84 A Bridge To The Past

The social activities if the Division were more varied with the coming of the motor car and iicluded the following: Bowling at the Capital Bowling Lanes, Summerrde; Skating parties and hockey teams organized at Bedeque Rink; Hiringt bus to go on a skating party to Charlottetown; and travelling to Cavend;h Beach for a picnic where “your picnic basket was yOur password”.

By 1949 a film projctor was in use and films were procured from the National Film Board. In une, 1948 Brother Colin Waugh gave a talk con— cerning temperance and te coming plebiscite, a very important issue at that time.

While no one can evaluate the influential worth of the Sons of Temperance, it is known hat the pledge, once taken, was a silent reminder of the dangers of using aloholic beverages and the member who was sincere never forgot the promisesnade in Excelsior Division, Wilmot Valley.

WLMOT VALLEY SCHOOL

The exact location c the first school in Wilmot Valley is uncertain but like other schools across ’rince Edward Island in the early 1800’s, it pro- bably existed wheneVer 81d wherever a schoolmaster could be found who would take pupils into its home. Perhaps the early educators were those men who travelled from Lome to home receiving little remuneration except their bed and board. Inl851 John Arbuckle, School Visitor for Prince County, made referencezo this situation and in a strong plea for more support for school teaches, writes: “All persons reside in fixed abodes and

Wino! Valley School previous [0 1949.