Item
St. Croix Courier
Jan 6/1938
Shiretown Items—The Marina theatre put on a five and a half hour New Year's night to start off the year right for its patrons. . . . Incidentally the Marina has a couple of new gadgets which indicates the progressive policy of the management. One is a modernistic clock in the lobby which also advertises coming attractions; the other is a rotating disc to flash color effects on the screen.
St. Croix Courier
Jan 27, 1938
Five St. Andrews Men Drown When Car Drops Through Ice-Hole at Chamcook
One their way home after a carefree week-end outing at Chamcook Lake, five of a party of six well-known St. Andrews men were drowned Sunday evening when the car in which they were riding over the frozen surface of the lake skidded into a gaping hole left by ice-cutters and became their death-trap. As the machine settled to the bottom, its headlights still burning, one man, Joseph Gibson, somehow struggled out and saved himself. The others, paralyzed by the sudden plunge, drowned apparently without making an effort to escape.
Mr. Gibson, 55-year-old mason, came up under the ice the first time he rose. The second time he found himself in the ice-hole. As soon as he regained sufficient strength, he climbed out on the solid ice and, realizing that his companions were beyond aid, ran nearly three-quarters of a mile to a telephone and gave the alarm which brought help from St. Andrews. Victims of the tragedy were: Albert Storr, 70, superannuated baggage employee of the CPR. William Craig, 60, manager of the general store of J. A Doon and Co., Louis Hivon, 55, manager of the St. Andrews store of the New Brunswick Liquor Control Board. Ralph Howe, 40, painter. Carten McCurdy, 24, express driver.
The town of St. Andrews was plunged into mourning by the swift tragedy—mourning which was shared throughout the district as the news rapidly was spread. All the victims were well known and enjoyed the respect of the community. The tragedy which cut off their lives so abruptly led to the cancellation of all functions of a public nature in St. Andrews this week. Yesterday one of the most poignant scenes ever witnessed in the old Shiretown of Charlotte County was enacted as the five victims were buried with impressive funeral rites. . . .
The party went to Mr. Craig's camp on Chamcook lake Sunday afternoon, driving up over the lake ice which was of ample thickness to support the heavy car. Near the end of the lake next the road was a gaping hole in the white expanse—left by ice-cutters of William McQuoid and Son, who on Saturday were at the lake getting out a supply of ice under the supervision of Henry McQuoid. After spending the balance of the day about the camp the six men boarded the car for the return trip, leaving the camp about 9:45 Sunday evening. During down over the smoothly frozen ice the car skidded but did not get out of control. The driver straightened away on what he believed to be the course once more. The night was clear but an overcast sky hid the stars. In years of camping on the lake William Craig had come to know it intimately. A shadow appeared on the ice ahead, but no one noticed until suddenly the black patch slid under the car wheels and Mr. Gibson shrieked a frantic warning: "We're in McQuoid's ice-hole. Get out!"
Sole survivor of the ill-fated outing, Mr. Gibson could not explain how he escaped from the car while the others stayed inside. When the car struck the open space he shouted a warning, and as the car began to sink pried at the nearest door, but it would not open. The machine settled to the bottom of the lake. Somehow, the door did open and Mr. Gibson felt himself outside rising to the surface of the lake. He came up under the solid ice the first time, but the second time he broke through in clear water and a few minutes later scrambled out on the frozen surface of the lake. His clothing soaked with the chill lake water, he walked and ran three-quarters of a mile to the home of Mrs. Ernest Watts, where the nearest telephone was located, and from where news of the tragedy was sent to Wilfred and Max Rankin.
While they went back to the lake with a truck, Mrs. Watts telephoned St. Andrews where the town marshal, Howard MacNichol, and others made up a party of volunteers. Despite his wet clothing, Mr. Gibson insisted upon returning to the lake with the Rankins, but when they arrived they were unable to do anything until further help came on the scene.
The headlights of the car, shining through 15 or 20 feet of water, made it easy for the volunteers to locate the scene of the tragedy. Willing hands cut a lane through the ice to the lake shore, then a stout chain was dropped to the car and worked around until a hook on the end caught on the bumper, after which the car with its five victims still inside, sitting in the positions they occupied when Gibson last saw them, was hauled ashore by a heavy truck.
Beyond a scratch on Mr. Craig's nose there were no marks on any of the bodies. Nothing about them indicated that they had made an effort o get out. Mr. Craig, who had been driving still held the wheel. Both he and Mr. Storr had been smoking and in their hands they held their pipes. In the front seat with the driver were Mr. Storr and Mr. McCurdy. In the back seat Mr. Hivon was on the left side, Mr. Rowe in the centre, and Mr. Gibson had been on the right-hand side until he made his way to safety.
. . . Mr. Gibson was, strangely enough, the only member of the party who could not swim and he was the only one to escape. Apparently little the worse for his soul-searing experience he later gave a graphic description of the horror he passed through while his companions were going to their deaths.
"I'll never forget it in my life," he said.
"What did you think about when you were under the ice?"
"I couldn't tell you what I thought. It all happened in the twinkling of an eye. When the car struck the open space I shouted—'We're in McQuoid's ice-hole, Get out!'"
"I put the pressure to the door but it wouldn't open. I didn't expect to get out alive. The car settled to the bottom and somehow I got the door open and I could feel myself rise. Then my head bumped against the ice. I was under the solid ice. The bump didn't hurt, I couldn't feel any pain. I just knew I had struck the ice. Then I sank again, I rose the second time—and I came up I the open water."
His lungs bursting he came up where he could breathe again and clawed at the jagged edges of the ice. With an almost superhuman effort he dragged himself out onto the solid ice and looked down into the hole.
The car lights were still burning. He could see the dim beams in the depths. Heavy clothing soaked, overshoes full of water, he set out on a three-quarter of a mile run to the nearest house where there was a telephone. He was almost exhausted when he struggled into the home of Mrs. Ernest Watts and panted the story of the tragedy. She telephoned Wilfred and Max Rankin.
Disregarding the fact that he was wet to the skin, Mr. Gibson hurried back to lake Chamcook with the Rankins. They took a truck with them. "We couldn't do a thing," Mr. Gibson said. More than 150 men arrived at the lake. Through the ice they sawed a channel eight feet wide 175 feet to the shore from where the death car lay at the bottom. "We left he camp (Mr. Craig's) at 9:45, watch of one man stopped at 10:45, and that of another at 10:20. Mr. Storr's watch was still running when they got the car ashore."
Mr. Gibson said the automobile, a sedan, did not turn over, but simply settled down to the lake bottom on four wheels. He estimated that there were two fathoms of water over its roof.
St. Croix Courier
Feb 3, 1938
Victims and Scene in Chamcook Lake Tragedy
Pictures made from an unfinished roll of film found in Carten McCurdy's clothing when his body was removed from the bottom of Chamcook lake after the tragedy which took the lives of five St. Andrew men Sunday night, Jan.23, formed the basis of the above group of pictures. At top is shown William Craig's camp where the party spent their ill-fated outing and the ice-boat on which they were riding that afternoon. Below, at left, is Louis Hivon; centre, above, Albert Storr, and William Craig; centre, below, Ralph Howe, at right, Carten McCurdy. Two of the pictures, that of the ice-boat and that of McCurdy, were taken the day of the tragedy and were on the roll of film taken from his camera and developed by Archie Shirley, the St. Andrews photographer. The film was undamaged by its immersion in the water. The snapshot of Carten was taken in the yard of his home that tragic Sunday before he left to spend the day at the lake, and he himself took the top view while at the camp. These and other pictures were made available to The Courier through the kindness of relatives and friends of the five victims, and are believed to be the best and most recent now available.
St. Croix Courier
March 3/1938
Death of St. Andrews Postmaster Albert Thompson of St. Stephen who came to St. Andrews in 1890 to work in Beacon with R. E. Armstrong. From there to postmaster.
St. Croix Courier
March 24/1938
New Bridge over Digdeguash River will be largest in County. Illustration. (Only the footings remain now)
St. Croix Courier
May 12/1938
Shiretown Items—St. Andrews Not Included. The James Fitzpatrick travelogue "Glimpses of New Brunswick" which was taken last year was shown at the Marina Theatre last Thursday and Friday, the pictures were in technicolor and showed some fine scenes. The nearest it got to St. Andrews was Black's Harbour and Lake Utopia.
St. Croix Courier
May 19/1938
Shiretown Items—O'Neill Fountain Improved. Fountain end of business equipped with booths and tables. Kitchen also set up for lunches and hot drinks. Number of latest gadgets added to fountain.
St. Croix Courier
June 9/1938
Shiretown Items—Yachting has recently become popular in St. Andrews. Bill Van Horne has two Nova Scotia schooners, "Gilda Gray" and "N. Mason." Ralph Wilson has Chester-built yacht "Aluna", Capt. Finnigan has motor boat "Maira Una" and Howard Pillow "Lucinda." Captain Randy Wren is planning to launch the "Lee Tide" soon; owned by Miss Margot Redmond, one of the new enthusiasts.
St. Croix Courier
June 9/1938
Charlotte County Abounds in Attractive Locations for Seekers of Recreation. Article. Deep-sea fishing popular.
St. Croix Courier
June 16/1938
Joe Cashman manager of Algonquin.
St. Croix Courier
June 23/1938
Editorial: the lengthy paving process on the St. Stephen-Saint John road has been making tourism difficult for the area. Has been going on since at least last year. Since the depression ended tourism has been increasing steadily; this road is by far the most important one in the province.
Shiretown Items—Marina Theatre on its summer schedule of two shows per evening.
Albert McQuoid still at School for Blind
St. Croix Courier
June 30/1938
Algonquin opened June 25 with Insurance Underwriters Convention of about 80 members.
St. Croix Courier
July 14/1938
Shiretown Items—Miss Cairine Wilson wins New Brunswick Ladies Golf Championship. "Miss Wilson believes that for her success much credit is due to the excellent tutoring she had here under John Peacock and Archie Skinner. The tournament is to be held in St. Andrews next year over the beautiful Algonquin golf course, and no doubt the youthful champion will be on hand to defend her title. To Miss Wilson the Algonquin course is an open book, as it is on these links that she has done practically all of her playing."
Hotel Business Better—Business at the Algonquin to date is better than last year. More tickets have been sold at the tennis courts and the golf links and bathing beach are well patronized. The Hotel has a very fine orchestra this season, every man a star with years radio experience. The names are: Samuel Hersenhoren, leader and violinist; Ernest Barnes, piano; Gordon McKay, double bass; Harry Nicholson, drums; Charles Green, saxophone and clarinet; Henry Del-Greco, violin and saxophone Glenn Morley, cello.
Ferry Approach Bad—frequently visitors need a pull over the worst part of the hill which is covered with loose stones. But business increasing steadily regardless; over 22 hundred cars used the Ferry last year and to date this season is better than last.
Instructive and entertaining evening at Casino for dealers and employees of Imperial Oil Charlotte County. A talking picture was shown explaining the manufacture and uses of their . . . and also a travelogue of Africa. After the programmed refreshments were served and a "sing song" enjoyed until midnight, when the party broke up by singing "Good Night Ladies."
St. Andrews Band put on a performance with Harry Nicholson, drummer from the Algonquin sitting in with the boys and pepping things up a lot. Tunes listed.
St. Croix Courier
Aug 4/1938
Shiretown Items—New Tennis Court. The grounds at Seaside Inn are rapidly improving under the supervision of the proprietor, Mr. Jones. A tennis court is being constructed giving employment to several men. Blue clay is being hauled from the beach at Indian Point, which is spread on the court and tamped down by hand. It is a slow and tedious process but will ensure a court of uniform consistency, and when rolled will give a smooth, hard, and durable surface.
Worrell notes that with the paving on New Brunswick highways, cycling is becoming popular again in a revival of its hey-day in the gay nineties.
St. Croix Courier
Aug 18/1938
Beatty in town again, on tour of Maritimes with Sir Charles Gordon, president of Bank of Montreal, H. J. Humphrey, vice-president of CPR, and T. C. MacNabb, district superintendent. Arrive and leave same day.
St. Croix Courier
Aug 25/1938
Shiretown Items—Annual Party a Great Success. One of the highlights of the summer season here is the annual "Caddy Party" provided by Thomas Marshall. Although ostensibly arranged as a treat for the caddies, several hundred adults are usually included in the invitations. Usually held at his residence, the party this year of necessity took on somewhat of a variation, as Mr. Marshall has no residence at present, only one in the course of construction. The event this year consisted of a theatre party at the Marina Theatre where the guests enjoyed a fine programmed of pictures and where the caddies each received a souvenir. Before the show, entertainment was provided by two local celebrities, Scott Stuart and Herbert Henderson, with violin and accordion. As the old-time jigs and reels were played even the older and more sedate, who are always annoyed when anyone stamps during a picture show, entered into the spirit of the occasion and stamped as loudly as the rest. Scott favoured the audience with a "Come-all-ye" which probably could not be classed as a musical gem, but certainly gave convincing evidence of the performer's facility of articulation and retentiveness of memory. After the show the guests repaired to "Pat's" Café, and to the K. of P. hall to partake of ice-cream and cakes, and thence to Andraeleo Hall where dancing was enjoyed till midnight. To the boys and girls of course this annual event is but an occasion to have a "whale of a time." But to the older people of the town it has a deeper meaning. Any adult participating in one of these parties who does not experience a spiritual uplift should have his heart-strings examined. The kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity and affection of Mr. Marshall have endeared him to all, and it is hoped that he may be spared many years to enjoy his summers here.
St. Croix Courier
Sept 8/1938
Shiretown Items—Below Expectations. The Algonquin Hotel closed its doors on Tuesday after a fairly successful season, though not up to expectations. owing to continued wet weather it was impossible to hold the guests for more than a day or two, or to keep the house count up to a point at which the hotel is on a paying basis.
All Helps—The showing of the travelogue "Seeing New Brunswick with Lowell Thomas" at Radio City Music Hall, the largest motion picture in the world, was of great interest to the people of St. Andrews as this picture contains scenes taken at St. Andrews and the publicity which the town will receive in this way should bring practical results.
A Romance of Long Ago—Many, many years ago, a family came from England to St. Andrews and occupied a house pretty well up on the hill which, two or three years ago, was renovated and remodelled and is now one of our most beautiful summer residences. This family brought with them a maid named Lucy, young and attractive. A young man who had known her in England was so enamoured of her charms that he followed her to St. Andrews. He stayed here for several months but, unable to obtain regular employment, returned to England. Before returning, however, the young couple had become engaged to be married with the understanding that just as soon as he could find employment and get sufficient funds together the young man would send Lucy her passage money, and they would be married immediately on her arrival in England. Lucy waited patiently for months, and then for years, but no letter or passage money was forthcoming. She never married nor had another sweetheart but lived on with these people she had come out with, and on their death, they having acquired ownership of the property in the meantime, they left it to Lucy, then an "old maid" that the now old folks of the town remember this home. But during Lucy's ownership, about forty years after her young sweetheart had sailed for England, she was having the kitchen built over. A sort of built in cabinet which had stood in the corner of the room all these years was removed—and there on the floor between cabinet and wall lay the long looked for letter, passage money and all—"believe it or not!"
St. Croix Courier
Oct 20/1938
Government Inspection of Places Catering to Tourists Urged. One of eleven Suggestions Made by Conference Meeting at Fredericton. Alertness of St. Andrews Mayor Saves Outsiders (from being shut out by delegates representing Saint John , Fredericton, etc) Some of the eleven suggestions interesting, like whitening of telephone poles and power lines along main trunk highways.
St. Croix Courier
Nov 3/1938
Shire town Items—Pottery Being Revived. Many years ago there was a pottery doing business in St. Andrews. It was situated on the road leading to Joe's Point and the little bridge on that road is still known as the "pottery" bridge. In more recent years, (about fifteen years ago), a pottery was established here by Miss Helen Mowatt, well known as the originator of the still prospering Cottage Craft. The business flourished for a few years but owing to the pressure of other interests, was eventually closed down. (Apparently Mowatt attempting a revival)
St. Croix Courier
Nov 3/1938
Editorial: our oldest resident Edward Phillips of L'Etang. "The inland sections of Charlotte County have a number of nonagenarians, each of whom has at one time or another been described as the "oldest resident" of the municipality. We should have known better than to look for the longest-lived individual away from the coast, where the combination of salt air and a diet including a generous proportion of sea food develops brawn as well as brain and is conducive to length of years."
St. Croix Courier
Nov 10/1938
Shire town Items—Twenty Years After. On Friday of this week twenty years will have passed since the signing of the Armistice to end the World War. To those of the generation which lived through the trying years of the war without active participation in it, perhaps the outstanding memory is that of the sense of joy and relief experienced when news came that the Armistice had been signed. To the men who fought and survived there will be a thousand poignant memories. But the younger generation growing up can recall nothing of those years. On this Day of Remembrance what may these young people be taught to remember? First of all that war to end war is a fallacy, that conflict is most easily avoided by tolerance and sympathetic understanding, and difficulties overcome by op-operation and unwavering determination. Let them be taught to remember forever the story of the Great War with its contrasts of folly and wisdom, its moments of black grief and exultant joy, its greed and self-denial, its extremes of degradation and glory, but that most particularly this story should be recalled to memory when men and women and boys and girls stand with heads bowed in silence on the day we now name Remembrance Day.
A Great Day's Work—
The few local adherents to that peculiar and obnoxious type of philosophy colloquially known as "blue ruin," were afforded convincing evidence on Thursday Nov. 3rd, that the community spirit in St. Andrews is still very much alive, and that interest in the hockey and skating arena is as strong as ever. At 6:30 Thursday morning eleven trucks and fifty-five men were on hand at the Russell gravel pit, Bayside, to start the day's work, and a great day's work it was! One hundred and five loads of an excellent quality of gravel, approximating 260 yards were hauled to the Arena and spread. The surface was levelled to a nicety and will be rolled down hard with a heavy roller. This gravel, which contains a large proportion of sand, will pack down hard and smooth and will not only make an excellent foundation for ice, but also assure a firm, dry floor for the various uses to which the Arena may be put in the summer months. Part of the crew spent that day, smoothing and sloping the ground outside the rink, on the northeast side, towards the street gutter to effect better drainage. The men who took part in this latest community rally all expressed themselves as having had a "whale of a time. Of course the highlight of the day was dinner served at the pit at noon. Picture fifty-five hungry but happy men, ranged in a semi-circle on comfortable settees, a huge fire in the centre, glowing in accordance with the best traditions, two wash-boilers brimming full of delicious fish chowder, gallons of coffee, heaps of pies and doughnuts, cases of ginger ale, boxes of cigars and cigarettes, bags of candy! Is it not a picture to make one's mouth water? The sand bank, one hundred feet high, as a background, in front the noble St. Croix of deep cerulean blue, sparkling in the autumn sunlight, and the amusing antics of the diners, boys again for a day, was a setting made to order for Bill O'Neill with his movie camera. He took several reels of pictures which will be shown later in technicolor to his friends about town. The only items of expense in connection with this wonderful rally were the food for the men, the gas and oil for the trucks, and the gravel, which cost five cents a yard.
St. Croix Courier
Nov 17/1938
Shire town Items—Fifty Years Ago and Now. A local bard who was browsing through some old copies of the St. Andrews Beacon came across the following "poem," which he thought might interest the readers of this column. The first "edition" was published in 1888, fifty years ago. It was re-printed in 1898 with two additional stanzas to bring it up to date. Two stanzas are again added to bring it up to 1938.
1938
Again the wintry sun goes down
Behind the Devil's Head;
And now Herb Greenlaw rings the bell
To show the day is dead;
The talk of "booms" now ne'er is heard
On the streets about the town,
But only of the tourist trade
That rains the money down.
A concrete pavement now is seen
Where once the cows did roam;
Electric lights adorn the streets
And decorate the dome,
The "talkies" entertain us now
In 1938;
We turn the tap and fill our glass
And drink from Chamcook lake!
Mr. Worrell himself seems to have contributed this addition, though he mistakenly believes that the 1898 piece was an add-on.
St. Croix Courier
Nov 24/1938
Edit: Refugees. Opening section of notable refugees of history, including Loyalists. "Persecuted by the Nazi regime in Germany, the Jews of our day constitute a problem so serious that story is now being given to some plan to resettle them in other parts of the world, and even a mass migration is possible. What plans the Canadian government may have to share in opening new homes for them we have not been told. Such migrations, however, are by no means loss for the countries to which the refugees come; in our own case, the admission of a proportion of those forced to abandon Europe may well lead to a great development of the natural resources which Canada undoubtedly possesses.
Shire town Items—Summer is Gone. The last summer visitor has gone. The last cottage is bolted and barred, and shuttered in preparation for the long winter. On the hill, where a few short weeks ago was life and joy and action, now silence reigns supreme. Around the Point where picnickers and bathers and "beachcombers" disported in the summer sunshine, now all is peace and quiet. But the water, the sky, and the hills are there, if possible more beautiful than ever in the fading autumn light. The red cliffs of McMaster's Island and the blue hills of Bocabec look back across the Bay, not in arrogance and grandeur, but with a friendliness and intimacy, as if they had an interest in the fate of human individuals, and wondered where everyone had gone. Perhaps they grieve, "if aught inanimate e'er grieves," for the days that are no more, and for the passing, if only for a season, of the many friends of summer now far, far away. A few of the faithful may still be seen passing that way, on their daily drive, or their daily hike; but although they look, they do not linger. Verily, summer is gone!
Golf Centre: no less than eight golf pros in town, all St. Andrews or former St. Andrews boys, and they have been taking a "busman's holiday," by playing a series of matches for small stakes. Charles Stinson of Paris, Kentucky; George Stickney, Kentville; Jack Stickney, Presque Isle; Bruce Stinson, New Glasgow; Vernon Stinson, Saint John ; Archie Skinner,St. Andrews; John Peacock, St. Andrews.
St. Croix Courier
Dec 29/1938
Shire town Items—Conley's Improving Plant. The J. R. Conley Co. are enlarging their live lobster plant at the head of the public wharf. At present they can take care of only about 5,000 pounds of lobsters, but with the enlarged plant they will be able to keep on hand constantly a supply of 30,000 pounds or more. There will be 24 holding tanks of 600 gallons each.
Editorial: Prime Minister Chamberlain's policy of appeasement hand in hand with rearmament received striking endorsement at the hands of the voters last week when the Duchess of Athot was defeated by a candidate supporting the government. As information becomes more widely distributed as to the true state of affairs last September, more and more of the erstwhile critics of France and Britain have come to know that when they gave ground at Munich they took the only course open to them. Every week that passes now gives the democracies time to whip their forces into shape to meet any threat, and thereby increase the prospect of peace. The fervent prayers of millions are with these statesmen as they face the New Year, that their efforts may be successful in assuring the world an opportunity to enjoy the prosperity that seems to be within its grasp if men but will it.