Georgetown Stories: 1869-1890 ‘6

Georgetown for Confederation

At a political meeting in Georgetown in March 1873, all speakers, including R. MacAulay, were in favor of confederation of P.E.I. with Canada. because it was “best to accept the terms cheerfully as there were no prospects of obtaining better.” (Patriot, Mar. 22, 1873)

Those American Fishermen!

“The quiet town of Georgetown occasionally becomes too lively. On the appearance of a storm, a large fleet of American fishermen run into the harbor for shelter. They sometimes number three times the population of the eastern capital and succeed in raising a ‘storm’ ashore until they become alarmed at ‘the combustion of their own raising.’ On the 17th inst. Capt. Burns of the Crown Point, who is a peaceable man was attacked by some Islanders and a bottle broken over his head. He now lies in critical condition. ‘The war of the races’ is not confined to the Southern States.” (Argus, Sept. 29, 1874)

Ad. in the Patriot Jan. 9 1875

“Secure the Shadow ere the Substance Fade.”

NEW PICTURE GALLERY IN GEORGETOWN

I wish to inform my friends and the general public that I have opened PHOTOGRAPH

ROOMS in Poole’s Old Store, Georgetown, where I am prepared to take Photographs and Fereotypes in a first—class and life-like manner. Therefore let all comply with the above injunction.

Pictures copies equal to the original

Rustic and Oval Rosewood Frames, Albums, Stereocopes and Views for sale, very cheap.

Dec. 31, 1874, John R. McDonald

Georgetown Vessels Launched in 1874

Among the boats registered as launched in PE]. in 1874 were the following Georgetown-

owned vessels:( tonnage by new system; old tonnage in brackets)

Aurora , brig, built at Cardigan Bridge, 299 (400) tons; owned by Andrew A MacDonald & Archibald J. MacDonald;

J.M.S. , schooner, built at Sturgeon Bay, 170 (295) tons, owned by John M. Stewart & H.

Murchison:

G.H. Gordon , barque, built at Georgetown, (533) tons, owned by Dan Gordon;

Willie Maclaren , barque, built at Cardigan bridge, 560 (662) tons; owned by William & N. McLaren. (Examiner, Jan. 18. 1875)

Steam Fem; for Georgetown

Tenders for the new Georgetown steam ferry were called for in the Feb. 14th, 1875 issue of the Patriot. The ferry was to run from “Aitken’s Wharf to the new ferry wharf at

Georgetown”

Georgetown Receives Train Service

Notice in the Presbyterian of 17 April, 1875 informed readers of the opening of the line to Georgetown of the Prince Edward Island Railway on the 27th April, 1875. The line was to carry passengers and freight. The train schedule was as follows:

Lv. Ch’town, 7. am. Arr. Geo’town, 11. am. Lv. Geo ”town, 3 pm. Arr. Ch ’town, 7.00 pm.

[Work on the line had begun in 1871, and was planned to extend only from Cascumpec Harbour to Georgetown Harbour, but other areas of the Island insisted on branch lines. The opening was further delayed to the spring of 1875 because federal inspectors had found deficiencies in the workmanship and, oddly, that no provision had been made for station masters’ accommodation. When service did finally start in April 1875 a heavy snow fall again impeded the trains. It was also discovered that the box cars that had been manufactured earlier had not stood up to the winter having

being made of poor wood.]