Georgetown Stories: 1869-1890 24

only a short time ago and Mr. Worth has been instructor for the past month. Their progress reflects credit on themselves and him. At the close of our Imperial Anthem the boys were greeted by three ringing cheers.” (Contributed to the Weekly Examiner of Feb. 15, 1889) [In later reports the School Principal, Ewen Stewart, was given credit for organizing the band which played at events regularly for a number of years, afterwards being called just “The Georgetown Band.” The “boys in the band” were John F. Owen; Carl Owen; Sid Weatherbie; Temple Macdonald; Glen Macdonald; Reg. Stewart; Lee Logan; Harold MacDonald; George Flynn; Roy Owen; Edmund Hessian; Peter Morrison; Jim Morrison; William Westaway. By 1936 nearly all of these young men had scattered to other parts of Canada and the world. Two: George Flynn and Temple Macdonald had died; one: Harold MacDonald had come back to retire in the town]

McLaren, Captain of the S. S. Stanley

“Capt. William McLaren of Georgetown has been appointed captain of the SS. Stanley and left for Pictou and Charlottetown on Thursday

the 6th.” (Weekly Examiner, June 7, 1889) [The Stanley was at this time a fisheries’

protection boat. McLaren kept his fisheries job for several years. Later the Stanley was appointed to the regular Georgetown—Pictou run.]

Capt. Macdonald to Remodel his House

“Capt. Mal. Macdonald has removed his dwelling house in Georgetown back some 30 feet from the street and intends having it remodeled and greatly improved.” (Weekly Examiner, June, 7, 1889)

Something Should Be Done!

The Weekly Examiner’s, “News Notes from Georgetown” of Sept. 20, 1889, remarks on the need of a decent post office building in Georgetown. After all, in winter, all the mails for P.E.I. run through Georgetown. Also, something should be done about the surroundings of the new Court House. “A very nice court house is built here. Its surroundings

present a sorry spectacle. A man was paid to sow seed and plant a few trees. He did so and the grass grew and the trees started into new life. The necessity for a fence to protect the grass and trees was pointed out at the time through your columns, a necessity any person with half an eye could have seen. How is it now? The trees are broken by cows running away from children on their way to pasture. Sheep laid on the grass and nibbled it away as it grew. The cost of grass and trees is stupid waste for the want of five minutes thought and push enough to put a fence up. Promises for the removal of encumbrances adjoining the Court House have been made. This is a gentle reminder . . . .”

Former Market Building Burned

“The Salvation Army barracks at Georgetown was destroyed by fire shortly before daylight yesterday. Nothing was saved. The cause of the fire is unknown. The building was formerly used as a market house. The wind was blowing right across the street in the direction of the new Court House at the time, but that structure, being of stone with a slate roof was perfectly safe. The wise policy of the government in erecting stone buildings was here exemplified.”

(Weekly Examiner, Nov. 23, 1889)

- Alexander Reid’s Memories

Alexander Reid, age 90, Murray Harbour North was interviewed about pioneer life on the Island: “He emigrated from Perthshire, Scotland, at age 5. His parents settled about two miles from Georgetown, there being at that time but ‘one little hut’ there. There were no roads, save an occasional cowpath. The pioneers were obliged to travel along the shore and bays and canoes were more in use than any other conveyance. The early settlers had no grist mills and they were obliged to grind their grain on quarrens or hand-mills. The Reids moved to Murray Harbour North. Alex. remembered vessels being built there.” Weekl Examiner, Dec. 6, 1889)

Bur aries

The W. A. Jenkins’ store on the comer of Kent and Richmond Streets was burgled this month and also the home of Mrs. Griffin on Richmond