POST OFFICE

About one hundred and fifty years ago. on the recommendation of his Excellency Lieutenant Colonel John Ready, the General Assembly met and took up the matter of our Island postal service. As a result of this meet- ing, mail was sent out from Charlottetown to Princetown (now Malpeque) at least once a week in summer and once a fortnight in winter returning via Traveller's Rest where John Townsend was appointed as postmaster in 1827. He remained so. until his death in 1882 when his son. Thomas Town- send, took over the service. Thomas held the position until his death in July 1910, and in September of that year Annie Townsend was named post- master, and remained as such until January 31,1917.

Richard Bagnall of Hazel Grove Inn delivered mail on horseback to Townsend's Corner, now Traveller’s Rest. In 1830 Mr. Bagnall made six trips with western mail at twenty shillings each — $2.40 at to-day‘s exchange rate.

In 1830 a stage coach began from Charlottetown to Port Hill and stopped at Traveller‘s Rest. In 1899 mail was delivered three times a week to Traveller’s Rest Post Office.

From 1894 to 1904 mail was transported by Thomas Townsend from Traveller’s Rest railway station to the Post Office where mail could be ob- tained daily. On one of these trips while awaiting the late arrival of the train, Mr. Townsend was unfortunate enough to freeze his feet. Mail was also received at New Annan station and the Baker family looked after and sorted it at their home, on property near Moase's store.

Major Townsend of Sherbrooke began a petition in 1907 to have rural mail delivery in this area. About the same time the Dominion Govern- ment decided to make this service available to all Prince Edward Island residents.

Traveller's Rest post office, which was one of the first in the province after Charlottetown. closed on February 1, 1917.

The first rural mail courier in this area was William Bowness followed by William Matthews, Eddie Gillis, Elton Robertson. Harvey Colwell, Russel Waite. Jack McNally and presently Russel and Jean Hogg.

Summerside became the site of the local post office and here rural mail was sorted for the various routes.

Since October. 1968 road transport instead of railway has been used to deliver the “Guardian” to island post offices as the last train trip was made September 30, 1968. A great deal of other mail, transported by air is now sorted at the Summerside office.

One of the earliest papers published in Charlottetown was ”The Examiner” edited by William Cotton. Summerside publications were ”The Island Farmer" and “The Pioneer" which later became “The Journal- Pioneer".

It is interesting to note that prior to the establishment of Island post offices all mail for Prince Edward Island came to Charlottetown. Individuals learned of its arrival by word of mouth and could then claim it by paying the postage. When post offices were established at such points as Malpeque and Traveller's Rest postage for the first time was put on letters by the senders. 20