Old St. Andrews

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The Bicycle

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Beacon
Aug. 28/1890
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Coster and Mr. Arthur Coster, of Saint John , reached St. Andrews on Monday evening, the two former by tricycle and the latter on a safety wheel. They left St. George at 11 o’clock on that morning, and took their time coming here. After spending a day at Kennedy’s Hotel, they mounted their wheels and headed for St. Stephen. From the latter place they will take a run down the American side of the St. Croix as far as Eastport.

 

St. Gleaner
July 19/1890
Party of cyclists from Woodstock driving new safety bicycles, which can average 10 miles per hour.

 

Beacon
Aug 11/1892
The first lady bicyclist to be seen on the streets of St. Andrews came down from Calais on Tuesday. She was a modest-looking damsel, and the graceful way in which she stepped on her wheel was the admiration of the local cyclists.

 

Beacon
July 6/1893
Mrs T. R. Wren enjoys the distinction of introducing the first lady’s bicycle into St. Andrews.

 

Beacon
Oct 5/1893
Jack Ashore
Two Skippers Break the World’s Slowest Record on Wheels
Two well-known skippers—Capt. Pratt of the Dominion fishery cruiser, Curlew, and Capt. Nellie Clarke, who is home on a furlough—made a desperate attempt on Wednesday to break the world’s slowest record on bicycles. The contestants were about evenly matched as to experience, Captain Pratt having been a wheelman of four days’ standing—or falling, while Capt. Clarke had been making a close inspection of the gutters, sidewalks and fences with his wheel for about an equal length of time.
            The start, says the Beacon’s marine editors, was a flying one, each craft passing the starting buoy with hatches tightly battened down, and every stitch of canvas spread. The skippers grasped the tillers with the grip of desperation. Of the two, Capt. Clarke was the first to get on an even keel, and with the wind on his quarter he was able to lay a straight course for the first buoy. His opponent meanwhile was steering wildly. Opposite Cockburn’s drug store he mis-stayed and was carried across the bow of a turnip “dingey,” narrowly escaping the loss of his job-boom and head-gear. He lost several seconds by this mishap, but it was evident from the determined look that settled down on his face as he brought his craft up in the wind again, that he had made up his mind that his prestige as a commander of a warship would be forever gone if he allowed himself to be whipped by an ordinary everyday merchantman. So, hauling in his weather-braces, and pressing on his craft all the canvas she could carry, me hade attack in the direction of his rival, who was now floundering in a heavy cross sea on the cross street. He succeeded in running up under his stern, and in a trice was on even terms with him. Both crews were now laboring heavily, their figureheads being drenched with spray and their decks at times awash. Rounding the second turn, the wind died away, and both skippers were in the “doldrums.” Capt. Pratt was the first to get a breeze, but his steering chain became entangled in his pants leg, and he was almost thrown on his beam ends. When he righted himself, his opponent had again passed him, but it was not long before they were bow and bow once more. Capt. Clarke tried to give his rival his back-water, but the attempt nearly ended in splitting his main-sail. The wind dying out, it was a drift the balance of the course.
            The umpire decided the race a tie, declaring the world’s slowest record smashed beyond repair, and ordered the race to be sailed over gain. The racers agreed to carry out eh decision, as soon as they had taken in water and ballast and made necessary repairs, but up to the present writing it has not come off.

 

Beacon
July 19/1894
[Miss Gooding, the Algonquin's new cornet player, also "pushes a bicycle in an artistic manner, and with a speed that is sometimes astonishing."

 

Beacon
Aug 9/1894
There is no scarcity of amusement for the summer visitors at the big hotel. If they are fond of tennis, there is a splendid court for them to play upon; if they esteem croquet more, there is an opportunity for them to indulge in the game; if these pastimes are not sufficiently exciting, a baseball or cricket match can always be arranged, with the local players; if they are fond of driving, there are two livery stables to choose teams from; if they enjoy the water, they can go boating or bathing; if their tastes lie in the direction of fish, salt water fishing or fresh water fishing are easily obtainable; if they are knights of the wheel, no better roads for cycling can be found anywhere; if they are given to go rambling, there are many romantic spots to attract their wandering footsteps and if they hanker after none of these things and want to indulge in a good, square rest there is no more restful place in the whole country than St. Andrews.

 

Beacon
Aug 30/1894
A Popular Sport
A game that is fast becoming popular here, and particularly among the summer visitors, is golf, or as it is called by some, "scientific shinny." The game had its origin in Scotland and is one of the most manly and fascinating sports associated with the Land o' Cakes. Its Scottish home is in the historic old town of St. Andrews, and so popular has it become there that people from all parts of the United Kingdom visit it in the summer season to witness the game being played. The result is a very large and constantly growing addition to the summer population of the place. The gentlemen who have been instrumental in starting the game here are of the opinion that similar results would follow from the laying out of a proper golf ground or links at this point. Perhaps it would. Certainly it would be worth trying. Golf, says an expert, is not as expensive as polo or bicycle riding. It costs about as much as lawn tennis. The main expense is in laying out the links. Land is usually cheap. Land that is undesirable for almost any other purpose is perfectly adapted to golf. If there is a stream or a deep depression in the land so much the better. Such things form hazards. The cost of providing sticks is not very great. . . . [for more on game see photocopy]

 

Beacon
Aug 1/1895
The beautifully level streets of St. Andrews have attracted scores of visiting bicyclists this season. Among the wheelmen here on Tuesday Was Robert Bartsch, of Saint John , who wheeled 76 miles from Fredericton to St. Stephen on the previous day. (available for rent at Beacon office)

 

Beacon
April 9/1896
the action of the government in insisting that tourists from the United States who enter Canada with their bicycles must deposit the amount of duty with the collectors of customer before they can have the use of their machines, is a burdensome restriction, and one that is likely to prevent many tourists from coming into the country. We hope the government will see the necessity of amending this absurd rule.

 

Beacon
June 25/1896
Golf suits and bicycle suits for sale in handmade homespun, Oxford homespun and Scotch tweed. Hanson and Grady, Merchant Tailors.

 

Beacon
Aug 13/1896
How the people enjoy themselves in the sweet summertime
Two old country cyclist struck St. Andrews on Sunday. They were Edward H. Arnold, of Winchester, England, and M. J. Reilly, of Dublin, Ireland. They wheeled from NY to St. Andrews. Leaving here on Monday they ran through to Saint John. They intended visiting Digby, Halifax and Quebec on their wheels before taking steamer for home
            Two tandem wheels from Hyde Park Mass, arrived at St. Andrews the past week. The riders were R. E. Philips, Percy Phillips, R. M. Walker and H. G. Andrews. They started on the return trip on Monday, after lingering here a day.

 

Bicyclists are very numerous at the Algonquin. The various wheels shoot forth unexpectedly like so many ghosts and steal silently away for a short and rapid course, and in the jaunty disguise necessary for the lady bicyclist, it is often difficult to determine the name of the graceful rider.

 

Beacon
Aug 20/1896
The latest bicycle is an “edition deluxe,” with white kid covered saddle, ivory handles decorated with silver and jade knobs at the ends, cyclometer watch, bell, and lamp all of silver. What a fetching gown the owner must have to go with this creation!

 

beacon
Sept 3/1896
The gentle art of needlework flourished on the broad verandas of the Algonquin these pleasant summer mornings. Coming in from long rides on wheel, boat or buckboard, the rocking chairs prove very inviting and admonitions “To bring your fancy work and sit down awhile” are as frequent as in the days of New England Puritanism when to get up stitches and darn smoothly were the chief aim of women. A quartet of very accomplished needlewomen are Mrs. Heney and Mrs. Hosmer, two sisters from Montreal, Mrs. Page of Philadelphia, and Mrs. John J. Thomson, of Saint John , whose devotion to embroidery, however, does not prevent their taking a very active part in all the gayeties going on in the house. The latter has been one of the special leaders in all the entertainments at the Algonquin this summer.

 

Beacon
July 22/1897
Bicycle parties all the rage. "The wheel" new term for bicycle.

 

Beacon
Sept.16/1897
Fred Worrell and James Clinch performed a century run on Wednesday of last week, wheeling from St. Andrews to Eastport and return via St. Stephen and Calais. They left won at 6 o’clock in the morning and 6:13 in the evening they were back again, a little leg weary but still good for another run. One pedalled an 80 gear wheel and the other 92.

 

Beacon
Oct 21/1897
A Handsome Cottage
A fortnight ago the first blow on the superstructure of the Bowser cottage, Cedar Lane, was struck by Messr. Stevenson and McKenzie. Today the building is erected, boarded in, roofed, and the interior lathed throughout ready for the plasterers. The brick fireplaces in the hall, parlor and dining room are also well advanced. Outside, the carpenters are engaged in constructing the plaza, which extends along two sides of the building with a pagoda on the corner. This piazza is ten feet wide. The interior of the house is laid off very comfortably. The dining room and parlor are on the front of the house, which has as southern exposure. Behind the parlor, is a large hall, with a stairway leading to the second floor, and behind the dining room are two kitchens. There are five sleeping rooms and bath room on the second floor Above this is quite a large attic.
            A bicycle shed and play house combined is to be erected in the rear of the dwelling.

 

Beacon
Nov 1/1900
New York Times: bicycle craze has passed it speak since its first introduction 4 years ago. Editor thinks it will soon take its place among the other relics of former ages, like croquet.

 

Beacon
April 18/1901
Now doth the bicycle belle with her bicycle bell make merry music upon the dusty boulevard.

 

Beacon
Aug 22/1901
Who’s Who and What’s What
Mr. T. R. Wheelock, who has a delightfully situated summer residence here, has extensive business interests in China. When not giving them his personal attention, he makes his home in Boston. He is a man of bright, active disposition, a keen golfer, wheelman and yachtsman. His son Geoffrey and Gordon Wheelock have his love for outdoor sport, they are recognized as two of the steadiest golfers this side of the Atlantic.

 

St. Croix Courier
June 15/1939
No Hard Surface Roads, Then
Pleading as excuse the scarcity of material for the column this week, I should like to relate the story of another incident recalled and laughed over at the meeting of the three “old timers” referred to in the first item. To recall the incident the party of the first part suggested to the party of the second part that should June 13th provide a sufficiently heavy rain storm we should ride to Saint John or Fredericton on bicycles. Thereupon the party of he second part related to the party of the third part the detailed story of that disastrous and inglorious trip to the St. John Exhibition in the fall of 1898. We laid our plans, weeks in advance. The “shore Line” was offering an excursion rate of 90 cents from St. Stephen to St. john and return. We considered this amount quite reasonable for our transportation as it would leave us a couple of collars to spend the night with relatives a few miles outside of St. Stephen. Long before reaching our destination the heavens opened and rain fell in torrents. There were no pavements in those days, and even mud-guards on bicycles were as yet unknown, so the sorry spectacle we presented on our arrival at the home of those good people, can be beer imagined than described. Soaked to the skin and plastered wit mud from head to foot! Our new caps with their pasteboard visors were in ruin. After a brisk rub-down, we were decked out in the belongings of the goodman of the house, and spent a comfortable evening beside the roaring kitchen fire, while the rain-laden wind howled and whistled dismally outside. But as for the goodwife! She spend practically the whole night in washing and scrubbing, ironing and pressing in order that we might be once more presentable in the morning. The rain had ceased and the sun shone brightly as we mounted our wheels for St. Stephen. Party number two was searing the goodman’s Sunday best trousers, as the goodwife had been unable to make his own presentable in the time at her disposal. We were again in gay spirits, but congratulated ourselves a trifle too soon on the happy sequel to our unpleasant experience of the day before. Though the rain was over and the sun shone the road was still slippery and muddy, and umber two, losing control of his wheel, had the misfortune to measure his length in the mud, the find Sunday trousers getting especially well plastered. First aid was rendered with the inadequate equipment to hand, and we again proceeded on our way. The trip on the train was without incident, and strange to say the only thing either of us could recall about the exhibition, was our getting stuck in the turnstile at the entrance to the grounds. Not being used to city crowds we had a horror becoming separated, and so in passing the turnstile, we, naturally, both tried to pass through in the same space, unfortunately with rather disastrous results. “In fact,” said number two, in relating the story, “we were a couple of ‘hicks.’ But although my vocation has compelled me to spend the greater part of my life in large cities, I am still a hick at heart and love the small town best.”

 

St. Croix Courier
April 2/1942
Shiretown Items
The Silent Steed
Much was written about the bicycle when it enjoyed the height of its popularity in the gay nineties. To the young people flying over the country roads on this frail machine, many unkind and profane things were said by farmers met along the way when their usually quiet horses were inclined to become fractious at the sudden appearance of a fast moving “bike.” For several years the rights of the road were denied cyclists and in passing teams they were forced near or into the ditches as he roads in those days were very narrow. Fortunately for the rider deep ditches had not bee introduced at that time, Dogs along country roads seemed to have a special aversion for bicycles and often made things unpleasant for the cyclist as he could seldom sail by as in a car unless he was on a down grade when the dog appeared. Most of the boys in those days carried a pistol loaded with household ammonia. One squirt of that in the dog’s face was usually sufficient to cure him of the wheel-chasing habit for the remainder of the season. What was at first believed to be a wonderful accessory for night riding was the acetylene lamp. But it was soon learned that its only and rather doubtful value, was that the rider could see an object in the road just soon enough to know what he hit. I was riding down Dougherty’s hill one night in that long ago, about ten yards behind Jim Clinch. We both had our headlights shining and were going pretty past. Suddenly Jim’s light, which was all I could see of him, leaped into the air and turned a complete circle. We had no brakes in those days but I swerved aside in time to avoid the cow then struggling to its feet an which Jim had hit “plumb centre.” There is one more a great demand for wheels—much greater than dealers can supply. Young and old are out again, breathing the pure fresh air instead of gasoline fumes. Good luck to them every one, with the wind in their faces and joy in their hearts.

 

St. Croix Courier
June 24, 1942
Shiretown Items
Young Cyclist
The youngest rider to appear here on a bicycle is Peter Williamson, five years old. Peter has a brand new safety and can ride like a grown-up. When he goes for a spin he is always attended by his Uncle Leigh or Aunt Alice with whom he is staying, which is a wise precaution.

 

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.