Filling In The (iaps 67

In 1913 rural mail delivery was started and the first mail courier who delivered mail from the Wilmot Valley Post Office was Fred Clark. The mail, no longer dropped off at New Annan railway station, was picked up at Bedeque and went via Central Bedeque, Ross Corner, Wilmot Valley, Summerside and returned the same way. The men who hauled mail on this twenty-eight mile route were: Horace Howatt, Ernest Taylor, Elliot Bell and Roy Hill. Edgar Sobey, who began a long and faithful mail delivery ser- vice about this time, was travelling the route around Schurman’s Point to North Bedeque, Ross Corner, Freetown, Kelvin and back to Wilmot Valley Post Office.

In the early 1920’s the system of meeting the morning and evening train and picking up the mail at New Arman Station was again put into effect. This contract was held in turn by Edgar Sobey, Fred Clark and Earl Huestis. During the term of Mr. Huestis’ contract the mail was met at the morning train only.

From 1936 to 1940 the mail was delivered to the mail boxes by Edward Caseley. Except for this short period, Edgar Sobey and son Melbourne, carried on the mail delivery service until Wilmot Valley Post Office closed in 1969. At this time a new mailing service came into effect and delivery by motor conveyance replaced rail delivery. Mr. Melbourne Sobey got the con- tract to pick up mail at the Summerside Post Office at 7 am. then to the Post Offices at Kensington, Freetown, Kinkora, Bedeque, Central Bedeque, Albany and Borden from where it crossed to the mainland. In late after- noon he made the same calls, but in reverse order thus assuring the people of these areas a fast mail delivery.

In 1979 this contract was taken over by Ronald Kennedy and the present driver is John Bernard.

For a ten year period, 1969-1979, rural daily mail was delivered from the Kensington Post Office except fora section on the Taylor Road. During this time the mail drivers were: Thane Mann and John Bernard. Since the autumn 0f1979 all rural mail delivery has been made from the Summerside Post Office under the care of Mrs. Lorne Campbell who makes her daily trips for the box holders of Summerside, R.R. 3.

TELEPHONE AND ELECTRICITY

The lack of a quick communication system previous to 1900 must have added to the hardships and anxieties of country living. The people of Wilmot Valley were watching the progress of the Island Telephone Company and its operation in Summerside and by 1906 the lines were heading out into the country. The work of installing the lines was done the hard way—with the sweat of men and horses. The men lived in tents and the