Item

St. Croix Courier
Dec 28/1939
Shiretown Items—Echoes from the Glamorous Past. Before the days of the railroads there was a regular stage route from Boston to Halifax. Passengers and mail were brought to Robbinston, and from there were brought across to Joe’s Point on a ferry operated by the father of John Friar, who will be remembered by older residents. From this point another “coach and four” sped over narrow and rocky roads on its way to Halifax. As the entire distance was covered at top speed it was necessary to stop frequently to change horses. This old building in Bocabec, was one of the regular stops and to this day is called the “Old Exchange.” it is about eight miles from St. Andrews and is now the home of Louis Holt. Railroad building began in NB in the year 1857, [sic] the first line running from St. Andrews to Watt Junction, but it was not until about 1880 that a system connecting the most important towns of the province had been established. In the meantime the stages continued to carry the mail and most of the passengers. In 1876 W. E. Mallory got the contract for carrying mail between the towns of SS, St. Andrews and St. George. He operated a livery stable in St. Andrews and made daily round trips to these neighboring towns. By this time, however, the driving of the stage had lost all its glamour and romance. It was simply a daily drive over the same route, tiresome and uneventful, the trip being made in a light express wagon with one or two horses as the load required. Mr. Mallory’s contract expired in 1880, and being again put up to tender, was awarded to W. H. Whitlock of St. Stephen. The latter continued to carry on until the carrying of mails was taken over by the railroads in 1882.

St. Croix Courier
Jan 4/1940
Close Enough
The new town team has arrived and was at work over the week-end clearing the sidewalks of snow, which fell to the depth of about eight inches. The horses are dark gray in color, are five years old and weigh sixteen hundred. Not having as yet had an opportunity of hearing the opinions of the experts it might be hazardous for one who haft the farm at seven years of age to express one, especially having only as yet see the team passing on the street. However, the horses are well matched, have sufficient style for a town team, are smart walkers, and look able enough to do the work. I do not know the exact cost to the town, but can give the reader a quite accurate figure if I may quote the exact words I heard a speaker use in public here many years ago, and which because of a rather unique grammatical construction have stuck in my memory ever since. The speaker said (re the project under discussion) “Mr. Chairman, in my opinion, I would estimate that it would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of between four and five hundred dollars!”

St. Croix Courier
Jan 11/1940
Shiretown Items
Real Friends Appear
Friends of St. Andrews and patrons of the Arena have begun to express their sympathy in a material way. A cheque for $100 has been received from Senator Cairine Wilson. Senator Wilson not only made a substantial contribution at the time the Arena was built seven years ago, but has also donated generously each year to the funds raised by the Bazaar, and it is gratifying to the promotes to know that her interest, so splendidly expressed, still continues. And another of the owns’ finest boosters, Howard Pillow, has also been heard from. He expressed himself as not only willing to contribute generously himself, but will also undertake to raise some money among his friends. During recent years Mr. Pillow has shown a great interest in the welfare of the town, and has been a great help in many ways. He is now so intimately known among the locals that he is considered “one of the boys,” than which we can pay him no higher compliment. Now that he has put his hand to the plough it can be taken as an assure fact that the Arena will arise in youthful freshness from its own ashes.

Shiretown Items
Visions New Arena.
Bill O’Neill has started to make figures and draw plans for the new Arena, having become quite ‘het up’ since receiving such tangible evidence of support from friends among the summer people. It is planned to make the new building as fire-proof as is humanly possible. The entire structure will be covered with steel, nailed directly to the studs, arches and purlings dispensing altogether with boards. The floors of the dressing rooms will be of concrete, with a narrow board walk leading to, and running in front of the seats to protect the skates. The walls of theses rooms will be of tile or concrete blocks. A central chimney will extend above the roof of the main building and immediately beneath the entrance a basement will be excavated to contain a furnace in an absolutely fire-proof room. The dressing rooms and gallery will be heated by coils of pipe carrying hot water or steam. it is thought that about $2,000.00 will be required in addition to the money now on hand, to complete the building. Various plans are being suggested to raise money locally through the winter months.

St. Croix Courier
Jan 18/1940
Shiretown Items—Howard Pillow contributes 100 towards new rink.

St. Croix Courier
Jan 25/1940
Miss Hosmer and Miss Struthers each contribute 100.00 towards new rink. Work planned to start middle of March so as to be ready for annual bazaar and flower show, “both of which events have been very popular among the summer people as well as the locals.”

St. Croix Courier
Feb 8/1940
Shiretown Items—An Early Romance. A clipping yellow with age was found recently in an old book by a reader of this column. It is not known what paper it was taken from nor the date, but it is copied herewith in full. Around a quaint old Indian costume, the property of W. Wallace Brown, of Calais, is woven a most unusual romance of more than century and a half ago, says the Portland Press-Herald. The story concerns one John La Coote, a French nobleman. She was engaged to marry a member of the French nobility; but she broke off the engagement, and in order to forget his unhappy love affair he came to Montreal, where he took up a grant of 160 acres, which is included today in one of the principal streets of Montreal. He later visited SA, NB, which at that time was the headquarters of the Passamaquoddy tribe of Indians. The chief of the tribe had a daughter, beautiful in figure if not in face, and La Coote fell in love with her. Grand preparations were made for their wedding, and 400 guests were invited from four tribes, the Mohawks, Micmacs, Penobscots and Malacites. They were married first by the parish priest and later, according to the Indian custom. La Coote joined the Passamaquoddy tribe and became a chief. he lived to the age of 102 years. The costume owned by Mr. Brown is the one worn by this Indian tribe. In consists of a silk tunic, beaded buckskin moccasins, leggings of red broadcloth, woven beaded garters, a girdle made from wampum and garnets, silver jewellery and a priceless necklace of Indian wampum.

St. Croix Courier
Feb. 15/1940
Shiretown Items—Welcome. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hornby, who are moving into the ground floor apartment in the old Post Office building, and who will operate an electrically equipped laundry in the basement, are both well known in Sa, having been employed for several seasons at the Algonquin Hotel. Mrs. Hornby has spent many years in high class laundry work and her experience should well qualify her to make a success of the venture here.
            Death of GG, Lord Tweedsmuir (Buchan; see editorial on death). Photo with wife.

St. Croix Courier
Feb 29/1940
Shiretown Items—Dr. Worrell gives talk at Kiwanis Club on civilization of ancient Peru. Details. Details also on continuing construction of new arena.

LG: The Hon. William George Clark (1865-1948) Born in Queensbury, New Brunswick. Appointed 5 March 1940 at age 75 until 1 November 1945.

St. Croix Courier
March 7/1940
Shiretown Items—Leigh Williamson speaks at Kiwanis Club on “Buying and Selling Lobsters.” In employ of Conley’s for several years. He described the changes that have taken place in methods of carrying on the business over the past few years. Now, instead of large shipments in trucks or boats to a few dealers, a great many small orders are sent off daily buy express to cover a wide area. A special express rate to most points has made this method possible. The Conley Company supply all the lobsters for the C. P. Hotels—a good business in itself. Many regular customers in the States now help to make the business profitable. By way of advertising, hundreds of post-cards are sent out each week, and most of their contracts are made in this way.
            Successor Found—In taking a walk about town recently I passed an old house which is occupied on one end, but has the other part, which is quite dilapidated, standing vacant. Across the wide storm door of the unoccupied part, in bold but juvenile letters were printed the words, “The Best Room.” Now there, thought I, is a youngster with a harmless sense of humor—a writer in embryo for “Shiretown Items,” of the not so distant future. And I hope that when these eyes have grown dim with age and this palsied arm, can no longer hold aloft the torch, he may still be here, whoever he may be, to take over and carry on.
            Remembers Home Town—Mrs. C. W. Mallory, who is convener of the Empire Education in connection with the work being carried on here by the I. O. D. E., is always on the lookout for material which might be of interest and benefit to the schools in this area. In reply to a recent request she has received an arm load of booklets from C. K. Howard, manger of the Tourist and Convention Bureau of the Canadian National Railways. “Charlie,” as he will be familiarly remembered by old friends here is jus another of those many St. Andrews boys who have made good. After learning telegraphy his first job was with the CPR. He next worked as claims agent for the Valley Railway Co., and finally landed the fine position he holds today with the CNR. If by any chance he should see this item I wonder if he can recall an 11 year old country boy who spent his first night in St. Andrews at his home. That is longer ago, Charlie, than I care to remember but I was that boy. Mr. Howard’s promptness and generosity in sending so many fine booklets to be distributed from St. Andrews is just another evidence of that love of the old home town which never seems to fade among her native sons (and daughters) no matter how far afield their vocations (or marriages) may have called them. A few titles of these booklets, selected at random are “Canada’s Maritimes,” “Historic Quebec,” “Canadian Rockies,” “National Parks of Canada,” “Playgrounds of Ontario,” “Cape Breton.” Besides containing much valuable information in printed matter, they are all profusely illustrated. They will be distributed to the schools of SA, Bayside, Rolling Dam, Chamcook, Bocabec, and Deer Island.

St. Croix Courier
March 21/1940
Shiretown Items
Fairly Accurate
This unfortunate reporter having been confined to his home last week with a severe cold and all the delightful complications that attend this pestiferous plague, of necessity missed the regular meeting of the Kiwanis club and in consequence is unable to give the usual eye-witness report. A few gleanings obtained since from various members are somewhat conflicting, and may not be too reliable. By a remarkable coincidence the regular pianist was absent from the meeting with exactly similar symptoms to those of the reporter, and the musical part of the program was conducted by volunteers. The first contestant played Beethoven. Beethoven lost. After several others had taken their turn at the piano with varying success, but without disastrous results, the star performer, of the evening whose name we shall not disclose, but whom for the purpose of future reference we shall designate “the captain,” advanced on the instrument. Rolling up his sleeves, and passing his fingers thoughtfully through the locks of grey, he took his place on the bench with the air of an old master. Running his fingers lightly, if somewhat unmusically, over the key-board he groped for “The Lost Chord.” Crash! Not a tremendous, soul-stirring chord, but a rending and splintering of wood and iron! The bench collapsed into a dozen pieces and he captain was cast full length upon the floor! The lost chord was never found. I had difficulty in getting details on the speaker for the evening. My first informant told me that eh subject was “Weights and Measures,” and said the talk was given by H. Stickney, chairman of the hose committee, whose epicurean taste has been responsible for the fine variety of menus being followed of late. He said the chairman felt that altogether too much food was being consumed and explained that it had become necessary to ration the members of the club according to age, weight, waist measurement and general capacity. Being a little doubtful about this report, which was told with tongue in cheek, I inquired further and learned tha the talk was given by the President, W. J. Rollins, who, as a registered druggist knows all about weights and measures.

Shiretown Items—Tourist Trade Needed Here. In a report of a meeting of the Calais Chamber of Commerce in last week’s Courier, reference is made to a discussion of complaints regarding the international ferry between Robbinston and St. Andrews. As no explanation was offered as to the nature of these complaints, the reader is left to form his own opinion as to whether they concerned the operation or the existence of this convenience to the travelling public. This innocent bystander inclines to the latter view. This ferry is privately owned and privately operated but it has the moral support of the town of SA, and last year was assisted with a small sum from the public treasury for the purpose of improving the approach on this side of the river. Cars entering or leaving NB by this means are obliged to pass directly through our town, contrary to those following the main highway. Ordinarily the passage of tourist cars directly through a town would be of little value, but in the case of St. Andrews which, since the demise of the fishing industry here, depends almost entirely on he tourist trade for its very existence, this fact is of a practical benefit in that some of the people of those cars, seeing the natural beauties of this little neck of the woods, and learning of our splendid hotel accommodation will stop over for a few days. Perhaps not one in a hundred of the cars passing along the main highway finds its way into St. Andrews. If we can believe reports brought here by people who have used the ferry, information gratuitously dispensed by officials at the bridge between St. Stephen and Calais, and this includes both ends, has been disparaging to this service, to put the most charitable interpretation upon the underlying causes of their remarks. Compared to SA, St. Stephen and Calais can derive small directly benefit from the tourist trade. To us it is our bread and butter. These larger up-river towns rely for their prosperity on local manufactories and trade with the surrounding country INCLUDING SA, and if our friends among the business men of these, our neighboring town, will but think over the matter of the ferry with a charitable frame of mind, they will realize that their loss is not one-tenth of our gain. We don’t expect you to boost it, but please don’t knock it. (Backed by editorial March 21)

St. Croix Courier
April 4. 1940
Other Days
Older readers have frequently expressed appreciation of occasional items about the old day which have appeared in this column, and I think they will be interested to know that through the kindness of Robert Cockburn, I hope to have an item once each month, based on entries in a diary kept by his father, E. A. Cockburn from 1893 up to the time of his recent passing. The entries as a rule are brief but whenever possible further details will be given. Two entries which should be of general interest to older readers appear in April 1893. On April 3rd, the “Musical and Literary Society gave a public concert.” I assure many present readers were members of that society. They held weekly meeting in the Town Hall, and gave frequent public entertainments. Lorne Thompson, now deceased, was janitor, and I was his unpaid assistant. I have a clear recollection of rehearsals in the hall, but do not recall attending any public entertainments. Probably didn’t have the price. The other entry is on April 25th, G. H. Stickney and Minnie Odell were married—Band serenaded them.” Remember? I was one of the boys sitting on the fence. Two or three hundred people were gathered there that night, but where are they now? Walter Stickney, a boy in his teens, but an excellent cornetist, was leading the band. Did you notice the big wink Joe Handy gave Charlie Kennedy when the band was invited to partake of refreshment? Both these fine bandsmen have long since passed on. Mr. and Mrs. Stickney are both living and reasonably active. Congratulations on your forty-seventh anniversary!

St. Croix Courier
April 11/1940
Shiretown Items—Pleasing the Tourist. This matter of giving the American tourists what they want, of which we read frequently in various Canadian publications, is quite a problem. Beyond our salubrious summer climate—delightful, bright days, and cool, quiet, sleep-producing nights—and our beautiful scenery—what have we to offer that they do not find at home? Are we not ‘fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer’ as the tourist is? Many of these good people on crossing the border expect too violent a change, some even yet being on the watch for Indians in the war paint. Until recent years they met with one violent change—rough, dusty roads—which did not impress them vary favourably. Our speech is somewhat different, which should please the, and our flag—which is not displayed sufficiently—is different. Every person catering to tourists should have on display about his premises a good-sized Union Jack and be able to explain its formation and significance. Our Canadian flag may be displayed also, but not flown on land as it is the ensign of the Merchant Marine. Smaller flags with a brief neatly printed explanation attached should sell well. If we give the best possible service at a reasonable price, cultivate a kindly and friendly manner, answer all questions fully and intelligently but avoid argumentation, and say ‘come again’ with a real smile, as if we meant it, we cannot go wrong.

St. Croix Courier
April 18/1940
Shiretown Items—Old Whitlock Home Passes. The residence for many years known as “Elm Corner” is being torn down and the lot graded. This is one of the old houses of the town and for many years belonged to the Whitlock family. It will be remembered chiefly as the home of two fine old ladies, Miss Susan Mowatt and Miss Campbell, who lived there for many years. Miss Mowatt and Miss Campbell were devoted members of the Presbyterian church, and those of this congregation who are now no longer young can recall many happy hours spent at the home of these two fine people. They were very fond of children and their annual Christmas tree with presents and treats for all the youngsters was one of the highlights of those now quite distant days. When the property was put up for sale a few years ago it was purchased by Miss Olive Hosmer, who promised the old ladies a home there as long as they lived. Since their passing the house has been occupied during the summer months by Cleve Mitchell, a member of the staff at the Algonquin.

St. Croix Courier
May 2/1940
Shiretown Items—Many Ups and Downs. At the regular meeting of the Kiwanis Club last week S. W. Jones was the guest speaker. His talk was an odyssey of his personal wandering through Europe and Asia from the time he left his home in London, England, a boy in his teens, down to the present, and although perhaps not as thrilling as the story of Ulysses, which most of the audience remembered having learned after laborious thumbing through a Greek vocabulary, it was much more interesting, being told in plain English. Mr. Jones spent many yeas in Russia and at the time of the great Revolution had a prosperous business of his own in Petrograd. After three months of danger and hardship, living on oatmeal and black bread when such could be had, he escaped with his family. His entire savings, amounting to a quarter of a million dollars were confiscated. He got as far as Japan safely, and finding it impossible to get transportation from there to England for his family decided to open up a business in eastern novelties. Having made satisfactory contacts with dealers in London he soon worked up a thriving business and was once more well on the road to prosperity when his warehouses and most of the contents were destroyed in an earthquake. He then returned to London and became interested in the wood wool industry. This business continued to grow and prosper until the outbreak of the present war made it difficult to obtain supplies from the Scandinavian countries. it is Mr. Jones’ aim now, not only to get his supplies in Canada but to have the finished product manufactured here as well, and his aim is hour hope. Mr. Jones is a perfect example of the old and true maxim that “you can’t keep a good man down.” He married a St. Andrews girl, Miss Marjorie Clark, and is now proprietor of the Sea-side Inn. He has made many improvements to this property since coming here, and in many ways has proven himself to be a good citizen. His advice and support would be invaluable when and if a Board of Trade is re-organized here.

St. Croix Courier
May 9/1940
Shiretown Items—Obit on former summer resident, Robert Mck. Jones, in St. Louis Globe. Founder of Robert McK. Jones dry goods commission; on board of directors of Washington university for 33 years; president of St. Louis Refrigerating and Cold Storage Co; director of First National Bank, Industrial and Bank Trust Co., South-western Bell Telephone Co, Scruggs/Vandervoort-Barney, Inc, and American Central Insurance. Co. Trustee of Mercantile Library.

St. Croix Courier
May 16/1940
Shiretown Items—Community bathing and swimming pool planned for Indian Point. The scheme as proposed would entail considerable labour but very little expense, and the use of the pool when completed would be free to all.

St. Croix Courier
June 6/1940
Shiretown Items—All in Readiness. Hotels, restaurants and rooming houses have all been renovated in preparation for what is hoped will be a banner season. Bill O’Neill has made quite extensive changes at his lunch and ice cream rooms. The brick and cement vault at the rear, which was built when the Bank of Nova Scotia occupied the building, has been torn down to make room for the installing of two attractive toilets and washrooms. Several stalls have been added in the lunch room and other changes and improvements made. The same smiling, genial and efficient Lola will be in charge again this season. Kennedy’s Hotel is opening for its 59th season and early inquiry for rooms gives promise of a prosperous summer. The Algonquin is being put in tip-top shape by a crew of painters and cleaners and will open toward the end of June.

St. Croix Courier
June 20/1940
Shiretown Items—Fills a Need. The park near the Court House has been neatly trimmed and the memorial benches put in place. The Kiwanis Club will continue to take responsibility for the care, and the labor will be supplied by the town. No arrangement as yet has been made for band concerts but it is presumed they will begin soon. This park not only serves as a place for
band concerts, but is a convenient and much patronized resting place for visitors, and also is an ornament to that part of the town.

St. Croix Courier
June 27, 1940
Shiretown Items
Old Friends Meet
I had a visit fro Horace last week. Not Quintus Horatius, author of Satire, Epistles and Odes, but one who was born an spent his boyhood in the house I am now occupying. Not having seen each other for over thirty years we had a very pleasant hour together. Among other interesting reminiscences he pointed out a bullet hole on one of the shutters caused by the accidental discharge of a revolver in his then youthful and inexperienced hands. Following up his love of firearms he enlisted in the last war and was one of the first Canadians to set foot on German soil. He now makes his home in Toronto.

St. Croix Courier
July 4, 1940
Shiretown Items
It Could Have Happened
“you and your friends Horace!” said a reader. “you fellows were the cause of getting me a good thrashing once.” “How come” said I, scenting a story. It seems that this gentleman, now gray and bald, but at the time of the story a lad in the intermediate department of the schools, used at that time to feel a too frequent lure for a half-holiday. His father being usually unable to agree with his viewpoint, it became necessary for him to adopt other expedients. On one occasion he appointed myself and Horace, then pupils in the high school, and asked if we would write him an excuse to be dismissed after roll call, signing his father’s name. We were pleased to comply with is request and retired to our room to compose the note. We wrote: “Please give Cecil six slaps after roll call,:” and signed our own names. A moment later in the school grounds the note was surreptitiously passed to the victim. In his childlike innocence he pocketed the note and passed it to his teacher on the way to his room. His faith in human nature encountered a rude shock, when he was called up after roll call and made to read the note to the school, signature and all, after which the slaps were duly and lustily delivered. To be honest, I have no recollection of the incident, but it sounds reasonable.

St. Croix Courier
July 18, 1940
Shiretown Items
Inspiring Words
The following incident is a striking illustration of the power of the written word. The proprietor of one of the stores her came across the following inspiring exhortation in a magazine article. “Great Britain will win. Plant your feet firmly on the ground, Keep your head erect, and carry on!” the words were in fairly large type so he cut them out and pasted them on the window, so they might be read from the outside. A few minutes later, as he stood behind the counter some distance back from the window, he saw a neatly dressed stranger, an elderly gentleman with gray hair and neatly trimmed moustache, approaching the window to look over the articles on display. He stood somewhat stooped over with hands clasped behind his back. After a little he raised his eyes to the level of the clipping. He read it carefully, moving his lips the while. His hands dropped to his sides, his head and body came erect, he looked up then down the street, then turned and swung off with the stride of a soldier and the pride of an Englishman, as much as to say: “By the grace of God we’ll win, and I can still do my little bit.” Who he was we know not. The story behind the thoughts called up to his mind by the words he read is left to the imagination of the reader. Perhaps he had been through the last great war, or perhaps he has a son or a grandson I the present conflict. At any rate it is an incident to cause a tightening of the throat and a moistening of the eyes, and to cause one to say fervently: “Thank God, I am an Englishman!”

St. Croix Courier
Aug 29, 1940
Shiretown Items
A Mexican Headache
At the regular meeting of the Kiwanis Club last week Wm. Quin of Fredericton and St. Andrews was the guest speaker, and was listened to with great attention and pleasure by a nearly full attendance of the members. As a preface to his talk Mr. Quinn said he was not an orator, nor a speaker without terminal facilities, and placed an Ingersoll watch on the table to prove it. He said he proposed giving a short talk on his travels but could not hope to compete with the story of “ups and downs” of his friend Mr. Jones (who sat next to him at table) [this would be the husband of our own Marjorie] which he had read with much pleasure in the courier last winter. Mr. Quinn was not only a pleasing after dinner speaker but a fine table companion as well. He kept up a lively conversation during the supper with some seriousness but with plenty of “that comfortable type of humor that tickles without scratching.” He confined his travel talk to an account of a trip he made to Mexico about three years ago. Much like some of the hunting and fishing trips we have been on, it seems tha the finest part of a trip to Mexico is the getting home again. In fact, Mr. Quinn said, Mexico was a good place to stay away from. The great mass of people are half-breed descendants of Spaniards and Indians and have all the bad qualities of both races, with few of their good points. The co8untry is hot and dusty and the native liquor, pulque, made from the juice of the maguey (a species of cactus) though potent, is most unpleasant to the palate. Mexico City, where Mr. Quinn made his headquarters, is about one and a quarter miles above sea-level. The speaker said he had a headache all the time he was there but did not state definitely that it was caused by the high altitude. (We hope it wasn't from the pulque.). there are points of interest in Mexico of course, especially to students of ancient history, and the speaker described his personal impressions as he was taken on the grounds. He made a visit to the newly discovered pyramids of this country which had been buried in sand for many years. He said they were higher than the famous pyramids in Egypt and generally supposed to be older. He want to a play spoken in Mexican. The show was to start at 8:30 and actually began an 10:20. He left at intermission, 1:30 am. He said with the exception of their meals and bull fights the Mexicans never started anything on time. To this listener the speaker’s description of his visit to a bull fight was the highlight of the talk. The drama consists of three acts, 1. Baiting the bull (done by men on foot with bright colored cloaks), 2. Wounding the bull (done by men on horseback), 3. The finishing touch done by a man on foot. These performers have their special titles, the matadors, the toreador, and one other “dor,” which I cannot recall. The speaker said their skill, speed, agility and courage could not be approached by participant in any other line of sport. He told something about the Mexican army, which as far as he could learn was made up in about equal numbers of private and generals. He gave a sketch of the effervescent politics of the country. He noticed across by the wayside and was told it marked the spot where a political offender on being moved from one prison to another had complained of sore feet. He was given what they called the sure cure by the guards. In the past 35 years only one president had finished out his term-the rest had, either been shot or skipped the country with the contents of the treasury. Specimens of Mexican handicraft were passed around—a flagon, modelled from native clay, (which he regretted was empty), a beautiful panel picture done in needlework with colored silks, and pieces of Mexican money. Mr. Quin now owns a cottage in St. Andrews and spends his summers here, and is sure to receive many invitations in the future to speak to the Kiwanis club. Mr. Reevey, Kiwanian from Saint John, was at the meeting, and extended the greetings of the Saint John Club.

St. Croix Courier
Sept 5/1940
Shiretown Items
Inspiring
You may recall an item in this column a few weeks ago about a clipping pasted in a store window, “Great Britain will win this war” and so forth, and the effect it had on a gentleman who read it. The president of the Kiwanis, W. J. Rollins, though it would be a nice idea to have the inspiring words printed on a card to distribute among the business places round town. He got a few printed and distributed them and soon had requests for more. The matter soon got beyond his private purse so he asked the bluc to have more prepared. As each new batch was distributed more and more requests kept coming in. the cards may now be seen in every car on the street. They have been sent all over Canada and the United States, to Great Britain and even to Australia. The St. Stephen Kiwanis liked the idea and asked permission to have some printed. They have already distributed a thousand. The St. Andrews club has distributed thirteen hundred and are getting 500 more printed. The card is 8 x 6 inches in size, has the flags of Great Britain and Canada at the top and the words, “Great Britain will win this war, Obey orders from those in authority. Plant your feet firmly on the ground. Keep your head erect. Carry on!”

The Two Horsemen
All are familiar with the story of the four horsemen, but have you heard the story of the two horsemen? A new and fine looking horse has come to St. Andrews recently from some outlying part of the country, and is being used in trucking coal. An expert teamster (who admits he can drive any horse in Charlotte County), has been engaged to drive him in addition to the man handling the coal. The story goes that this horse was so powerful and high-spirited that it required a man on each rein to hold hi. Now one man driving two or even four horses is not uncommon, but two men driving one horse is a mater worthy of investigation. I called one morning where the truck was being loaded, and there was the teamster, feet braced, a firm grip on the reins. The horse was standing there peacefully enough, eyes half closed, dreaming of the clover fields and lush meadows where he had spent his youth. I asked the driver if there was any foundation for the stories current about town and he said the horse was unmoved by the greater nuisances of life such as trains and automobiles, but was greatly annoyed by little things such as flying paper and the noise of coal being unloaded. It struck me that this was an indication of a high order of intelligence, for tow be annoyed at little things (such as losing your collar button beneath the bureau) is certain a human characteristic. But in truth the horse is a fine looking anima, 1400 lbs., no more, nor less, and if he proves as good-natured as the two men in charge he will be decided acquisition to the town.

St. Croix Courier
Sept 19/1940
Shiretown Items—Born Fifty Years too Soon
Most older residents of St. Andrews will recall the one and only and rather disastrous attempt of one of our inventive and ingenious citizens who tried to soar above the earth in a heavier-than-air machine. The incident occurred more than fifty years ago and the daring experiment was performed by Obadiah Conley. The wings constructed of light wood and cotton were attached to the arms. The tail, a sort of aerial rudder, was to be controlled by the legs. But therein hangs the tale. The tail got out of control, the ship became unmanageable, and rather precipitously fell to the earth, casting the would-be pilot upon the stony beach. The leap was made from the shed of the light house on the C. P. R. wharf, at a height of about forty feet from the ground, and although this local escaped without broken bones or serious bodily injury, his feelings were sadly hurt, and his enthusiasm for flying received a shock from which he never recovered. The matter was looked upon as a huge joke by the townspeople, and the crude contraption thought to be the product of a disordered mind. But the truth of the matter is that Mr. Conley was years ahead of his time, and his attempts compare favorably with the beginnings in automobile and aeroplane studies. What recalled all this to my mind was being told today by Thomas Pendlebury, who can remember the actual incident, that the skeleton of this wonderful and premature flying machine can be seen now in the museum at Machias, Maine. Mr. Conley was for years light keeper at Machias Seal Island, and when he left there this souvenir of his one and only flight was turned over to the museum. What a tragedy that Mr. Conley could not have been spared to witness the flying of today! What a thrill it would have been to him, and how justified he would have felt in his early beliefs.
            David Graham celebrated his fifth birthday on Sept 13th. A number of his little friends helped him enjoy his party. The birthday cake was enjoyed by all.

St. Croix Courier
Oct 24/1940
Shiretown Items
Hero Worship
To meet an old friend after an interim of 43 years, may not be considered news in the strictest meaning of the term but it certainly is a pleasant experience. I had a call a few days ago from John Bolger, who moved away from St. Andrews in 1896 and who I had not seen since. He has not been so far away, having lived since at Benton, NB, and has been an occasional visitor to St. Andrews, but as my place of business is somewhat off the beaten path I had not seen him on any of these infrequent visits. Since leaving here, he has been employed with the CPR and is now retired. He has a family of four, two boys and two girls, all grown up and some married. Of the many friends who visit us here from year to year, I can honestly say that not one of them has ever given me the thrill or started such a pleasant train of thoughts as I had on again meeting John Bolger. The reason for that is that when I was a small boy he was my hero. I cam to St. Andrews from a small country place at eleven years of age [1889]. I had never seen a ball game, a circus, a show or any of those things that mean so much to a youngster. I first lived in the house now occupied by Edwin Thurber, and John lived near at hand in a house, since torn down, next door to McCaffery’s now occupied by Mrs Andrews Stuart. John used to frequently walk down to our house to sit on the bank and enjoy his after dinner smoke. He was then sixteen years old. He was friendly to me from the first, and I began talking about him to my younger friends. They told me that John was a great athlete, could walk on his hands even a feat I had never heard of and which seemed to me impossible. One day, however I plucked up courage to ask him I he could walk on his hands. He thereupon laid off his coat and gave me an exhibition which I have never forgotten. He walked on his hands for ten or twelve yards, then bending his back slowly lowered his feet to the ground and came up standing. He then bent slowly backward till his hands touched the ground and did what is called a slow back handspring. He did three of these in succession, then a quick one, and ended the performance by doling a back somersault without touching his hands to the ground at all. To say that I was thrilled and amazed is to express it mildly. From that day on he was my hero, and after a few years, by hard work and persistence, man many a sore back and aching limb, I learned to do most of these stunts, but never with the same grace and ease that seemed to come natural to John. We were afterwards intimately associated in football and gymnasium work, in which we were both greatly interested, and in which John was especially proficient. It is little wonder then that I was glad to see him, and now tha the has found his way to my door, I hope that any time he is in St. Andrews he will make it a point to come and see me, for, as he expressed it himself, we could talk steadily for a week about the old days.

St. Croix Courier
Oct 31/1940
Shiretown Items—The County Court House. 100 the anniversary. Quotes Adam, publisher of Standard on construction of same. “The item was written by Adam Smith, editor of the Standard, and then only 26 years of age. It is doubtful if any paper now printed in America is managed and edited by so young a man. Older residents will remember Mr. Smith as a dignified old gentleman with white hair and beard. he died in 1896, aged 82 years. It would be interesting if we could learn the names of the committee in charge of the work. The property at the corner of William and Water Streets is still known as the Berry estate (the architect’s property), and the rent is collected by the heirs of Thomas Berry mentioned as architect. I have been told that he contractors, or man in charge, was a Mr. Conley who lived in the house at the head of Queen Street now occupied by Charles Stinson. The present jail was built in 1832. The former jail was a the head of Queen St.  It was from this building that a prisoner, on trial for murder, escaped and was free for several years. he was afterward discovered in Boston, brought back and hanged. There have been six sheriffs during this period of a hundred years since the building of the Court House. Colin Campbell was in office at the time of building but died that year, and was succeeded by Thomas Jones, who held the office till February 1865. Alexander Paul held the position from 1865 to 1883. R. A. Stuart 1883 to 1931. “Victor H. Maxwell 1931 to 1933, and C. W. Mallory 1933 to the present time. Some of the prominent Barristers appearing in this Court House between the years 1840 and 1880 were James Chandler, S. Frye, Peter Thompson, P. Stubbs. Alexander T. Paul, George S. Grimmer, James J. Stevens (later County Judge), Benjamin R. Stevenson, James Mitchell (afterwards Premier of Nb), Lewis “A. Mills, George S. Hill, George D. Street.
            A Tilting We May Go—Mr. Jones, proprietor of Seaside Inn, has brought in the wind-mill, which was formerly used for pumping water at the Clark farm, and is having it erected on the lot used as a playground for guests at the Inn. Before the waters system was installed we had several of these contraptions about town. Although they are picturesque in appearance, there is perhaps no contrivance more conducive to insomnia. I lived within a stone’s throw of one for several years and attribute any inclination I may have towards profanity, to unprintable expressions composed during sleepless nights at that time. It may have been the attached pump which caused most of the racket. The rest of the rigging kept well oiled may run smoothly and quietly enough. If not is it likely to produce a local Don Quixote.

St. Croix Courier
Nov 7/1940
Shiretown Items—Improved. The building at the CPR station, which serves as such but can hardly be dignified by the name of depot, as been considerably altered internally and a decided improvement effected. Formerly the staff did their work in a small, poorly lighted and gloomy room situated between two waiting rooms. One of the later was never used, the one set apart for ladies and so designated. The men’s room was used on common and was a sort of co-educational institution. The latter was on the south-west end of the building and was bright an cheery. The partition between this room and the office has been torn down, and the door closed up, making a large, comfortable and convenient place to work in. The former ladies’ waiting room, will now be used in common by the few who still travel by train.

St. Croix Courier
Nov 21/1940
Shiretown Items
Perfect Food and Service
Mr. and Mrs. Jones, proprietors of Seaside Inn, are to be highly complimented on the efficient catering at the Kiwanis banquet. As one approached the table and let his eye wander idly over the yards of snowy linen, noted the decorative candles all alight, the bowls of fruits, dishes of jellies and olives, plates of rolls, a frit cock-tail at each place, six young and attractive table girls in spick-and-span white line, and caught the first faint and delightful aroma of roast turkey as the door to the serving room swung open, it was enough to make one’s mouth water in anticipation. The food was deliciously prepared and there was plenty of it. Paper crackers on being exploded were found to contain colored paper caps and conundrums which helped t put everybody in a happy mood. If this is a sample of the service offered guests at the Seaside Inn, it is no wonder their house was full to overflowing during the past summer, when others complained of a poor season. Visitors to St. Andrews are just discovering this attractive and comfortable stopping place, and it would seem that townspeople would be safe in sending any inquiring tourist there without incurring the risk of a “comeback.”

One Cheering Thought
No doubt most persons living in Charlotte County have already visited Pennfield to look over the work being done there in preparation for an airport. It is surprising what machines and four or five hundred men can accomplish in so short a time. Those who visited the place just a few weeks ago, when the work was beginning , saw nothing but acres and acres of woods, which were being cut down, the stumps ploughed out and burned. Today there is a level field there extending miles in every direction, with some of the paved runways already completed, and gravel roads, on which dozens of trucks whiz by, running in all directions. Foundations, have been laid for four hangers, 240 x 185 feet, and the erection of other buildings is soon to begin. There is to be a church, a hospital and a school to accommodate 800 pilots. It is here our airmen will study navigation and receive other finishing touches to their course. One of the engineers on the job said without any doubt it was the finest location in Canada for an airport—perfectly level ground and splendid drainage. In digging wells they had to pass through 20 feet of gravel before coming to any surface moisture. In looking over this work, we are struck with the thought of what a boon it is to Charlotte County—giving employment to so many men, and indirectly making that whole section of the county more prosperous. But on second thought the real purpose of it all comes home to us, and one is caused to feel that every nail being driven there is figuratively a nail in Hitler’s coffin, and every sod turned is another shovelful over his grave.

Shiretown Items—Work on new airfield for Pennfield underway. Description.

St. Croix Courier
Nov 28, 1940
Shiretown Items
Amusing bear hunting story

St. Croix Courier
Jan 2/1941
“Home Guard” of the 1860’s”
By the Author of “Shiretown Items”
The above picture of the St. Andrews Volunteer Rifle Company was taken in 1862 at the corner of King and Queen streets. The large building just behind the group is the residence, and office, (attached) of Charles R. Hatheway, J. P., and at the present time owned and occupied by Herbert Snell. The church at the left is Greenock Church (the Kirk), and the house in the distant centre is the residence (brick) of George D. Street, corner of Parr and Edward Streets.
            The entire company was not present when the picture was taken, and is has been impossible at this late date to get the names of all in the group. At the extreme left is Corporal George Eggleton (late of H.M. 76 Regiment). Next is James Henry Whitlock, Capt. The tall bewhiskered gentleman at about the centre is Doctor John F. Stevenson, Assistant Surgeon. The last three in the line, reading from left to right, are Harry Whittaker, Sergeant, Benjamin r. Stevenson, 1st Lieutenant, M. Creary (of H.M. Regiment ?), Drill Instructor and Color Sergeant. Others in the group are John Burton, Robert Saunders, Gregory Byrne, Thomas Harrison, Guthrie Treadwell, Alexander Berry, Harry Whittaker, in the front rank; and Robert Alexander, Corp. Levi Handy, Donald (Dan) McStay, Edward Stinson, Eber Polleys, Leonard Chase and James Lambert in the rear rank.
            It is interesting to not the evolution in dress and firearms in the past 80 years, and also to remark the various styles of tonsorial treatment in vogue at the time when this group of men were the young huskies of the town. No doubt many of these old muskets, are still kept about town as souvenirs, of those stirring days of our forefathers. The dress looks odd to us now and the weapons crude. But who is there to say that improved weapons have made an improved type of war?
            Along King street at the present tie, is a row of elms, perhaps 100 feet high, which were planted some time by R. D. Rigby (now the property of F. A. Grimmer) stands on the corner directly behind the left end of the group.
            This volunteer Rifle company had been organized to assist in the protection of the town in case of a Fenian Raid from across the border, talk of which at that time kept the town in a continual state of excitement. A British Company was stationed here for a while, billeted in the large Gove warehouse near the depot. Later a company from Saint John was located here. A short time after the arrival of the British Company, they caused an alarm to be sounded one night about midnight to test the extent of cooperation they might expect from the local squad. The possibility of a false alarm had never occurred to the members of the latter company, and there was a wild scramble for uniforms and guns. Most of the men arrived at the place of meeting only partly dressed, but all had their guns and ammunition.
            The woman and children who were left alone were in a state of terror. One woman, the wife of a corporal in the volunteers, having had no instructions as to what to do in such an emergency, took her smaller children out and hid them in the garden behind the house. She posted her oldest boy, a lad of about fifteen, at the corner of the house with a shotgun, telling him to shoot on sight any person entering heir dooryard. Fortunately the father did not return till after daylight as otherwise he would no doubt have been riddled with buckshot by his own son. Here were other false alarms from time to time to keep the squad in practice but the actual and much dreaded raid never came. (The late Joseph Handy, father of Joe Handy of St. Stephen) was one of the children who hid in the garden.)

St. Croix Courier
Jan 9, 1941
Shiretown Items
Motosoku—Motorcycle
Motosoku Akagi of St Andrews, a member of the motorcycle corps in training at Sussex, seems to be masquerading under an assumed name. he has lived here for several years, and is a motor mechanic par excellence. He is a Canadian born Japanese, and since living here has been known because of his unpronounceable name—as “Charlie the Jap.” His latest alias, according the list printed along with the picture of this formidable looking group in lat week’s Courier, is “Charlie Motorcycle.” This latest cognomen sounds as if it might have been suggested by Doug Everett, who is seen standing at the extreme right of the group with a most innocent expression on his countenance.

St. Croix Courier
Jan 23/1941
Shiretown Items
Other Days and a Story
Interesting letters have been received from Walter Stickney of Dorchester, Mass., and from Sgt. Major W. F. McStay of Moncton. The item of old-time football awakened Mr. Stickney a memory and he definitely settles the date of the first organization of football here on the fall of 1893. He remembers the first game played here with St. Stephen on Heenan’s green, which was won by St Andrews, and ended in a fight. He does not say who won the fight—it probably was a no-decision contest. Mr. MacStay’s interest was aroused by the story of the old St. Andrews Rifle Club, and he write a letter full of reminiscences of those far-off days. He was a small child at the time and his father was in the Gordon Regiment. He says the alarm which caused so much excitement and hurrying to and fro was caused by a British warship at anchor in the harbor firing a salvo of blank shots in the middle of the night as an experiment. It evidently worked as everyone though the Fenians were coming. Once while Mr. McStay’s father was on guard duty at Joe’s Point he heard a boat grounding on the beach. He challenged “Who goes there?” to which the answer was “Bottles.” “Advance Bottles,” said the guard, “and draw the cork!” I had heard the story before but had never heard the name of the originator. Neither have I ever heard whether or not he advance was duly made and the cork properly drawn—nor, if so, what happened afterward. It is provoking ot have a story end just when it is beginning to get interesting.

St. Croix Courier
Feb 20/1941
Shiretown Items
Cormorant?
I was much interested in the item in Calais Briefs about the Eagle and his dusky-feathered companion. . . . The food of the eagle is principally fish, which under necessity he can capture for himself. He prefers to have his dinner handed to him on a platter, as it were, however. All who have spent much time around the shores of rivers and lakes in the summer have seen the interesting act put on by the eagle and the fish-hawk, the later doing the fishing only to lose most of his booty to the watching enemy. I have thought of the cormorant as a possibility in the case of the black bird in question, as he lives on fish and is an expert fisherman. In China and Japan these birds are kept in captivity and are used to capture fish for sale on the market. A ring is placed around their neck so they can’t swallow the fish, and they are cast overboard at the end of a long strong line. Our observer made no mention of ring or line, so perhaps that lets the cormorant out. Another doubt is that the only species of cormorant likely to be seen here in the winter is practically as large as an eagle. A smaller species nests along the shores o Maine in the summer but winters in the south. The eagle will eat dead fish found on the shore or scraps of fish and meat thrown out as garbage. The raven feeds on small shell-fish, garbage, eggs and nestlings of other birds. Though only about six inches longer from tip of beak to tip of tail, it looks twice as big as a crow. It is a “lone wolf” and a great coward, often being seen being chased by a single crow, probably after robbing the latter’ nest. The surest way of telling a raven from a cormorant is in their mode of flight. The raven in flight looks like a crow, only bigger, while the cormorant flies like a black duck, long neck stretched out ahead and feet trailing behind. I consulted my friend the poet on the item as he also knows something about birds. He said he thought that should a raven through circumstances be obliged to share a meal with an eagle, his uncanny wisdom, which is similar to that of the crow, would prevent the misfortune from occurring a second time. A couple of days later he handed me a few lines entitled “the Eagle and the Raven” with apologies to Edgar Allen Poe, which, should the reader still be interested may found as the net item under that title.
The Eagle and the Raven

Can it be that such a craven
As the common Northern Raven
Has been flirting with an Eagle
Just along the Calais shore?

Did the Eagle, slyly cheating,
Steal the food his friend was eating?
And this sinful act repeating,
Fill his maw and beg for more?

While to heaven he went a-flitting
Did he leave the Raven sitting
On a chilly block of ice
Just along the Calais shore?

Does the Raven sit there dreaming
As the Eagle flies a-screaming,
And the sunlight throws his shadow
The hills and waters o’er?

Yes, the Raven still is sitting
On the ice he still is sitting,
But his new-found friend—he’s quitting—
Quote the Raven, “Nevermore.”

Clear and Cold. McQuoids, with a fleet of trucks and a crew of men, have been busy during the past few weeks filling local ice-houses. Conley’s alone have put in about a thousand tons which will be used next summer in shipping fresh live lobsters to all parts of the States and Canada. . . . Lack of snow had made for good hauling. The ice is now 21 inches thick and crystal clear. The blocks weigh about 450 pounds each. One drive told me he sometimes loads hauls and delivers over two hundred of these blocks a day, and sleeps quite well at night.

St. Croix Courier
March 13/1941
Shiretown Items
Now Flying Solo
Raymond McQuoid, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry McQuoid, who left here in October to join the Air Force, is now flying solo. A letter to his father written on Feb. 23rd, says that up to that date he had 9 hrs. solo to his credit. If he learns to handle an aeroplane with the same skill he formerly showed with puck and hockey stick, it will require a clever marksman to bring him down. Raymond is now at a Flying School in British Columbia.

Old Firm Keeps Modern
The H. O’Neill grocery store and meat market has just completed 118 years of public service, having been established here early in 1823. The store was first located in the building now occupied by George McKay. It was later moved to a building at the head of market wharf, situated on the site of the present post office. This building was destroyed by fire about 1875 and the store moved temporarily to the Lorimer building. In 1877 the buildings now occupied were moved from the Gove lot near the depot. The following paragraphs are copied from the “Canadian Grocer:” “The basic merchandising factor at the H. O’Neill grocery store in SA, NB, is the 118 years of activity of the store. It was established in 1823. Although one of the oldest grocery stores in the world, this business is not living wholly in the past, as illustrated by installation of a modernly equipped fountain and offering a special service in soft drinks, sodas, ice cream, light lunches. The installation was made to capitalize on the annual influx of people each summer season from various parts of Canada and United States. St. Andrews is a leading summer resort and located right on the US border, the Bay of Fundy junction with the mother Atlantic, and the St. Croix River mouth, the latter being the international boundary line. For farmers, livestock raisers, poultrymen, there is feed service. All types of foods, tonics, disinfectants and remedies for cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, poultry, foxes, are carried here. The higher priced items are offered for the wealthy summer residents from Montreal, ‘Toronto, Boston, New York, Washington, Chicago, etc. These prevail not only for human beings but for domestic animals and birds. Some of the families have occupied their own estates in the St. Andrews area for over half a century, and have stock farms as a hobby. An effort is made to blend modernity with antiquity at this general food store, and without sacrificing the atmosphere of old age. Three and four generations have continued in rotation as customers of this store and this involved not only the wealthy summer rusticator, but the fishing and agricultural families of the mainland as well as the near-by island of Deer Island and Campobello.”

St. Croix Courier
March 20/1941
Shiretown Items—Generous Gift to the Library. The committee in charge of the town library report that they have recently received from Mrs. J. E. Hoar the entire library from her summer cottage here, consisting of several hundred books. This is perhaps the largest and one of the finest collection of goods to be received by the library, and the committee wish to publicly acknowledge this generous gift and to express their appreciation on behalf of all book-lovers of St. Andrews. Among this collection are many valuable books of reference such as Encyclopedia Britannica, German-English dictionary, works on Latin, Greek and French books of travel, history, language, journalism, poetry, philosophy, several on botany and gardening, and plenty of fiction for young and old. (Worrell praises Buchan’s “Memory, Hold the Door,” a book by a great man about great men though also give some intimate pictures of the life and character of the writer.)

St. Croix Courier
April 24, 1941
Shiretown Items
Consider New Rink
The annual banquet and meeting of the Heather Curling Club was held in the banquet hall at Hewitt’s Café on Thursday evening, April 17th. At the head table sat the president Oscar Rigby, the vie-president James Skinner, the secretary Warren Stinson, the treasurer Dr. Samuel Davies, and two invited guests. R. F. Keay, mayor of St. Andrews, and J. F. Worrell, representing the press. After the tables had been cleared, and the smoke screen had reached a proper density, the meting was opened to receive reports, distribute prizes, elect officers, and in general to make plans for next season. The secretary’s report was a masterpiece and caused a near riot among the members of the club. It being a wet night, and realizing the value of this report, the secretary had carefully wrapped it in a piece of heavy brown paper. While he waited in a nearby store for the hour of the banquet, a solicitous friend had opened the package and to further protect the important document had wrapped it first in a dainty pink garment and then replace the brown paper. Was the secretary’s face red when he stood up before thirty eager spectators and opened is parcel? Ask those who saw. The report was so daintily garbed, however, contained so much good-natured venom within, and except that it might leave both the secretary and the press open to suit for libel, it was clever enough to have been printed in full. Both of the guests in speaking towards the close of the meeting, remarked on the good-fellowship existing among the members, and thought that men who could continue to insult each other with such impunity without causing ill-will must be really good fellows.

St. Croix Courier
June 5/1941
Shiretown Items—At Montreal Exhibit. A high compliment has recently been paid to Charlotte County Cottage Crafts. At the third annual Arts and Crafts Fair to be held in Montreal this month of display work done by the women of the Gaspe peninsula, it is planned to have a replica of a French Canadian village and Mrs. P. W. Birks who is one of the promoters, has sent to Miss Mowatt to have all the figures done there, having seen some of this work on exhibition at the Handicrafts Guild in Montreal. (Now on display at cottage crafts) These miniature men, women and children are now on display in Cottage Crafts windows and are well worth looking over. The skeleton is of flexible wire, wound with cotton to make the proper figure and the dress is of various gaily colored homespuns, all made in Charlotte County. The heads are made from rayon silk, sized and stuffed with cotton and the faces daintily painted with characteristic expressions. there are twenty-four figures in all including Monsieur and Madame, the Cure, a Nun, a Grocer, a Habitant with “Wife and child-in-arms, a Doctor, a School-marm, a Snow-man, children and so forth. The figures were designed and faces painted by Miss Helen Mowatt and most of the costumes were made by Mrs. Cecil Lowery.
           
St. Croix Courier
June 12/1941
Shiretown Items—Kennedy’s thoroughly renovated.

St. Croix Courier
June 19, 1941
Shiretown items
A Family Trait
Noticing that a little boy seemed much interested in some work I was doing at the front of the lot the other day, I engaged him in conversation. In the course of our talk he disclosed that he was to have a birthday on June 16th, when he would be seven years old. He said he had eight sisters but not brothers. I suggested that it might be appropriate under the circumstances for me to contribute a small amount towards the celebration. His smile hinted that the idea met with his approval. I passed him ten cents, asking if he considered that a sufficiently generous donation. He smiled again and thanked me very kindly. As he pocketed the dime I asked how he intended to spend it. Imagine my surprise when he said he would buy five war-saving stamps with it ! My surprise however was not that his arithmetic might be a little faulty, or that he perhaps had some ingenious method of financing unknown to myself, but it was in the spirit behind his intention which prompted him to invest his money in the cause of his country rather than in a couple of ice-cream cones. It was that same spirit which took his daddy overseas in 1914. The little fellow’s name is Francis McCarthy. Many happy returns of the day Francis, and when you reach your twenty-first birthday may it be to go out into a world of peace, freedom and prosperity.

St. Croix Courier
July 3/1941
Shiretown Items—Dude Ranch Opening. NB’s one and only “Dude Ranch,” more correctly known as Chamcook Holiday Camps was formally opened on Saturday, June 28th, about one hundred invited guests being present at the noon luncheon. Many others, drawn to the spot out of mere curiosity enjoyed the afternoon’s free entertainment consisting of a rodeo staged by forty cowboys and cowgirls. (Major Hugh A. Green president) “one of the visitors asked a member of the staff where the bridle paths were. She replied, ‘over there’ with a wave of her graceful arm. ‘And where is the golf ground?’ ‘In there,’ said she, waving the other graceful arm in the opposite direction. ‘And where is the tuna fishing’ said the visitor. ‘Out there,’ replied the little lady, shading her eyes with one hand and using a pretty finger to point in the general direction of Nova Scotia. The visitor may not have been entirely convinced but was forced to admit that his guide knew all the answers. he was even heard to remark that her acquaintance might be worth further cultivation. (enterprise may put Chamcook again on the map)

St. Croix Courier
July 10/1941
Shiretown Items—Closing exercises of CC Grammar School held in Casino. Program.
NB-PEI golf tournament under way.
Edit: Tourists coming to Charlotte in record breaking numbers.

St. Croix Courier
July 17/1941
Archie Skinner wins golf tourney in St. Andrews. Shiretown Items

St. Croix Courier
July 31/1941
Shiretown Items
The first half of the season this summer has shown the best tourist trade for several years. The hotels and private rooming houses are pretty well filled up and all the restaurants are doing a good business.

St. Croix Courier
Aug 7/1941
Shiretown Items--Bathing Beach Needed      
It would seem that the local information bureau has already justified its existence. The greatest difficulty is to keep sufficient printed material on hand to fill the wants of inquiring tourists. Some very definite information is being obtained regarding what is being obtained regarding what tourist are looking for which should be of use for another season. A great many inquiries have been made regarding a public bathing beach which is as yet non-existent, although many proposals for such have been made from time to time, and many fruitless hours spent in discussing them. As for rooming houses, most inquiries are made for places situated near the water, although some of our finest places are a distance back. As a rule the tourist stops to make inquiries and then does as he pleases, which no doubt is what he comes here for.
Colonel and Mrs. Allan Magee of Montreal, accompanied by their daughters, Mrs. William Lawrence Breese, of Washington, D. C., and small daughter Belinda, and also their two daughters are at Seaside Inn for the month of August, with the exception of Col. Magee, who will return after a few days here.

St. Croix Courier
August 24, 1941
Shiretown Items
Coun. Morrell Please Note
The people of St. Andrews have always been proud of the Charlotte County Court House, one of the finest old public buildings in the province. Whether or not this feeling of pride extends throughout the county is becoming a matter of doubt. The building belongs to the people of the county and its proper care and upkeep is the responsibility of the property committee of the County council. It is one of the points of interest of the county and the hundred so strangers who visit us each year have been profuse in their expressions of admiration. But alas! For the past two or three years those who have come to admire have remained to criticize—not the architecture, not the location, not the well kept town lawn and flowers—but the fact that this fine old building has been allowed to get into such a sate of disrepair. The foundations are loose in places, the sills are starting to rot, the steps are falling to pieces, the gutters are hanging in distress, the finish on the side is rotted away so the rain bets in and runs down inside the wall, and the whole building needs painting. For several years the English sparrows have been nesting in the cubby holes where the finish has rotted away. IT is said that starling have also taken up quarters there this year. It would seem that it is high time for the county council to resume control before the rows and pigeons stat nesting in the building. The whole county is enjoying a prosperous year and now is the time to have this work done. If the property committee is not alive to the need, or hesitates to accept the responsibility, then it is up to some of the wide-awake members of the council to take action. It is poor economy to allow a fine public building to rot to the ground. As private individuals we cannot always afford to do the things we should like to do with our own property, but as collective membership in this fine old municipality of Charlotte surely for the welfare of the county and for our own self-respect, we can support the council wholeheartedly in putting our Court House again into first-class condition.

St. Croix Courier
Sept 11, 1941
A Valuable Citizen
If Mark Brown continues his rescue work at his recent rate (four saved from drowning in one week) the town should vote him a salary as permanent life-guard or at least present him with a medal. But his last rescue is not an incident to joke about as the victim was practically gone when Mark fished him out and it required plenty of hard and patient work to restore life. The accident occurred at noon hour last Thursday near the end of the public wharf. Mark was returning from dinner, and a boy at the head of the wharf told him somebody was swimming around his boat, he had noticed the splashing. Mark, fearing some youngster had fallen in, hurried down the wharf and aboard the boat, He looked all around and everything seemed quiet but on going to the bow he noticed bubbles coming to the surface. He knelt down to get a better look and was shocked to see the body of a little boy lying face down on the bottom in about eight feet of water. He ran for his boat-hood, reached down and caught the hook into the little lad’s trousers and pulled him up on deck. There was not another soul in sight or within call so with what knowledge of first aid he possessed Mark went to work. He had nothing to work with except his hands and a determined will to succeed. After about twenty minutes he saw the boy’s eyelids flicker. This gave him renewed energy. A few minutes later someone appeared on the wharf. Mark told him to run to Conley’s telephone the doctor and bring back a barrel. By the time the doctor, accompanied by half the town, arrived, the boy was sufficiently restored to cry lustily and all knew he was saved. The little fellow, seven years old, is the only son of George McCarthy, and is now none the worse for his experience. I am sure I am expressing the sentiments of every person in town, young and old, when I say “Well done Mark!” [this is the little boy in a preceding Shiretown Items, who would buy war-stamps with the ten cents Worrell gave him!]

A Credit to the Community
To all persons who are interested in the progress and attractiveness of the town it would be well worth while to become a guest at Sea-Side Inn, at the price of a dinner, in order to have the opportunity of going over the grounds to see the improvements Mr. Jones has made there in the past couple of years. When Mr. Jones came here the Inn was just a small hotel with comfortable rooms and good food. But now across the street on the water side, in an excellent tennis court, a lawn for clock golf, and best of all and most popular, a fine, clean, sandy bating beach where guest may bask in the sun at all times of day and swim at high water. The beach is sheltered on three sides by piers, neatly face with small upright poles. A boom, which rises and falls with the tide, keeps the beach clean from rock weed and other drifting refuse. The boom extends about forty yards off-shore and has a raft attached for those who wish to dive. A promenade is provided out over the water on one side for those of the guests who simply wish to walk and watch. On one pier a tall pole supports a familiar figure representing labour, who plies his buck-saw as long as the wind blows. On a pole at the end of the promenade is seen an aeroplane wind-mill. On the tail are these letters S.S.I.O.K.C.A., which always arouses the curiosity of the guests. They stand for “Sea Side Inn O. I. come Again!” Surrounding the lawn are several cottages divided into four room apartments, all with hot and cold water, toilet and shower bath. For rainy days there is a room for billiards and pool and other for the once more popular game of ping pong. The apartments all have original names such as Beach Cottage, Sunshine Villa, ?The Chalet, Love Net, Snuggery, Harbour View, Cozy Corner, Crackers. There is a story behind the naming of “Crackers” which is worth tell at another time. Altogether Mr. and Mrs. Jones have a very attractive place where one hundred guests can be accommodated in luxury at modest rates. They have had a successful season, which they deserve. Former guests who returned this year were enthusiastic over the improvements. The tennis court was in use every fine day all summer and one day Mr. Jones counted forty-five in bathing togs on the beach or disporting in the invigorating tide. In this later fact there is food for thought for the local Board of Trade. If a private individual an provide an attractive bathing and swimming beach for his guests, why can not the own provide similar accommodations for the hundreds of others who come here in the summer and inquire for a public bathing beach, only to be disappointed.

St. Croix Courier
Sept 18/1941
Shiretown Items--Should Consider Carefully
[Why grant the Algonquin its customary fixed tax valuation when it prefers to buy and hire from Montreal? Perpetual money loser.]
What well may be considered a momentous question comes up for consideration at the next meeting of the town council. The period for which a fixed valuation was granted the Algonquin Hotel Co. has again expired and a renewal for ten years at the same figure is being asked for. A Bill is to be introduced at the next session of the Ontario Legislature, which, if passed will do away with this practice in that province. The chief argument used against the practice of granting fixed valuations is that it works a hardship on those no longer active in business and who are obliged to live on a small income from their investments. This would apply here only to a very limited extent. With the granting, and subsequent renewal of this contract with the Hotel Co., there has always been a verbal agreement that the latter would as far as possible buy supplies locally, and also, as far as possible, employ local help. That the Company has not always done so is the objection raised by some business men of the town to have a renewal granted again at the same figure. it is a quite general opinion among the people of the town that the present hotel manager [Cashman] will always purchase in Montreal if he can save five cents by so doing. This opinion perhaps is not correct but there must be some grounds for it. On the other hand, I am told that some local stores have received quite generous orders from the Hotel. As to hiring local help, there have been frequent cases where worthy and capable persons have been refused employment, but on the whole we must admit, if we are to be fair, that most of those refused and in fact many of those employed were of the type who find it difficult to get employment anywhere. It is doubtful if the Algonquin Hotel ever was a paying proposition. A representative of the Company states that during the past ten years alone the loss has run into six figures. It is a conservative estimate to say that during that same period the amount of money left in St. Andrews because of the Hotel being here has also run into the same number of figures. The town has no right to expect the hotel company to continue operating at a loss indefinitely unless they are given some consideration in the matter of taxation. If the fixed valuation were raised by $15,000, as has been suggested by some, the relief to the general taxpayer would be so slight as to pass unnoticed and the spirit of opposition or lack of co-operation would be as pronounced as if the raise were ten times that amount. It would seem that for the general good of the community there is only one sensible thing for the council to do—grant a renewal at the same figure.

St. Croix Courier
Sept 25/1941
Shiretown Items
Crackers
A story which illustrates the intuitive and enterprise of Alfred Jones, proprietor of Sea-Side Inn, and also the speed of Frank Gilman and his crew is behind the odd name “Crackers” seen on one of the cottages connected with the inn. It seems that a bride and groom arrived at the Inn one evening last year looking for accommodation, only to be told that everything was taken. They said they had heard of St. Andrews and the Inn from friends and had planned all year on spending their honeymoon here. After some pondering and head scratching Mr. Jones told them to come back in 24 hours and he’d have a place for them. He then got busy. he first induced Frank Gilman to leave the job he was on and give him one day’s work with his crew of three men. Mr. Gilman went down and prepared an order for lumber which was on the spot the next morning before 7 o’clock. Then an old shed on the grounds began its transformation. It was raised and levelled. A hardwood floor was laid, walls and ceiling covered with beaverboard. The roof and sidewalls were shingled, door and windows placed. By the time Mr. Jones got back from St. Stephen in the afternoon, followed by a load of furniture, beds and fixin’s, bureau and chairs, curtains and rugs, the carpenters had finished, the place was wired for lights, and on installing the furnishings was ready for occupation. The young couple arrived promptly 6 o’clock, and on being shown their first home were delighted. They wanted to name it “Crackers,” which had no connection with its preparation, but in remembrance of their parents, who had spent many winters in St. Petersburg, Florida, where habitués are always called Crackers.

St. Croix Courier
Oct 16/1941
Shiretown Items--Public Bathing Beach.
The quite certain prospect of having a public bathing beach here next summer is good news, not only for those who are catering to the tourist trade, but also to all local followers of the natatorial art. The beach will be situated at Katy’s Cove where it is always high tide because of the C. P. R. dam, and where the temperature of the water is warm enough to be comfortable, yet cold enough to be invigorating. The shore front will be a full block in length and will be between the points where King and William streets would touch the cove if extended straight back. The town has leased this site from the Hotel Company for a period of ten years and work will be started at once to make the place ready for use next summer. A road will be built and a parking place cleared. The matter of bathing houses, refreshment stands and so forth may be let to some private individual for a nominal sum. The question is being studied by the town council and the local board of trade with the object of getting the best results. Further information will be given to the public when definite plans are laid.

St. Croix Courier
Oct 23/1941
Shiretown Items
Remember This?
I walked across the Cove bridge last Sunday, the first time in many years, and recalled an incident that happened there about fifty years ago. A group of boys in their early teens had been enjoying a swim in the cove and afterwards took a walk across the bridge. There was no dam then and the bridge was about 150 yards long. As we were straggling back we heard the train roaring around the curve behind us. We put for the end of the bride at top speed and all made it except John Rooney, who was some distance behind the others. I can still remember the look of terror in John’s face as he turned and saw the rain already on the bridge and knew that he was cut off! But his Irish wit stood him in good stead. He ran a few steps and leaped down beside a water-barrel on a projecting stringer. He held tight to the barrel as the train whizzed by then slowly crawled up to join us on the bridge, saying “Gosh, I was scairt!” Now I have no recollection of who the other boys in that party were. If any of them should read this I should be delighted to hear from them. John, who was afterwards drowned in the St. Croix River, was a brother of Theobald Rooney, Sr., and Mrs. Peter Ryan, both still living in St. Andrews.

St. Croix Courier
Oct 30/1941
Shiretown Items
NO Fatalities
Exceptionally high tides last week drove dozens of rats from their accustomed haunts beneath Doon’s wharf, and they afforded considerable entertainment for those who happened to be around he water-front at the time . the tide completely covered the wharf and some of the rats were cut off from shore. They climbed to the tops of posts where they spent an uneasy half-house with the water lapping a few inches below them. As far as could be seen there was no loss of life.

Famous Turnips in Demand
A. B. O’Neill shipped a carload of turnips to Boston this fall, the first shipment since 1933. These turnips, which were of splendid quality, were raised on the O’Neill and Redmond farms. On some farms, in spite of the use of borax with the fertilizer, the turnips showed black or woody hearts. An effort is to be made to ge the Dept. of Agriculture of the province to analyze the soil in this locality in order if possible to restore turnip raising to the profitable position it held a number of years ago. The market is waiting for unlimited quantities if the quality can be produced. Mr. O’Neill has an order for another carload which is now being loaded at the depot.

St. Croix Courier
November 6, 1941
Shiretown Items
Old Friends Meet Again
The following letter addressed to Shiretown Items should be of interest to many old-timers. It was a great pleasure for me to hear from Mr Short, whom I had not seen for close to forty years, and his letter received a prompt reply. He says: “As a reader of the Courier I always read the St. Andrews and ?Shiretown news first as they bring back old memories. I do not know who he correspondent is but I happened to be one of the boys on the Kittie cove bridge when John Rooney hung to the water-barrel, and I still have not forgotten that run and jump after fifty years. I am giving you the names of two more of the boys besides myself—Wallace and Billie Nicholas. Perhaps you can remember that Billie carried a shotgun. I have two more boys in mind but am not quite sure. I think Edwin P. Mallory was one of them. Would be pleased to know who writes the Shiretown Items. (Signed) Charles A. Short., Nantasket, Mass.” Since writing the foregoing I had a call in person from my old friend Charlie. He is visiting relatives in Calais for a few days and took a run down to the Shiretown to look up old acquaintances. We spent a pleasant half hour talking over those wonderful, care-free days of our youth. [is this Billie Nicholas of the Chief John Nicholas clan?]

St. Croix Courier
November 21, 1941
Shiretown Items
Won’t Suffer in Silence
It is remarkable how few women there are who can listen to a story or description of an incident without interjecting remarks here and there. They seem to think it would be impolite or that they would be suspected of lack of interest if they listened in silence. I was much amused the other day when I heard a man try to tell a woman about the incident he read in the Courier of four dogs being shot over Pembroke way. He got as far as to say the authorities in Pembroke shot four dogs last week, when the lady interjected “Were the dogs cross?” “Well,” replied the man, without a smile, “they probably weren’t any too well pleased.” And he ended the story right there. The lady stared blankly, but I had a good laugh which soon brought a response from the gentleman and at length a little giggle from the lady. But I bet she doesn’t know yet what we were laughing at.

St. Croix Courier
Dec 11/1941
Shiretown Items
A Bit of Local History
A letter from Wilbur J. Heuer, Edgerton, Wisconsin, making some inquiries, regarding an ancestor formerly residing here, was forwarded to me by the recipient, Chester A. Dixon, of Deer Island, with a request that I dig up some information on the matter, if interested. By the help of some good friends I have got together a little story which I thought might be of interest to others besides the inquirer. Mr. Heuer’s letter states: “Grandfather James Douglas was born about 1849 on Minister’s Island off SA, where he lived until about 9 years of age, spent several years in Saint John , and then migrated to Western Canada, and later to Wisconsin, volunteering as a Canadian in our Civil War, where he held the rank of major. His father, according to legend, owned this island and as a sea captain operated several sailing vessels with that as his base. He lost most of his estate as a result of guaranteeing a large venture in which the then prime minister of Canada was an associate.
            For a beginning we shall go back to the year 1779 when two men, named Ephraim Young and John Hanson (latter being the great, great grandfather of D. G. Hanson, the present Collector here) came from Gouldsboro, Maine, and settled on what was then called Chamcook Island. On their way they stopped for a short period on Campobello (Admiral Owen’s records). Hanson had served in the British Provincial Army from 1757 to 1763, and was with Wolfe at the taking of Quebec. He was 41 years old when he came to Chamcook (afterwards called Minister’s Island).
            At that time the population of St. Andrews was two.  The place was called Consquamcook or Quanoscumcook by the Indians. This population consisted of two men who lived in a log cabin about where the record office now sits, and their home was on the bank of a small stream which emptied into the harbour at the point where Mr. Jos. Handy’s house is situated. They carried on a fur trade with the Indians. Their names are lost in the mists of the long ago, but they were agents for Brown and Frost of Saint John.
            Mr. Young and Mr. Hanson, on arriving at Chamcook Island, immediately set to work and cleared a plot of ground. They lived there precariously for six years, being both married and having families. This whole island was in 1785 granted to Capt Osborne by the government of the newly formed province of NB. On learning that grants were being made Young and Hanson petitioned for the land but were too late. They were paid a fair sum for improvements they had made. They then each bought a lot of land at Bocabec. Hanson’s lot was situated on what is now called the Holt Point’s Road. There he lived the remainder of his life, died and was buried, the little private cemetery being still cared for by his descendants. Young settled farther inland. His son, Isaac, married Sarah, daughter of John Hanson, and their descendants till live there, or in other parts of Charlotte county.
            In 1785 (year of grant) this island was purchased from Capt. Osborne by the Rev. Samuel Andrews, who was for many years a prominent figure in the life of St. Andrews, which had been founded by a group of Loyalists Oct 3, 1783. Rev. Andrews paid 250 pounds for the island. In 1828 a plot of land on the island (now called Minister’s) was sold to William Douglas by Elisha Andrews, son of the Rev. Samuel. This lot was situated on the north-westside of the island, the boundaries beginning at the bar. The deed is on record, but the acreage is not mentioned. In May 1832 Elisha Andrews sold another 50 acres to William Douglas. In 1838 Douglas mortgaged this property to Neville Parker for 500 pounds sterling. In 1841 the property was sold by the Sherifff “for want of sufficient goods and chattels of said William Douglas to make the several debts and damages aforesaid, did serve and take in execution all that certain piece of land situated on Chamcook or Minister’s Island (so called) being farm on which island William Douglas resides and particularly described in deeds of conveyance thereof from the late Elisha Andrews.” Land conveyed to George D. Street by Sheriff’s deed, who immediately conveyed same to Marshall Andrews, 1841. William Douglas owned lots in St. Andrews and several blocks of land in other part of the country, all of which, records show, was sold for debt before the homestead on the island.
            There was a certain James Douglas, a merchant, living in SA, about the same time. On June 30, 1830, he sold lots 3 and 4 in Block P, Parr’s Division, to William Kinnear, Saint John. This is the property now owned and occupied by Miss Olive Hosmer as a summer residence. Customs records show that James Douglas did a thriving business.
            I have no doubt that William Douglas was the father of the James Douglas referred to in Mr. Heuer’s letter, but this James must have been born previous to 1849. I regret that I have been unable to learn anything of William Douglas’ history either before or after this period spent on Minister’s Island. But his stay on the island and the losses he incurred seem to bear out the truth of the “legend” referred to in Mr. Heuer’s letter, except that there was no Dominion of Canada at that time and consequently no premier of NB. I have told quite a long story and have not given the inquirer much information about his ancestry. But I have learned much that is of great interest to myself and hope it will be to the general reader. I doubt if any person now living in St. Andrews knew that for those several years a great part of Minister’s Island did not belong to the Andrews family.

St. Croix Courier
Jan 1, 1942
Shiretown Items
Remember This?
Mr. R. B. Clarke, a reader of the Courier how living in Toronto, but formerly of St. Andrews, seems to like the “odl stuff” which appears in this paper. He has sent several fine photographs taken around St. Andrews about forty years ago. The Editor has turned them over to the writer of this column with a request for a little story to go with any which may be used in the paper. This may take some little time but the owner, who prizes the pictures and wishes them returned, will know from this that they will be kept carefully and returned in due time. It happens that Mr. Clarke and myself were intimate friends in the old days. I have no particular objection to disclosing my identity but just for fun will mention a couple of incidents occurring about 1900 and let “R.B.” figure it out for himself. Four young men set out in a boat one day to sail around Deer Island, Charlie Richardson, Archie Calder, Bob Clarke and myself. In the midst of a heated argument between Clarke and Calder, as we were sailing through the middle of the harbour near Leonardville, the boat ran aground on a large rock. We had to wait there till the tide ebbed and flowed again before we could continue our journey. (Is that rock still there?) The other incident was a fishing trip to Digdeguash. Those present: Charlie Richardson, Billie Nicholas, Bob Clarke, and myself. We sailed across the Bay in a two reef breeze. Remember how Billie would climb to the high side very time we put the lee scuppers under? And how safe and confident Billie felt when he and myself were delegated to go ashore for butter and eggs in the canoe which we carried as a tender? It was then that I for the first time was really scared, as the frail craft tossed about like an egg-shell on the choppy sea. Only my supreme confidence in Billie’s skill and experience at the stern paddle kept me from having heart failure. Best of luck bob and a Happy New Year!

St. Croix Courier
Jan 8/1942
Old County Grammar School Has Graduate in Hundreds
[this would be a Worrell item, cf. the photos from Bob Clarke above]
St. Andrews, Jan 5.
Pictured above is the old Charlotte County Grammar School, whose hundreds of graduates or their descendants are scattered all over the North American continent and may even be found in lesser numbers in far-away parts of the world. It was erected in 1818 and was originally a square building with hip roof. Because of an increasing enrolment it became necessary at a later period to enlarge the building. An addition was built and the roof changed to the form shown in the picture.
            To make way for the present modern cement structure known as the Prince Arthur School, the old building was removed in 1910 to a nearby lot. It was later purchased and removed to the waterfront to be used as a warehouse where it was destroyed in the disastrous fire of 1930. With its interesting history and all its fond memories and associations, it surely deserved a better fate.
            List of CC Grammar School headmasters, among which S. Worrell

Shiretown Items
Drier or Wetter?
I have been told that there used to be thirteen wide-open bar-rooms in St. Andrews as well as a few private spots where one could quench his thirst if he had the password. Three or four saloons were located at the head of the market wharf, from which sea-faring men usually embarked on their long and perilous voyages. The saloons, thus situated, provided a place where the sailor and his stay-at-home companions could acquire fortitude for the words of farewell as the boat pulled out. No doubt the companions called in again on their way back to assuage their sorrow at the parting. The men of those days must have had a tremendous thirst and great capacity as they had to drink it all themselves. Even today with the ladies doing their bit it doesn’t seem that the town could support thirteen bar-rooms. Are times better or worse?

St. Croix Courier
Jan 15, 1942
Shiretown Items
Hundred Thousand Mark
I was interested in looking over the first prescription file of the Wren Drug Store, established in 1881. It was located then in the Saunders building which was destroyed by fire about 1885. The Bank of Nova Scotia now occupies the same site. The business was established by r. R. Wren who continued as proprietor until his appointment as collector, when it was taken over by W. J. Rollins, the present owner. Most of the prescriptions of 1881 were signed either by S. T. Gove, Harry Gove or J. A. Wade, the practising physicians her at that time. Since that time close to one hundred thousand prescriptions have been filled at the counter and they are all there on file.