Newton and Kinkora. The name Somerset gradually fell in-
to disuse after this change; however, it has been revived
recently as the name of the annual summer festival in the
area, and as the name of the new elementary school in
Kinkora.

A generally positive economic picture seems to have
characterized the 18705 and 18805 in the five communities.
Several new buildings were added: a new parochial house,
and a new grammar school; a tower and spire were added
to the Church in 1872; and the local hotel, owned by Patrick
Keefe was enlarged. Local farmers had much success at the
annual country fairs, winning some twenty-nine top awards
for their animals, especially their horses.22 The following
paragraph from the regular news column on Somerset sug—
gests an explanation for their successes.

    

Ticket to ‘Kinkora Tea, 1886
(Courtesy of Mrs. Myrtle (Murray) Keenan)

36

Mr. P. Moan, smith and machinist, of this place, is do-
ing a brisk business this fall. A few days ago I was
shown the model of a plough which shall be something
entirely new in the line, the inventor being the above
named gentleman himself. As far as I can judge there
is no doubt but that the plough is going to do good
work, and the placing of such an estimable article on
the market will be of inconsiderable benefit to the far—
ming population of this Island. Score another mark
for home industry and the NP.”

“N.PI’ referred to the National Policy, an economic
strategy of Sir John A. Macdonald’s Conservative govern—
ment to encourage Canadian industry and farming by im—
posing high tariffs on imports.

Somerset was also enjoying the sport of horse racing in
the 18705 and 18805. Early in the 18705 John O’Ronaghan,
also known as Squire Ronaghan, built a race track on his
farm in Somerset. In 1877 he purchased a racing stallion,
“Abdallah Messanger’,’ from New York.24 Throughout the
18805, he held racing events regularly. One such event from
1882 is described by an admirer as follows:

Somerset Races

The races on Somerset Driving Park, owned by John
O’Ronaghan, Esq., came off as advertised on Tuesday,
22nd, inst, and proved to be a grand success. The mor-
ning was dark and cloudy with an occasional shower
of rain, but not withstanding all this, the sun shone out
in all its splendour, and ere noon the gentle zephyr
sprang up, which dispersed the clouds and gave pro—
mise of a pleasant afternoon. Before one o’clock a very
large and respectable n umber of ladies and gentlemen
had assembled on the gently elevated meadow, enclos-
ed by one of the best driving parks in the Province, to
participate in the several amusements which the day