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275 Fitzroy Street
Summerside,
Prince Edward Island
C1N 1H9
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Prince Edward Island Tourism Region : North Cape Coastal Drive
Description From Owner:
- Town incorporated 1877. Seat of Prince County from 1876. P.O. from c1852.
- Named for Summerside House established by Joseph Green 1840, itself suggested by Major Harry Compton who described the site as the sunny side of the island, Lake 1863 notes 'Town Commenced in 1852'. Formerly known as Greens Shore Bedeque.
- Four days after Britain declared war on Germany on Sept. 3, 1939, the Summerside Journal reported that more than 200 Islanders had enlisted at the local armoury.
- By December of 1941 it was reported that 6,000 Islanders had joined the army and navy and 923 men and 13 women had joined the air force.
- In 1943, National Defence Minister Hon. J. L. Ralston announced that PEI had the highest war enlistment per capita of any Canadian province with 11,000 in the armed forces from a population of 93,000.
- In July of 1945 Canada's Wartime Information Board issued a press release showing British Columbia to have had the highest per capita war enlistment, with PEI running a very close second.
- With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
Address of this page:
http://pei.ruralroutes.com/SummersidePEI
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The Horseless Carriage Controversy
The first automobile, known then as a horseless carriage, arrived on PEI in 1866 and was not accorded a warm welcome.
By 1907 there were seven cars on the Island and controversy raged because the loud vehicles frightened horses, sometimes causing injury to them or their riders.
So in 1908 the island government banned motor vehicles. The vehicle owners appealed to the PEI Supreme Court and lost and the Supreme Court of Canada refused to intervene.
In 1913 when there were 26 cars on the Island, the government passed legislation permitting their use only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. That approval had to be by plebiscite by constituency and rural constituencies voted against "the devil machines."
Motorists then had to be careful when and where they drove because violations of day or place carried a fine of $500 or six months in jail. By 1918 there were 303 cars on the Island and the ban was lifted, helped in part by the war effort which required the use of trucks.
The last road closed to motor vehicles, from Mount Stewart to Tracadie, was opened in 1919, but motorists had to wait until 1934 before they could enjoy the first dust-free paved road.
Motorists now have 3,798 kms (2,360 miles) of paved roads and over 1,448 kms (900 miles) of unpaved roads and there are now (2011) more than 80,000 registered motor vehicles.
With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
Like father, like son
Former PEI premier Thane Alexander Campbell (1895- 1978) was able to watch with pride while his son Alexander Bradshaw Campbell (1933 - ) was sworn in as premier in 1966.
Thane Campbell served as premier from 1936-43. His son served from 1966-1978.
With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
The Island's longest serving premier
Alex Campbell (1933-) was PEI's youngest premier when he was elected as a Liberal in 1966 at the age of 32. He was also the longest serving premier, holding the job for more than 12 years. His government improved the educational system, established the PEI Heritage Foundation and started the Development Corporation and the PE Lending Authority to help develop the economy.
He was a lawyer and left politics in 1978 to sit on PEI's Supreme Court. He lives in Stanley Bridge.
There were two other Alex Campbells of note in the Island's history. The first Alex was Provincial Treasurer in the 1830s and was dismissed from office when he was unable to account for the disappearance of one-fifth of the Colony's annual budget.
The second was set upon by a gang of "street arabs" in 1880 and in an attempt to scare them off, fired his pistol in the air. He was promptly arrested for "discharging a pistol in a public place." The judge was obviously sympathetic: he levied a fine of five cents.
With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
The College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada is at 619 Water St. E. in Summerside and is the only year-round institution of its kind in North America.
Here students learn Highland bagpiping and dancing, Island step dancing and snare drumming. In July and August the college presents its "high-energy" stage production, Highland Storm.
There are other events and various performances throughout the year. Information is available on their web site.
With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
At 130 Harbour Drive is open year-round and its exhibits showcase themes ranging from history to art. This is one of the Island's seven Museum and Heritage properties and there's a gift shop offering Island arts and crafts.
With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
The International Fox Museum and Hall of Fame
Is at 33 Summer Street and tells the story of the Island's world fame in the fox pelt industry. Open June 1-Sept. 30.
With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
Spinnaker's Landing is on Summerside's ever-expanding 5-km-(3 mile) long boardwalk that rings the harbour
This ia a seasonal tourist marketplace with ice cream parlours, restaurants, boutiques, bicycle rental outlets, picnic and children's play areas, and entertainments.
With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
The Shipyard is on Water Street next to the boardwalk.
With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
The Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame and Museum was formed in 1968 to honour those who have brought distinction to PEI in any field of sport and those who have made a major contribution to the development of sports in the province.
The Hall was first quartered at Summerside High School but in 1978 moved to a 2,000 square foot (185.8 m2) space in Summerside's Wyatt Centre of the Eptek Centre.
The Hall's mandate is to collect artifacts, photographs and other memorabilia relating to and illustrating the history of sport on the Island. More than 100 individuals and teams are represented in the Hall.
One of the more interesting nominees is Harry "Kid" Poulton (1925- 2007) who won 127 of 130 professional boxing bouts despite having a withered foot from polio at a young age.
He was also made a member of the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame. After he hung up his boxing gloves, the "Wizard of the Ring" became a driver and trainer of harness racing horses.
The Hall and Museum is open July-August or by appointment.
With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
One of the more interesting nominees is Harry "Kid" Poulton (1925- 2007) who won 127 of 130 professional boxing bouts despite having a withered foot from polio at a young age.
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