MAY. 11421; _

THE cmslzporrcrovylgrcuniznmr;

_ {M3113

Brief Sketch of an Island Village

Murray Harbou r,

Yillagelf Southern Kings

and other settlers tame. c1671?“

Percllcfi you‘ ‘.

lmfi Sim

mcsbllf r0

a ill? Y» met. be

Another old vim of the place taken before the wharf was extended down to the shore where the

l" - of spas o! Pznzce DseP the tall s gels tower mnlntzc l.

Home of the Sailor, Fisherman and Farmer, it is situated close t0 the Sea.

on 112th sides of a nar- l udlich 0113115 1M0 5

box". the

$1.1’ d 1W man" 99;“); gllililxltfl*clge"iilfll' blezsrd Wth 1's

.. p11 l’.

“all: ‘settlers Cam; to this unto erect their homes. However, m of the province in i788 and tales of the r‘ch soil and the gum w“. hams on the north and. abundance of fish in the waters

Pictured here ls the old Marconi Station at Bfiafih Point wmch has not; been in operation since the winter boats slllllilfll Iillmlnfl 35°“ 20 Yea“ m). The lighthouse is still in use. It ls about ihree mil" l"!!! "w Village oi Murray Harbour.

schooner is lying.

This

"mi"! ago. Customers came from miles around to this store. At the riihl. 1|"! on shore, there is u modern wharf’ today Tho n" "so" as n canning plant. “w - _

rough

View

This picture,

i out to the

Harbor in Ssuthem the real Edward Island. m the heart of the V1118!!!» cn-s of many sailing ves- w nbout the hcuses add a m1, to the place. c winds of cc and the North-umber- lt m‘ngle witrh fie larzd 7M to create a. re res r12 a - hm ' in the village making ii: mt. recdtfollia‘: d in the sum- nrlv this quaint little com-

of the harbor. Those azound the place Eccn leaked out

who settled on the north side were mostly of Scotch dcscent. The south side was settled bv people‘ who came frcm the Channel ls-‘ lands-now over.un by the Ger- mans. ‘Iihe pioneers from these Ls-_ lamb settled in Guernsey Cove. - the neighbcfng district cl’ Mur- ray Harbor. Among them woe the Brehauls, LTLiCllQllYS and Mdchcns and today, 153 years idler their de- scendants are still working farms which their forefathers clearei. Gradually other settlers began to arrive in what is now the vill- age of Murray Harbour. Union- unately early records of the cum- munity have not tzld the complete stcrv of the struggle which its p10- neers engaged in to clear the lands.

beautfui vill- beauty

the Gulf of

z»

Quaint Little

homes were built, stores opened and churches and schools erected until at present the population o! the vllagc numbers about 500 people. .

Many Vessels I

Situated as it is within several. miles of the coast Murray Harbour i; the name of many men who "R0 down to the sea in ships." It is esti- mated that 9) percent of all U10 sailing vessels in the province be- long to this section of the Island- PGTSOHS fortunate enough to pass tiuough the village "when the] fleet/s in" are greatly impressed by this magmflcent sent; equally u; good is the sight of several full rigged ships_s1‘ling out of the mouth oi’ the harbour in the clear! sunshine of an early slumner mom-i . lll . "lure schooners axe em loyed in the spring, summer an autumn| transpcrtlng produce from vflrlflli! points in this province to parts in Nova Scotia. Cape Breton Island,- and the Magdalen Islands. On the return trip; they carry coal for Island dealers. also gravel and other cargoes. the village is composed oi’ $51105-

F-‘shezmen are also quite numer- fsheiynen and fanners. 1n addi-‘ ous in the community and during‘ flgn to this there one the merchants the fshlng season the famiizar ‘Ugly wcrkers clergy. teachers music of many motor boats can h: and the ubl ultous "Governmen-t; heard at a. distance. The 10ml" man". Regardess of their cccuPB-"l

tion. the people work in harmony

scason-—May and June- is the busiest. time 0f the W“ l0!‘ u" to make their ncme wum n better place t0 live 1h.

Situation

l . ! I i

More vessels.

fishermen. Two lobster factories are located in the village and another large one is operated at Beach Point, at the mouth of the harbour. Cod fishvlwrring, mackerel and Murray Harbour i; situated ap- other fish are a abundant m! proximately 50 miles south east the fishing banks» |of Charlottetown. 1t is only 11

However. it was probablv m" miles from Montague. the nearest- fetile lond Fn this part of the fair_ town The latter place is also the

Island which attracted the first settlers to Murray Harbour. Some of the richest farm land in the

nearest point connecting it with] the paved highways of the pwvincel but. s. fizst class sub-graded road.-

Ildeg of the street. and the United Church are posed before the establishments. The village post office is located on the l-rli and this is the p0 ular gathering place in early even g as people easerly bridge is reached. There a" 818° two hotel; located on this side. Before crossing tne bridge. a v‘sltor would be well rewarded by a. trip along the waterfront. A new modern wharf, extending from the bridge for about 500 feet. down stream, has recently been built and this replaces the old structure erected many years ago. The wharf has l solid hardwood IrOnPHKB 811d is the scene of mum activity dul- lng the busy fishing and shipping seasons. On the lower end of it is the beautiful new fish house m which thousands of dollars worth of fish are packed and salted eaczl year. It is one of the largest of its kind and is capable of holding many barrels of fish.

A Unique Industry

Perched on a bank overlooking the wharf is a large canning plant which is one of the few of its fypc in the province. A new industry was recently born in this bulcimg when ‘for the first time in Canada sllversldes, a small fish very nlcllti- ful in the waters about the place, were canned. These are specially prepared in oil and closely resemble in flavor and size. the better known brands of sardines. Last veal the factory exported close to 900 case: each containing 96 cans. to other parts of Canada.

In addition to this chicken, qua- haugs, cranberries, lobsters, clams and other foods are backed there. The shores 0f the har- our are rich in clams and quahaugs. during a season as many as SPVIIH carloads of raw quahaugs. as well as 600 cases of packed quahnugs, have been shipped by this one con- cern. Many people in the village are given employment ln the fac- tory.

On the south side of the bridge there are many homes and business await, the “Opening of the wlckez." A little farther up the street s ands the public hall where most of tire meetings and concerts take place. As the people are naturally musi- cal, there are many concerts and social gatherings held.

Next; to the hail is the school.

lage its size in the province. The

In fact;

men for active service of any vill-

majority of. the boys, of course. have joined the navy, while others have signed up with the army and air force.

people of the the Harbor waters.

This obi vicw of Murray Harbour community congregate here in the evenings and their merry laughter ‘ihis photo was taken nearly hail’ a century ago but it was only last year that n

new bridge was built replacing the old one.

And s0 it is with peaceful Murray Harbour, one of the beauty SD05 in the Garden of the Gulf. Many other villages on the Island may be equally a; attractive but none can

shows the fzznlous bridge

which divides the

lmuch of it gravellcd. lies between

province surrounds the vllage. The m l the two places. The village of Mur-

moist land in the area, due t-i nearness to the water, ls particul- arly adapted to the growth of good cro s. Manv of the fishermen also ma ntaln rmali pieces of land 1h which tllev raise enough potalres to suppy their own needs. In addi- tion to this almost elvery famzly in the main part of the village maintains a small vegetable garden somewhere on the premises.

Thus the greatest population 01f

A recent view

ray River is only about five miles west of it and the new Wood Islands ferry tenninal is about ten miles south west of the village. It is con. necied with the latter by the shore road which is noted for its beauti- ful scenery overlooking, as it does the Northumberland Strait; along this road the shore-line of our

o! the lore loinilel by the late Senator Samuel Prowle was taken about half I-

lnken many years ago. shows the men lflllll"! l." centre oi the stream like thou in the bashful!!!“-

building tu the right and behind the shop is

neighboring pzovince Nova Scotia.

This is a large, modern three- roomed building containing also a teacher's office and library. Close, to one hundred pupils attend classes regularly, 1n this institution

some of the illustrious sans of Murray Harbour, who arc now scattered over the globe, received

This unusual view was taken from side the wnmf. but with their bows south side of the bridge.

their early education.

Where the road branches off to White Sands and Cape Bear, the Temperance Hall is located. The village has an active Temperance Society which meets reguiclly in this building woe“, l» .1. . . V . . t ,. . . _,,...,;.~..\, ._._/,

The Presbyterian. Baptist and Christian churches are also located on this side of the bridge. Where . the new Presbyterian Church now ' stands was once the old English - - Church grounds. This olrl church is no longer there. but in the back- ground is its grave yard usrcrl ov the first settlers.

Starch Factory

lip along the river bank from the bridge is ‘another beautliul roui along which are many prety houses. To the residences of the village this road is familiarly known as “Angel Avenue." It l5 lined with trees on boar sideshnd w‘nds along the river bank for cvcr a mile. Near its extremity is a Iarco starch factory which was built about. 65 years ago. Thousands of tons of starch have been manufact- ured from Island potatoes in this building and this spring it is still

offer any better welcome to i110 weary traveller. The people them- selves are rloied for their hospita- lity, ilzeir industry and their friend- liness. ; _...?'_:—-3§

village. echoes

Young BLTINS

a bank overlooking the wharf. The vessels are tied, not alsnp‘ whiting at it. In the background is a portion of the village 0n tho

..,\ 30.!“

This is a rcccnt picture of the village showing a portion 0n the north side of the bridge. In the left background an hotel is shown. A new wharf now replaces the old one shown here.

going as strong as ever. en the fox ranching industry was at its best in the province the

is quite (Fscegtlibleu

Communities wlfch surround it are: Beach Point, which is a large sized fislfng community; the rich fanning district of Guernsey Cove; White ‘Sands, also noted for its fawns; Abncy and Gladstone.

To a. vis tar coming down the Murray River road, the village re- mflllks hidden ‘n a slight valley un- l-ll suddenly the stranger is en- gulfed by it as the houses emerge from belfnd many ornamental

Murray Harbour ranchers were noted for the fine animals they raised. ‘There are several large

ranches still Mere. Some of the first settlers in.

Murray Harbour included: John Hyde, John MacKlnnon, Willttm Slaaxam. Isaac Prowse, Senator

Samuel Prowse, Joseph Roberts. David Reynolds, Richard Murley and Alex Bell. The Prowses. Hyydes, Sharams. Roberts‘ and Bells are Still E0 be found there. Liter sett-

trees. The first building to attract; attention is the C-anadian Nationah Railways station which rs situated’ on the right side of the road enter- ing the place. This l5 the home of’ the Murray r tmln which daily makes its way to Charlotte-

. A little further along the tracks ‘behind a beautiful birch gzove 1s ilhe large wooden building know a5 the “round house." Th‘.- is where the train snatches a bit. of sleep nch nigth before starting its long, weary voyage to the city the next. morning. It is only about ten years ago since tlhn wide gauge rails were laid on this line, and about thirty-five years since the railway was built.

A large steel bridge on the eenm of the village connects the nsrth side of the stream with the south, Several residential houses, 0n both

host is at pres

where the motor

‘ment. Committee-a group of pub-

lers were the Jordana, the Herrings, the Stewarts, the Pennys, the Muc- Donalds, the Whites, the Brooks, the Lumsdens and many others. The Murray Harbour Immcve-

11¢ Bblrited men and women-has done a. great deal of good WOYK m the village. Each year they stage a joint Tea Party and Boat Race and with the proceeds make some im- provement to the village. Throuxh their efforts a fine concrete side- walk has berl constructed from one end of the village to the other. When power lines were run tilrough to Murray Harbour about. three 31981‘! BB0 this committee was able‘ to lock after the street lighting. ‘file community also has one of the largest enlistment of young

Tilis is rm excellent view of Mun-my Th“ '5 a lmrlm“ "7 u"! H?" "H"! l‘; Ketiing a wcll earmvl rest during the long winter months.

are tic-d up at. the new wharf. ‘ years ago

The building in thh

vessel out from t re wharf. The ice is cut from around-the-craft until ii. h One of the men ll wearing skates.

The bottom of the hill has changed slnre this photo was taken mm the

bi old "buggy" coming down the nod, and the lady with the old fashioned ‘wksmnh hr“ m. "m

dress-

riglit foreground h the first hmlsr erected

left foreground is no longer

Harbour ln winter u hon most of tho sailing vc-zscis are in pnri.

fhcy .1 (‘IQ

l l

This is n very old picture of Sharamba Hill in the vlllaqc. The st-lre ,1 h l _ l oflhe first settlers. The building on the left was: first owned by the late nrs-acn‘::ov<:hlurl:ll|€l "fctairlf-rsillilulngnl: "maul" shamml a so“ u‘ M" ' ' " - ‘i ' IS (Hun ‘

by Mr. I.o"nl~ But-IL therr. Notice tho