Tales and Items of Interest

SANDY’S RESTAURANT

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DRIVE-IN THEATRE

Flight Lieutenant A. E. Saunders D.F.C. (Sandy), his wife Jessie, along with their son Dennis arrived in PEI from London, England in 1945. Sandy had been stationed here at the RAF training station during World War II and, as did several other servicemen, decided to return and settle here after the War. He distinguished himself in the military service and was given an honorary discharge after having been shot down over enemy territory and making a valiant escape. Shortly after his return to the Island, he purchased the property of W.R. Dennis in Marshfield, the property located between the “big hill” and the Suffolk Road.

Albert Ernest (nicknamed Sandy by his RAF buddies) obviously had a vision when he purchased this unique piece of property, as he was about to establish the first restaurant, ever, in Marshfield and the first drive—in theatre on the Island. Nestled adjacent to the big hill, the restaurant and banquet hall were attached to the former W.R. Dennis house. A focal point was a concrete-brick bridge over the lawn area with a wishing well in the centre, the proceeds of which were donated to charity. Two cottages that housed the restaurant staff were built alongside the hill above the attractively manicured grounds. The bridge remains today as the only physical reminder of times past.

Sandy’s restaurant was open only in the summer, usually around mid April until September. With the able assistance of Sandy’s wife Jess, son Dennis and head waitress Agnes Caswell, it flourished from its opening, featuring “Southern Fried Chicken” and other popular features of the day. The Jukebox or Nickelodeon stood waiting for a nickel to play the hit song of the day. Agnes married Dennis early in the life of this establishment and became an important part of the family business.

The banquet hall was home to many wedding receptions, formal banquets, showers, and any excuse for a party that could be conjured. Sandy and his family were very community minded and would invite the school children to the banquet hall to watch National Film Board movies after school on Friday afternoons.

It should be noted that the Island was still in the days of “prohibition” or “temperance”, hence

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the sale or use of alcoholic beverages in a public place was absolutely prohibited. Having come from a country where pubs, taverns and licensed restaurants were a part of daily life, this put restrictions on Sandy that he did not appreciate but managed to live by.

The roll of the land and the hills or knolls in the area provided an ideal location for a drive—in theatre without having to move a sod. Sandy utilized this by establishing the first such theatre on the Island. The venture flourished for a few years until more sophisticated drive-ins were opened in the Charlottetown area.

Sandy’s was a place of much activity during its short but lively life, with horseshoe pits and an outdoor ice hockey rink adding to the activities in the late forties and early fifties. The outdoor rink was constructed in the fall of 1950 with the assistance of neighbours and friends which led to the formation of Sandy’s Ramblers, a rather formidable country Intermediate “C” hockey squad, who are noted separately under “Hockey Night in Marshfield”.

Unfortunately, disaster struck in the spring of 1955 while preparations were being made for a wedding reception. It is suspected that a space heater exploded, creating a devastating fire which completely destroyed the entire structure thus ending the life of the establishment.

Sandy and Jess built a new home on the former restaurant site where they enjoyed several years in retirement. Grandson Michael Saunders along with his wife Janice and family now live in this home. Dennis and Agnes built closer to the Suffolk Rd. where Agnes still lives having been prematurely widowed by the untimely death of Dennis. Their other son, Paul, along with his wife Rita and family live on adjacent property along the Suffolk Rd.

Submitted by Agnes Saunders and Wally Wood