low that at high tide it was almost covered; women and children had to be carried onto the ferry.

The first steam boat came in 1850. To children in those days, she was a thing fearful and wonderful to see. You could hear her puffing and groan~ ing through the whole course of her passage across the river, shattering the calm and sending her notes of distress far and wide.

The first steamer was the [mo which, on May 12, 1838 began four daily trips across the Hillsborough River. Next came the Ora, and then the Hillsboro and the Elfin. These later boats left every half hour from each side, on market days every 20 minutes. The rate was eight cents per person; two or more persons in the same party were four cents each. A horse, cow, calf, ox or pig was six cents per trip, a sheep just three cents.

Post Offices

Our first Post Office opened in July 1860. It was called “the Ferry,” because the mail was sent by ferry. Henry Beer, our first postmaster, operated from his store. At one time the post office was in Murphy’s Tavern. Generally, however, it was operated from the postmaster’s house

or place of business.

The last post office was operated by Mrs. Estelle Jones on Stratford Road. At this time it was known as Charlottetown substation No. 5. At pre- sent we have door—to-door delivery and also rural delivery.

Postmasters: Henry Beer (1860-73, 1875-76); J.W. Kennedy (1873-75, 1888-92); Henry Bovyer (18762-1886, 1887-88); Henry Burke (1886); James Morgan (1892-93); James Wilson (1893); Allan Hamm (1893-94); Katherine Buchanan (1895-1900); Ralph Gaudet (1900-1901); George Warry (1902); John Murphy (1903-94, 1905—12); Alexander Walker (1904-05); Mrs. Emma Coffin (1913); Mrs. Amelia Bell (1913-1918); Alton Burke (1919-26); Lorne H. MacPherson (1926—51); Beatrice MacPherson (1951-60); Joseph Mac- Pherson (1960-62); Estelle Jones (1962-66).

We have no list of postmen as they were not government appointments. The following names of postmen were submitted by their descendants: Perley Mutch, Matthew Arnold, Ewen Martin, Ray Stewart, Leigh MacEachern, Harold Beaton, Mr. and Mrs. Jack MacRae.

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