashed to a hand-sled to ensure safety in case the ice should break up before they reached their destination, they made the trip to St. Andrews. On the way back, in about the middle of the day, they decided to have a game of ball. They halted, made a ball out of a mitten rolled tightly and hard, found a piece of a pole frozen in the ice which they used for a bat and commenced to play. Unfortunately, this was the one and only ball game played in the middle of St. Andrews Bay. Bibber Stuart was the pitcher, Sydney Lord the catcher, Luther Stuart first baseman, and Cal. Pendleton batter.

Smacked the Ice

The first ball was fired and Cal. made a swipe at it which excused the others to think he intended to knock it over the top of the Courthouse in St. Andrews – but he never touched the woolly spheroid (in all probability it had a dropstitch in it.) Instead of making the proper contact, Cal's feet flew up and his stern came down on home plate with a resounding smack. The ice cracked and looked dangerous, so the game was called off and the players decided to proceed on their way home where they related their experience with no small degree of satisfaction.

In 1918

On February 11, 1918 St. Andrews Bay was again frozen over. Roy Pendleton (now Deputy Warden of the County Council) and Charles G. Lord walked from Lambert's Cove to St. Andrews and returned the same day.

In 1923

On February 26, 1923 the bay was again frozen over, and Luther Stuart decided to repeat his experience of 1907. He walked over from Deer Island to St. Andrews alone, and called on relatives and friends in the Shiretown. On his return he was accompanied by Miss Thelma Lambert and Miss Rheta English. They called on William H. Lord on the way, who was keeper of the New Light at that time.