The Acorn Press

Charlottetown

2019

Text © 2019 by Ed McKenna

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher or, in case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a licence from the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency.

P.O. Box 22024Charlottetown, Prince Edward IslandC1A 9J2acornpresscanada.com

Printed in CanadaCopy edited by Laurie BrinklowDesigned by Matt Reid

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Title: Historic P.E.I. : vintage postcards of Prince Edward Island / Edward J. McKenna.

Other titles: Historic Prince Edward Island

Names: McKenna, Edward J. (Edward Joseph), author.

Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20190070617 | Canadiana (ebook) 2019007079X | ISBN 9781773660233 (softcover) | ISBN 9781773660288 (PDF)

Subjects: LCSH: Tourism—Prince Edward Island—History—Pictorial works. | LCSH: Postcards—Prince Edward Island. | LCSH: Prince Edward Island—History—Pictorial works.

Classification: LCC FC2612 .M35 2019 | DDC 971.7—dc23

The publisher acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage for our publishing activities. We also acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts for our publishing program.

1945–2017

Dedicated to my sister Kaye McKenna Ford who helped me with a lot of these transcriptions as a way to take her mind off her illness in her final months.

The use of postcards as a cost-effective means of communication and connection with family became a very well established pastime in the late 1800s. Post-cards were used as a time-saving substitute for longer letters to relate updates on family news or just to say “Hello” letting someone know you were healthy and getting along fine. The photo on the postcard could be easily recognized by the person receiving the card or update them as to changes to locations or family. Some cards were sent to express romantic feelings, some friendly fun; some were invitations, or were business information such as product pricing, time schedules, product updates, shipping instructions, etc. However, many were sent by tourists to folks at home; to update their arrival or share a vision of the region they were visiting on vacation.

As the buying and sending of postcards grew more popular so did the interest in collecting and archiving the wonderful images that candidly captured the very life in the towns, villages and countrysides across the country. Many were kept as mementos of past visits or views of the home they once knew. Many collections were attached to walls as conversation starters in homes or business waiting rooms. I can remember a few cards above the wash basin in the back entryway of my grandfather’s farm. Many were glued into scrapbooks which became prized possessions in many homes to be viewed over and over when visitors came to the home. Avid collectors would write to complete strangers to entice them to exchange postcard views of their location, thus enhancing their card collection from as many different locations as possible. Postcard production became a real industry. Pharmacies, department stores or photographers could send photos of their region to publishing companies and have a large number of copies returned as postcards which were then wholesaled or sold directly to patrons. When colour photo postcards became available it enhanced the industry but not as much as the advent of leisure travel to popular well-known locations. In the early part of this century, the onset of digital cameras, cameras on phones and social media greatly diminished the postcard industry; however, it has seen a bit of a revival as people are now able to create their own postcards at home using their own home computer and printer.

Postcards through the years

Section One

Prince County

Section One

Prince County

Black-and-white Photogelatine Engraving photo of the rugged Island shoreline

Posted from Charlottetown, August 15, 6PM, using a Canadian 3 cent stamp featuring King George VI. Addressed to Miss B. Hutchison, 40 Blair Road, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Brackley Beach.

Dear Betty;

Flew down here a week ago & am having a grand time swimming & sunning. The flight was grand as we had a beautiful day. Mother went up to the farm in Napanie. Several of the other guests are very good with their cars & we’re doing a lot of driving. Hope you are having a good holiday. Thank you for the Stratford card.

Love Frances

Addressed to Edith Beckhold, Lake Odessa, Lonia, Mich

Prince Ed.

Hello Edith;

We are all well only I have a bad cold. Hope you are all well. Lizzie had her teeth pulled at Elmira. I am with her. We were at Schulties yesterday and over to the Holling Boys last night. Had a good time.We will see to the M cinence when we get home.

Boating is fun for two local girls rowing just offshore

Posted from Tignish Aug 24, 1948, using Canadian 3 cent stamp featuring King George VI. Addressed to Mr & Mrs Leo Founier, 45 Kenwood Circle, Brookline 46, Mass

Dear Friend Leo;

The weather is lovely here. I am resting. Wonderful nice weather since we came.

Love to all, Mamma, Ralph & Alfred.

Looking out the Tignish run with lots of lobster traps on the wharf, local men resting on the traps and the lighthouse in the background

Posted from Tignish August 12, 1946 with a Canadian 4 cent stamp featuring King George VI. Addressed to Rumford, Maine

Have you got yourself a car yet.

Hello;

Having a swell time & eating plenty of good fish. I worked on the farm practically every day & it’s fun to handle the team. So long for now. See you soon

Main Street, Tignish, P.E.I., with men and boys standing around a man on a bike and a horse and buggy on the street

Posted from Tignish Sept 26—28, 1936, using Canadian 2 cent stamp featuring King George V. Addressed to Mr Roy Gardner, 17 Arundel Ave, Toronto, Ont.

Kildare Cape. Sept 25/36

Hello skinny;

Well here I am on a farm having a wonderful holiday rest. We had a party for Gordon last night. We had a great time. Cliff & I are going to his brother Jim for three days this week.

Coleman. Hoping you are well as I am.

Love Rose

Some of the main buildings in Tignish showing the post office in the foreground

Posted from Tignish August 28, 1948 using a Canadian 3 cent stamp featuring King George VI. Address to Miss Joan Fournier, 45 Kenwood St, Brookline 46, Mass

Dear Joan;

Hope you are all well and not too busy looking after Laura

Alfred

I’m catching some big fish at Tignish - exaggerating the big fish stories

Posted from Bloomfield with a Canadian 3 cent stamp featuring King George VI. Addressed to Mr L. J. Gauvreau, 45 Mason Terrace, Ottawa, Ont.

Oct 9, 1946.

Dear Leo;

Thanks very much for the nice parcel. Will write later when my work lessens to a smaller degree. Duck shooting on the isle is at its peak. Mon-strous deep sea fish are growing strong at Tignish as you will sea, pos-sibly you can show this to someone and tell them what big fish are caught in the Garden of the Gulf streams.

Posted from Tignish Sept 14, 1960 using a Canadian 4 cent stamp featuring Queen Elizabeth. Addressed to Mr & Mrs W M Bridges. 6 Dexter St. Newburyport, Mass. USA

PEI Canada

9/14/1960

Nice weather here now after the hurricane. We got here before the big blow. Irene’s mother is having a fine time and all are getting a good rest.

Best wishes from Irene & Len