Item
St. Croix Courier
January 10, 1946
Shiretown Items
Daniel Hanson
Over a long period of years and with a long list of public officers to chose from it would be unfair to say that any one man was the best we have ever had in any particular office but I feel safe in stating that since the beginning of Customs collecting at this Port we have never had a better collector than Daniel Hanson, who has recently retired after 33 year's service. Mr. Hanson had the ability and faithfulness necessary to carry on the work in the best interests of the Department and at the same time knew how to handle the public. It is frequently said that no matter how successful a man may be in any position, there can always be found someone to take his place. No doubt this is true in the main but it does not always follow, Whoever may be appointed to succeed Mr. Hanson, and who will try to fill the position with equal success, will have his work cut out for him. After a long life devoted almost entirely to useful work it must be difficult to adjust oneself to days of idleness. A solution may be found in voluntary public service and in hobbies. Mr. Hanson has served on the Town Council and as chairman of the School Board. He has been for many years, and still is, the efficient steward of Wesleyan United Church. His hobbies are gardening, hunting and fishing. As added pastimes we would suggest golf, for the summer and chess and curling for the winter. With at least twenty years of active life remaining he should be able to become fairly proficient at these difficult games.
[I copy this article out because Daniel Hanson is the man who had framed the lithographs of old St. Andrews now in the Charlotte County Archives—the first by Lieutenant Wells of the view from Joe's Point, and the second (a reproduction) of the view from Navy Island by Lieutenant Ashburton]
St. Croix Courier
Jan 17/1946
Shiretown Items
Old Friends are Passing
IT is a common experience to us all as we grow older to lose each year through death a number of our intimate friends. In the recent passing here of Thomas Pendlebury, I have lost not only a good friend of many years standing but one of Shiretown Items' most faithful fans. I rarely met him on the street without receiving some word of praise or encouragement, and many of my old time items were written from information I got from him. He bought four Couriers regularly every week to send away to his children. His death was not unexpected, however, as he was 82 years of age and had been in poor health for a year or more. The sudden death of Bev. Jordan and J. H. Stanton were on the other hand a decided shock to me as I had received Christmas cards from both of them as usual during the past few years and it is hard to realize that they are gone. I had known Bev. intimately ever since he was Town Marshal lin St. Andrews and have had many proofs of his friendship, his manly qualities and his sincere understanding of human nature. As to Mr. Stanton of Oakland, Cal., he seemed to me like some beloved character in a book. In our books we can turn up a passage at will and spend a few minutes communing with an old friend. And so it was with Mr. Stanton's spicy little notes which have been coming quite regularly for a past four years. There was always something new and intriguing about them. We could glance over them at intervals, during dull moments, and enjoy a fellowship with one so far away as miles are measured but so near at hand as friendship is considered. His first and many following notes were signed "Passer-by" and he kept me guessing for a long time before I found out his name or much about him. His often expressed wish to re-visit his native New Brunswick was not to be fulfilled. He is gone and I shall miss him more than I can say. And so, dear Passer-by, farewell, a fond farewell.
St. Croix Courier
Feb 7/1946
St. Andrews Arena officially reopened. Old arena
St. Croix Courier
Feb 21/1946
Shiretown Items—St. Andrews Exchange
(History of St. Andrews Telephone Exchange reproduced almost in full. Including 1900 Mallory-Algonquin line.)
In the January number of "Telephone News," a magazine published for the employees of the N.B. Telephone Co., and a copy of which has been presented to me by our local manager, F. J. McCarlie, appears an interesting and well written story by C. A. Lee relating to the development of the telephone exchange in St. Andrews. Accompanying the article are good pictures of the Howard Rigby home, where the first exchange was installed in 1903, of the McDowell building to which it was removed in 1912, and of the modernly equipped brick and concrete building, erected and owned by the company, and completed in 1939. The introduction of the story consists of a sketch of the history of St. Andrews from 1604 up to the present time, with flattering reference to the many natural attractions of the town, and some interesting notes on some of our present-day inhabitants. The history of the exchange, which, I am sure, will be of interest to a much wider circle of readers than would be reached by the publication in which it appeared, is copied here almost in full.
"In 1900 W. E. Mallory installed a private telephone line between his livery stable off Water Street and the Algonquin Hotel on Fort Hill. A little later Sir William Van Horne erected a private line between his residence on Minister's Island and the CPR station. When a toll pole line was erected between Saint John and St. Stephen in 1901 a toll switch and station were placed in the residence of Howard Rigby on Water Street, St. Andrews. In conversation with the construction foreman, Sherman Hoyt, Mr. Mallory suggested the company establish an exchange in St. Andrews. Mr. Hoyt told him if he could dig up thirty-give subscribers the company would put in an exchange. Mr. Mallory at once got busy and succeeded in getting thirty subscribers, which number the company accepted as a sufficient start, and at once installed a switchboard in the Rigby residence, with Margaret (Madge) Rigby, assisted by her sister Carrie, as the first chief operator. Descriptions of the various types of switchboards used are omitted here as being of little importance to the general reader. in 1911 Miss Ruth Greenlaw became chief operator with Miss Muriel Pendlebury (now Mrs. Stanley Deacon) added to the staff. In 1912 Miss Viola McDowell was employed as night operator and held this position until her retirement on July 31, 1943, a record of 31 years.
"Late in 1912 the company purchased the McDowell building further west on Water Street, replacing the two position Bell Switchboard with a new Kellogg Switchboard with harmonic ringing. By means of selective ringing it was possible to install 4-party lines, the only subscriber's bell to ring being that of the party called. There were 178 subscribers at the time. In 1914 a Private Branch Switchboard with 250 sub-stations and 5 trunks to the New Brunswick Tel. company's switchboard was installed in the Algonquin Hotel. In 1930 a more up-to-date system was place in the main office which at that time was giving service to 385 subscribers.
"In 1938 the company bought the Odell property on Water Street. This property had been the site of the Edwin Odell Dry Goods Store, one of the oldest and most outstanding business houses in St. Andrews prior to its destruction by fire in 1930. Here early in 1939 the company erected a modern brick building and installed a new Common Battery exchange. On Sept. 15, 1930, the old magneto system in the McDowell building was cut over to the Northern Electric Manual common battery in the new brick building, there being 388 subscribers at the time of the cut-over. The building and equipment are a credit both to the company and to the town of St. Andrews. Much credit is due to the McCarlie for the neat and beautiful appearance of the company's building and grounds; during the summer months his window boxes and borders of flowers are the pride of Water Street.
"Since 1903 the St. Andrews exchange has grown from a one position magneto switchboard with thirty subscribers to a three-position common battery multiple board with 450 subscribers and toll lines from a switch on a local iron circuit to six direct toll circuits.
"Local managers stationed at St. Andrews from 1914 to 1933 were as follows: M. J. McCarroll, Skiff. McCarroll, Willard Lewis, Harry Leroy, Fred Kennedy, F. J. McCarlie, the latter still in charge.
"Chief operators from 1911 to 1945 have been Ruth Greenlaw, Irene Rollins, Emma Stickney, Mina Pendlebury, Eileen Greenlaw. St. Andrews exchange has now a staff of six operators, Eileen Greenlaw, Norma Henderson, Donna McNichol, Irene McQuoid, Mina Pendlebury and Freda Leslie."
(Piece follows on death of Charles Mallory)
Sir Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, Viscount Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis and Baron Rideau of Ottawa, and of Castle Derg, county Tyrone
Governor General: 1946 - 1952 Appointed: March 21, 1946 Sworn In: April 12, 1946, Ottawa Born: December 10, 1891, London, England Died: June 16, 1969
St. Croix Courier
March 14, 1946
Shiretown Items
About Trains
When automobiles first appeared on our highways they were of interest for a time because of their novelty. The same may be said of aeroplanes. Both of these wonderful mechanical contrivances have now become so commonplace that they attract no more than passing glance. It is not so with a train. Age cannot wither its fascination, nor custom sale its infinite appeal. Automobiles and aeroplanes appear just what they are, man-made machines. But a passing train pulled by a puffing locomotive, seems like a living thing into which the breath of life had been introduced by some supernatural creator. To those who live, or have lived, near the tracks where trains are passing at all hours the long musical and deep-toned whistles, piercing the stillness of the night seem like a message from another world and leave an impression which time can never efface from our memory. Even to stand on the tracks and look away into the distance where the rails seem to meet arouses all sorts of fascinating pictures in our imagination. But when spring and early summer come around each year and we once more take up our regular late afternoon walks one of our greatest delights, and hard to understand because it is such a simple pleasure, is to stand at gaze and watch the evening train go by, engine puffing, bell a-clanging and wheels a–rumbling.
St. Croix Courier
March 21, 1946
Shiretown items
M. and M.
Two of our young men, Charles Mason and Joseph Miller, after several years service overseas with the R.C.A.F. have returned home and have established a business in the Masonic block, to carry on all kinds of radio, electric and photographic work.
St. Croix Courier
March 28/1946
Shiretown Items
All Will Wish Him Well
Editor's Note: Readers will share our regret that the author of this column, Dr. J. F. Worrell, has been ill since last week and will be unable to resume writing for an indefinite period.
June 10/1946 Willa Walker—Dalmeny destroyed by fire
St. Croix Courier
June 6, 1946
Shiretown Items Thanks for Everything
It was the fifteenth day and my spirts were still pretty low. Milk and buttermilk do not make an inspiring diet and become monotonous after a couple of weeks. I was reading the Courier and when I came to Theo's item, my eyes filled with tears, and I marveled to realize how one's emotions can be affected by the printed word. As I read on, however, and came to the reference to the shampoo regulation and the "panther sweat," I laughed out loud so that he folks down stairs heard me and rejoiced. That was the turning point in my sickness and from that day forward I improved slowly but surely. Good old Theo! Thanks a lot. I am also grateful to the Editor and to writers in other corners of our Courier for their kind expressions of sympathy and best wishes for my recovery. I am grateful for the many letters and "get well" cards, which will be answered personally in due time. Thanks also for the regular inquiries on the street, at the house and by telephone—it all helped to cheer us up. Thanks for the buttermilk, gallons of it, for the eggs fresh from the nest, for the puddings, dainty mayflowers, fragrant and beautiful, for papers, magazines and books galore, for salmon from Chamcook Lake, for offers of other foods I dare not eat, for free shaves, for the good neighbour who came to shovel snow, and last and most of all for the good friend who came regularly and faithfully to shovel snow, cut kindling woods and tend the furnace. I hope I haven't missed anything. For all our blessings we are truly thankful. Of what shall a man be proud if he is not proud of his friends! God bless them everyone. It is an occasional experience such as this, that keeps alive our faith in the fundamental good ness of humanity. People are just chock full of goodness, kindness and sympathetic understanding.
A Common Ailment
It is said that one of the most common afflictions of mankind is the peptic or gastric ulcer. Though there may be other contributory factors, such as faulty diet or too much of it, doctors are quite generally agreed that the chief cause is worry. By a sufficient exertion of will power we can control our diet but to avoid worry under trying circumstances is a difficult problem. It is said that thousands who have ulcers trouble never suffer any further inconvenience or distress than chronic indigestion—-which is bad enough. But when the ulcer breaks and hemorrhages occur the patient is down and out for a long time. It takes several weeks on a liquid diet to allow the ulcer to heal, and much longer for a new blood supply to be built tup. After the patient is up and around he is disappointed to find, especially if he is no longer young, that it takes a long time to get any strength back. In the words of another old-timer "his legs is all gone." Except during the hemorrhages and for a couple of days afterwards when the patient is very sick, and when the pendulum of life swings so far out that we are forced to wonder I fit will ever swing back again, there is very little distress or discomfort as long as we remain flat on our back. But raise the head or try to sit up in bed and the room begins to rock and spin. The well-known sensation of the "the morning after" is mild by comparison. The worst feature of the ulcer is that once it has developed it is there for life. It may be healed but never permanently cured. An operation is sometimes successful but, in many cases, a new ulcer develops elsewhere. We must just accept it as one of the many woes that flesh is heir to.
St. Croix Courier
June 20/1946
Next meeting of Charlotte County Board of Trade to be held at Algonquin Hotel June 26.
St. Croix Courier
July 18/1946
Details of New Brunswick/PEI golf tourney held at Algonquin Club. One of largest and most successful in recent history. Archie Skinner, club pro, winner of one division. See also July 18/1946 next issue on roll, front page, for more details.
St. Croix Courier
July 25/1946
Tourist trade booming. All the hotels and private homes catering to tourists have been kept well-filled this summer. Hundreds of visitors are here with bursting purses and nothing to buy but the bare necessities of life. [rationing still in effect]
More on wooden aqueduct recently discovered.
St. Croix Courier
August 15, 1946
Shiretown Items
Bicycle Trips
I was much interested in a note in The Courier about a Saint John boy, 14, doing the 80 miles from Saint John to Oak by in eight hours. To average 10 miles an hour for that distance is good riding for any one, and he probably had to take time out for lunch, as cycling is hungry work. The hills on the main highway have been cut down a lot since my bicycle days and the pavement must make the going a lot easier, to say nothing of the coaster brake, which was unknown in the old days. I rode to Eastport and back one day 104 miles, with Jim Clinch. We rested an hour in the sardine town and covered the distance in 11 hours, 13 minutes riding time, not as good time as the Saint John lad made in his recent trip. Riders here and in St. Stephen and Calais were always trying to make a record between here and St. Stephen. I did the run once in 1 hour 28 minutes, but I think Elbridge Short could best that easily but never heard his record. A Saint John boy claimed he did it in 1 hours, 17 minutes. Long distance cycling is great sport but is not much favored by the youth of today.
St. Croix Courier
Aug 29/1946
Second boxing event in St. Andrews. 160 pound entry from Algonquin loses—Ken Young.
St. Croix Courier
Sept 5/1946
First case of polio in town.
Montreal Star
Sept 7, 1946
W. Van Horne Dies At Weir
Grandson of CPR Founder in 40th Year
William Cornelius C. Van Horne, grandson of the late Sir William C. Van Horne died last night at Weir. He was in his 40th year.
Born at St. Andrews, New Brunswick, in 1907 he was the son of the late Richard Benedict Van Horne and of Edith Molson, daughter of the late Dr. William A. Molson, now Mrs. Randolph Bruce, widow of the late Hon. Randolph Bruce, former Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.
Educated at private schools and at Lower Canada College, he was an enthusiastic sportsman. He won many trophies at motorboat racing and yachting, and was a member of the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club. During the war he was at Halifax with the Sea Cadets.
Interested in various business ventures, he organized the Auburn Motor Sales Company and served as its president for some time. The family home is at 1139 Sherbrooke Street West.
Mr. Van Horne was twice married. His first wife, the late Audrey Fraser, daughter of William L. Fraser, of Montreal, died some years ago as a result of an automobile accident. There was one daughter, Miss Edith Ann Van Horne, by this marriage. His second wife was the former Margaret M. Hannon, daughter of Matthew S. Harman, of Toronto, and she survives him, as does his daughter and his mother.
The body will be taken to St. Andrews for burial, but final arrangements have not yet been completed.
Montreal Star
Sept 9/1946
Deaths
Van Horne. At Weir, Quebec, Sept. 6, 1946. William C. C. Van Horne, of Montreal and St. Andrews, New Brunswick, beloved husband of Margaret Mary Hannon. Remains left the Chapel of Jos. C. Wray and Bro., 1234 Mountain St., Sun. afternoon for interment at St. Andrews, New Brunswick.
Rural Cemetery Burial
William C. Van Horne
Age 39
Grandson of Sir William
Lot 171B
Sept 9, 1946
Courier
Sept 11, 1947
St. Andrews, Sept. 11.
Funeral services for William Van Horne, aged 39 years, were held at St. Andrews' Church on Monday morning when requiem high mass was celebrated. He was buried in the Protestant Rural Cemetery overlooking Passamaquoddy Bay, and Minister's Island where he spent many summers.
Only grandson of the late Sir William Van Horne, a founder and president of the CPR, and son of the late Benjamin Van Horne, he had been staying at Weir, Quebec, where he was taken ill and died there on Friday, September 6. The body was brought to St. Andrews by train.
Relatives attending the funeral at St. Andrews were his wife, his mother, Mrs. Bruce of Montreal, his daughter by his first marriage, Beverley Anne Van Horne and Matthew Hannon of Toronto, a brother-in-law.
St. Croix Courier
Sept 12/1946
Dustless summer. All St. Andrews streets paved for first time. $4,000.00.
St. Croix Courier
Sept 26, 1946
Shiretown items
Men's Club
The St. Andrews's Men's Club have taken a lease of Mrs. Handy's shop opposite the Commodore Hotel, and if possible, plan to make the club a year round affair in order to hold the room which is ideally located. The first year the club had over a hundred members, many of whom rarely visited the rooms, but contributed their dues to help out a good cause. Last year, expenses being less, only those actively interested joined up. Now again the club needs the support of every man and boy, sixteen or over, in order to keep the monthly dues low as formerly. This club is a fine thing in the town and provides regular harmless amusement for many during the long winter evenings at chess, checkers and cards. No gambling, profanity or liquor are allowed. A meeting will be held in the room tomorrow, Friday night, Sept. 27, to elect a new slate of officers and lay plans for the winter.
*St. Croix Courier
Oct 3/1946
Shiretown Items
Conley's lobsters has been in operation for several months. Some construction still in progress. Started in small building near town center several years back. Good descriptions of inside and operations.
St. Croix Courier
Oct 17/1946
Distinguished visitors. Lord Beaverbrook staying at Fort Tipperary for period. Seaplane and amphibious Grumman "Mallard" bring J. P. Bickford, President of McIntyre Gold Mines, William Randolph Hearst, Jr., and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr. Doing air tour of province with Beaverbrook.
St. Croix Courier
Oct 24/1946
Old Home month coming up. Worrell composes poem on occasion.
St. Croix Courier
Oct 31, 1946
Shiretown Items
Practical Jokes
Fortunately for the rest of us only a few people in the world can be considered confirmed practical jokers. The few who are always up to some skullduggery may be divided into two classes, those whose jokes are always harmless, good for a laugh and even enjoyed by the victim, and those whose pranks savour of meanness and often cause injury. The latter are always unpopular and sooner or later become cured when the play the joke on the wrong person. We are sometimes surprised at the person who pulls off a good one. A gentleman in town recent had a son married. For several years this man held a position of honor and trust in the town. To see him on the street in uniform performing his daily duties one would suppose that he was the very personification of dignity and decorum and the last person in the world to think of playing a practical joke. The wedding ceremony was performed at the bride's home in the country. After the reception the young couple went to their separate rooms above stairs to pack and change for their wedding trip. As the groom was removing his outer garments he suddenly heard terrifying screams from his wife's room accompanied by a din of squawks and cackling. He rushed in and found two hens flying about the bedroom and his wife in a real or assumed state of panic. He pacified her and in the usual sure-fire manner which all good husbands know and learned that the hens had been shut in the suitcase and flew out in her face when she opened, it. The groom's father was immediately suspected as he had been seen to leave the room during the ceremony. He was accosted and accused. Rather than stand trial he admitted the charge and was rewarded for his devilment by smack on the jaw—the kind of smack that only young brides know how to administer.
St. Croix Courier
Nov 31, 1946
Shiretown Items
A Bag of Sugar
During the summer a lady required a small amount of cement to have her cellar wall patched. There being none on hand in the stores a kind-hearted gentleman hearing of her need gave her five pounds from his own private stock. When she was leaving recently, she came to his house and presented him with a bag of sugar. He inadvisedly boasted of the matter to some of his supposed friends. When they threatened to inform and instigate legal proceedings against him, he began to protest that it really was only a small bag—not more than five pounds. This statement his friends apparently refused to believe and soon had him quite worried. He went one day to a hardware store to buy some nails. The dealer said that nails were very hard to get but thought he might locate some if the gentleman would make it worthwhile. He proposed an exchange of 20 pounds of sugar for the nails. The gentleman, who is not noted for his preciosity, which I think is the term applied to fastidious refinement in speech, made a few unprintable remarks, and left without the nails, more worried than ever. If there be any moral to this story it is this: be cautious how you talk about your own affairs and at least be sure never to exaggerate.
St. Croix Courier
Dec 12/1946
Mr. and Mrs. William Gaynor of St. Andrews spending vacation in Toronto. Gaynor's Lobster?
February 1947 William Neal becomes President of CPR