Old Cardigan car.

Cars first came to Cardigan around 1918. J .A. MacDonald had one of the first. Pressure was so great in other parts of the province that in 1908 a law was passed prohibiting the use of autos on P.E.I. The penalty was a fine of $500 or six months in jail. Later this was modified to allow cars on specific roads during certain hours only. By 1918 the law had been changed to allow the automobile free access to all roads.

An Airplane Visits Cardigan by J .M. MacSwain

When I was about twelve years old, a barn-storming pilot landed his plane in a field near Cardigan with the aim of taking up passengers for rides at $5 per person.

Of course, this had to happen upon a school day and our teachers refused to allow us to visit the site of the plane landing. However, two of the hardier souls among us played truant and went to watch the plane taking off and landing with its passengers.

Amid a crowd of spectators and as the plane circled overhead pre- paratory to landing, one truant was overheard to remark to the other: “Wouldn’t it be Hell if he got a flat tire up there?” His comment reached the ears of his teacher; and, needless to say, following the dis- ciplinary action taken, he and his pal were sadder and, perhaps, wiser lads.