Georgetown Stories: 1869-1890 ‘8

a model or experiment, the boat became a political football and dire predictions were forecast for her failure. The boat survived the first winter with less than expected difficulty and continued the Georgetown—Pictou run for a number of years. The following items from the Georgetown Advertiser written at the time were copied in the Patriot:

“We are informed that Mr. J. Fairchild of Georgetown, who is admitted to be one of the best practical ship-builders on the Island, after having examined the Northern Light pronounces her a well and strongly-built ship. He also approves of her as a model ship intended for the winter navigation in the Strait. Mr. Fairchild’s opinion about the construction of the ship is more to be depended upon than anything which Mr. J. C. Pope or any other politician may say about her from party prejudice.”

“The fact that the Winter Steamer has made four round trips within 23 days in the very heart of the severest winter that has been experienced on this Island for many years past, speaks in terms of the boat that all the cackling of the Queen’s Printer and his scribblers can never effect. The freight landed here already is of more benefit to the people of the province than any enterprise we know of being carried on at present. As to the capabilities of the steamer the public will be able to form an opinion of their own when they remember that five or six stanch (si_c) vessels of the common mill have been ground into atoms by the ice, which she plunges through defiantly.”(Patriot, Feb. 3, 1877)

Activity in the Georgetown Port, June. 1 877

“ The G.W. Wakeford , Parker, Master, sailed from the port Monday for Buctouche to load

deal for England. The Barque Willie McLaren, McLaren, Master, called at the port on Saturday last and sailed again on Monday evening for England. Captain McLaren has his family on board and the call was purposely to see their friends here. The Mail Steamer Albert called at the port on her trip from the Magdalens on Tuesday the 12th inst. The captain reports the wreck of a barque called the Rowina, timber- laden, off the south-west point of Amherst Island. The name Henry Curtis, is painted on

the stern of the boat, which is supposed to be that of the captain. The crew, it is feared, are all lost as some of the vessel’s sails are furled and some clewed up, and no traces of life are to be seen, with the exception of a dog which was seen on board. A boat drifted ashore with the oars lashed to the thaughts.” (Georgetown Advertiser, copied in the Patriot, June 23, 1877)

Temperance Reform in 1878

The following is from a letter sent to the Presbyterian newspaper in March 1878: “In this town [Georgetown] the inhabitants are in real earnest about Temperance Reform. . . The old and honorable institution of the Sons of Temperance have had a Division here for a long period and in its day did good work, but the people have been stirred up to their interests by the Reform Club which is headed by the Rev. Mr. McKinnon, pastor of the Presbyterian Church. . . . Some of the taverns are themselves beginning to see that being engaged in this nefarious business is injurious to them and are abandoning it for a more lucrative and respectable vocation.” (flew, Mar. 2, 1878)

Georgetown and Montague News, May 18, 187 8

“Mr. Fairchild has just commenced to put up the frames of the Steam Ferry Boat for the Georgetown and Montague ferries. The timber

which we saw in the yard was of excellent quality, and was of sufficient size, as we thought, for a much larger boat. Mr. Fairchild will no doubt build a substantial craft.

“Messrs. Westaway and McDonald’s large and commodious store is almost ready for occupation.

“Montague Bridge can now boast a bank, a hall and four churches. We wish success to this busy little place.” (Semi~Weekly Patriot, May. 18, 1878)

McConnell’s Potatoes

“Mr. William McConnell, of this town, handed us a parcel of new potatoes (Early Rose) on Monday night last, July 1st . The parcel