Dr. R. G. Lea delivers History of the Kirk of St. James -- 1975

 
The Historical Statement delivered Sunday by Dr. R. G. Lea clerk of Session of the Kirk of St. James, Charlottetown, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary observance of the Congregation follows: "The Kirk of St. James has been a part of the life and structure of Charlottetown for 150 years. We, who constitute the present congregation have the great responsibility of preserving the great heritage. that is the Kirk that we have inherited from those who have gone before us. In order that we may properly understand the nature of our responsibility, and of our privilege, we must look back to our origins and consider the forces and influences that led to the establishment of the Kirk and in particular, we must try to discern the development of the spirit and the character that has given us the Kirk as we know it.

Original wooden Kirk of St. James - Charlottetown, PEI

 "Although an act of the Legislature in 1790 had granted authority to the Presbyterians and Quakers of Charlottetown to establish churches, it was not until 1825 that action was taken that led to the creation of the Kirk. "During this period there was only one church building in Charlottetown. This was built with money provided by the Colonial office and was shared by the Anglicans and Presbyterians.

Although Presbyterians in the capital were handicapped by the lack of a church of their own and by the absence of an organized leadership there were several well established rural congregations in various. parts of the province. "This was considered a part of the Pictou's Presbytery until 1821 when P.E.I. was established as a separate Presbytery. Ministers from Pictou made many visits to the island and provided spiritual leadership to Presbyterian settlers in various localities. Notably amongst these was the Rev. Mr. MacGregor, who provided very strong leadership and helped, with others, keep strong the spirit of Presbyterianism in settlers of Scottish - Presbyterian background. Without these recurring, visits and the spiritual uplift that resulted — the history of the Presbyterian Church in P. E.I. would have been very different. "It's apparent that it was this stimulus — combined with the efforts of Presbyterian Clergymen from other Island parishes, that resulted in a group of Charlottetown citizens deciding to found a Presbyterian Church in Charlottetown and the start of the Kirk may be said to date from a notice that appeared in Hazards Record on the 17th of June 1825, calling a public meeting for the purpose of establishing a congregation of the established Church of Scotland. "At that meeting resolutions were adopted — approving the project, appointing a committee to act on the matter, and setting up a subscription list that eventually raised the total of 431 Pounds.

Though plans were made to start construction in the spring of 1821 on land donated by The Bernie Family and by Mr. Johnston, it was not until 1831 that the building was eventually completed, and the first service was held on August 9th. The morning service was held in Gaelic and the afternoon service in English. The Kirk therefore was built upon a firm foundation long established by the Pictou and P. E.I. Scottish settlers "The character of the congregation of the Kirk was firmly established in this period of Gestation, and in the deliberations of the committee who became the first Kirk Session, we repeatedly read of their concern for the spiritual welfare of their people, of their reverence for the church of their forebears, of their joy and pleasure in the purity and simplicity of their service and of their sincere trust in God. Thus was the Kirk of St. James launched in it course and its character established. "The record of 150 years cannot be compressed into a few words. The statistics are here for those who would study them — the biographies of the many ministers — the story of building and of maintenance — of disasters and of fires — of great disruption of 1843 and of the events of 1925, and how this all affected the Kirk. 

The record also tells of many great, and many humble people who worshipped here. All this is but the outward manifestation of the real heart of the Kirk story. "What cannot be measured or recorded is too nebulous to define precisely, but it has to do with the place the Kirk plays in the lives of those who worship here, and while conditions have changed drastically since the days of the committee of 1825 the basic nature of the church and of its, people remains unchanged. "The evidence as we look backwards, would indicate that the hopes and aspirations of the founding committee have been realized. But — as we close this one section of history we enter another, with this difference, that unlike our forebears — we have a great heritage to protect and to perpetuate. We are the custodians of the future of the Kirk as well as the curators of the past and it is our responsibility to carry on the task commenced in 1825. "In the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes, we are all part of the same woven strip. It must be our endeavour to ensure that those who follow us will be justified in thinking as kindly of us as we do of our founders and of those who have nourished and sustained the Kirk through its 150 years history." 

Second building the stone Kirk of St. James - Charlottetown, PEI

Original published in 1975 – transcribed using OCR and editing by Ian Scott 2025

A Moving Experience: Reuse, Recycle & Relocate - Lecture notes from Nov. 15th 2010

On November 15th 2010 an illustrated lecture called A Moving Experience: Reuse, Recycle & Relocate, was presented at Beaconsfield Carriage House by myself (Ian Scott) and Catherine Hennessey as part of the Island History course for Seniors College of PEI. Catherine had served as the first executive director of the PEI Heritage Foundation in 1970 and I assumed the role in 1983 when the organization was known as the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation. We both shared an interest in historic buildings that had been moved from their original location on PEI and decided to collaborate.

In researching the talk we realized that several buildings had been moved more than one time. The building that appears to hold the title as having moved the most times caught my imagination and continues to intrigue me for both the architectural gem it is, as well as the social history that surrounds it over the generations. It was named The Playhouse, and is known as a "she" much like boats are known by a feminine pronoun. Perhaps the various waterfront locations on PEI she has called home should be called her ports-of-call. Seven locations to date, shows the determination of family members to preserve the structure for posterity. The current owner summed up the generations of connections her family has had to the building, "The Playhouse will forever be strong in our hearts."

The Playhouse when located on the banks of the Montague River

The Playhouse, began life in 1907 when Edgewater was being constructed for the Frank Heartz family at  7 West St. in Charlottetown. Built with remaining trims and materials from the platial Edgewater on a waterfront lot that now houses three city residences, it had its own stove and mantlepiece and varnished woodwork. Designed for their daughter Ruth and her friends, it continued to serve a variety of uses including being one of the first craft shops on PEI. It was during the early years on West St. that it would establish a connection to Government House.

Interior of The Playhouse

Honourable Frank Richard Heartz, is remembered as the Island’s 25th Lieutenant Governor having served from 1924 to 1930, a period of time between the wars when Fanningbank was not available or suitable to serve as Government House. The house and grounds had been turned over for use as a convalescent home for WW I casualties, with the construction of a second building on the grounds for similar purposes which had then been repurposed as a vocational school with an emphasis on veterans. While there were various views on what Fanningbank could be used for in the future, it was under Frank Heartz leadership that the restoration of the house and its return to use as Government House was undertaken.

Interior of The Playhouse

Meanwhile when Fanningbank was serving these other purposes, a pattern similar to the period prior to 1834 became the default, and like the early governors who carried out the functions of a Government House prior to the construction of the current building in other facilities, Frank Heartz has a perfect solution nearby in Edgewater which had the reception rooms, large grounds as well as a playhouse for younger visitors. Thus Edgewater served as Government House in the interim.

The year after completing his term of office a massive fire in 1931 destroyed Edgewater but amazingly The Playhouse survived with only blistering of paint. It was from the banks of Charlottetown harbour that she would be launched into a journey with the family to their cottage at Grand Tracadie and a new role as a craft shop featuring the pottery of Mary Allison Doull. 

Interior of The Playhouse

While the tradition of reuse and moving of buildings  the documenting of these structures is less well known on PEI as it is in communities like Fogo Island due to a book called, Tilting: House Launching, Slide Hauling, Potato Trenching and Other Tales from a Newfoundland Fishing Village is truly one of the most engaging books I have read to-date on the relationship between culture and architecture as told through the individual actions to reuse buildings as needed.

Retired Regimental Colours of the Prince Edward Island Regiment

 

REGIMENTAL COLOURS AND THE KIRK

(Compiled from information supplied by W. R. Burnett, Gordon Stewart and Mrs. L.E. Prowse.)

The presence of the Officers and Members of the Prince Edward Island Regiment this morning draws attention to the flags which flank the Chancel here in the Kirk of St. James. As Mr. Burnett has expressed it, "They are steeped in Island military history and tradition".

In 1875 two infantry battalions were established in Charlottetown. They were known as the "Queen's County Provisional Battalion of Infantry" and the "Charlottetown Provisional Battalion of Infantry". In 1876 these two were amalgamated and were designated the "82nd Queens County Battalion of Infantry". About 1907 the name was changed to "82nd Abegweit Light Infantry".

Early in 1908 King's and Regimental Colours were purchased, due largely to the leadership of Captain V. L. Goodwill. These were consecrated by the Rev. T. F. Fullerton, D.D. (Minister of the Kirk of St. James and Chaplain of the Regiment) at an impressive ceremony in Victoria Park on July 4th, 1908.

The King's Colour was presented by Mrs. MacKinnon, wife of Lieutenant Governor D.A. MacKinnon, and the Regimental Colour by Mrs. Stewart, wife of Lieutenant Colonel D. Stewart, then commanding the Regiment. Colonel Stewart, Mrs. Stewart, and Captain Goodwill, mentioned above, were active members of the Kirk.

Both flags bear the inscription "Abegweit Light Infantry" and the Roman Numeral "LXXXII". The Regimental Colour bears the motto, "Semper Fidelis".

On Sunday, August 6th, 1922, the 82nd Colours were borne to the Kirk by Captain A. R. B. Duck and Major T. Edgar MacNutt, accompanied by an Escort. Church authorities accepted the Colours for safe keeping "in honor of the regiment, as a memorial to those who had fallen, and as an inspiration to the living".

On the 16th July, 1925, Major MacNutt, acting on authority from Ottawa requested the Church authorities to hand the Colours to him, so that they could be formally handed over to the Prince Edward Island Regiment, the successors of the 82nd Battalion. This being done with proper ceremony outside the Church building the Colours were then returned to the Church where they still hang.

In 1928 the "Prince Edward Island Regiment" became officially known as "The Prince Edward Island Highlanders", and became affiliated with the famous Scottish Regiment, "The Black Watch". Following World World II it was known as the "17th Reconnaissance Regiment" and now once again bears the designation "The Prince Edward Island Regiment".

History of PEI Crafts Council 1965 - 1985 - digital format

 The history of the PEI Crafts Council 1965 - 1985 is available as both full pages in another post as well as in digital format here. 

FROM THE EDITOR  

This booklet is presented as an acknowledgement of the 20^th anniversary of the formation of the Prince Edward Island Crafts Council. The contents reflect a very personal and entirely incomplete review of the Council's early years gleaned from minutes of past meetings, past issues of the Bulletin and brief conversations with some charter members. Obviously, a much larger and detailed a volume would be needed to chronicle the hard work and dedication of all those individuals and agencies who have contributed to the advancement of crafts in this province over the last two decades, The names and activities not mentioned here are by no means to be judged less deserving of appreciation. A walk through The Island Crafts Shop or a visit to the many studios of Council members serves to demonstrate how well the efforts of the early years have borne fruit, The present quantity and quality of crafts speak of years of growth and change - at times slow, at other times dramatic, sometimes painful, sometimes humorous but always exciting.

Our organization is entering its adult years; let us ensure that these will be the most productive years yet, I wish to thank Don and Margaret Stewart, Mary Burnett, Ann Coneen, Cecelia Blatch, Margaret Quinn and Joan Auld for their help in the preparation of this pamphlet.

Yvonne Pigott

---------------

It all started with a craft fair. The very first one was at the instigation of Mrs. Muriel Lister, Provincial Handcraft Director and was held in the foyer the Confederation Centre in November, 1964. Next came the formation of a Craftsmen's Council. The organizational meeting was held on 13 February, 1965 in Room 66, Prince of Wales College. Mr. Donald Stewart was chosen as President, Mrs. Vernon England - Vice-president Kings County, Mrs. Walter Dixon - Vice-president Prince County, Mrs. Mary Burnett, Secretary and Mr. Dan Mullen - Treasurer.  After some discussion as to how the rest of the executive should be composed, it was decided to leave this until the By-taws Committee had drawn up the constitution. A temporary Standards Committee (headed by Mrs. Malcolm Putnam) and a Public Relations Committee were set up at this time. Incredibly, a draft of the By-laws was ready by April and to really make things official the Provincial Government “made us a grant of $ 350.00”. Both the constitution and the cheque were presented at a general meeting in May. In September 1965 plans were underway for our "very own" Christmas Craft Fair in the upper foyer of the Confederation Centre on 19 and 20 November. In spite of a fee of $ 2.00 for individual craftspeople and $5.00 for groups and a charge of 10% of gross sates to defray costs the fair showed a deficit of about $40.00 - but plans to make the next one better though improved booth displays and strict adherence to standards were set in motion. Summer of 1966 saw the Council become involved with Old Home Week and the handcraft exhibition organized by the Women's Institute. P.E.I.C.C.’s role was three-fold: an exhibition, a sales table and craft demonstrations. Like the Constitution and Standards, the Prize List for the Old Home Week exhibition underwent several revisions during the next few years. Council membership increased steadily in this period as did the scope of its activities. Workshops and more workshops were offered to enhance the level of craftsmanship. More craft sales and more exhibitions and greaten .involvement with government agencies and the craft community off island testified to the growth of the organization.

DON AND MARGARET STEWART

I spoke with Don and Margaret Stewart about the early years. Don was a wood worker who studied wood turning with Arthur Pringle at Hunter River. Margaret worked metals having studied aluminum etching in Ontario and jewellery making in silver and copper enamelling on the Island. They had bought their own equipment and operated their studios in their own home in Bunbury. They remember the first three years when Don was President as a time of hard work and a number of frustrations. For example, Don showed me a thick file of correspondence with the Tax Department regarding the topic of manufacturer’s licenses for craftspeople. But as Margaret summed up: the reason for getting involved in craft activities was to promote handcrafts, to make come money and to have fun. “The group got along. Friendships were formed which still, endure”.

 

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY SEEM THE SAME!

"IT WAS DECIDED TO HAVE LOTS OF POSTERS; SOME OF THESE TO BE IN EACH TOWN AND ON FERRIES, TO MAKE ALL POSSIBLE USE OF RADIO, TV AND NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING, IT WAS SUGGESTED IF SPACE PERMITTED WE MIGHT HAVE A HANDCRAFT DEMONSTRATION AT THE FAIR. . ." SEPTEMBER, 1965

"IN DISCUSSING THE ROLE OF THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE IN CONNECTION WITH THE FAIR, MEMBERS WERE IN FAVOUR OF NEXT YEAR ATTACHING A PIECE TO THE APPLICATION FORM ON WHICH PARTICIPANTS WOULD ATTEST THAT THEY HAD READ THE GENERAL STANDARDS AND THOSE PERTAINING TO THEIR OWN CRAFT, AND WOULD UNDERTAKE TO ABIDE BY THEM. . . NOVEMBER, 1965

"After two years as your president I feel some satisfaction when considering Council achievements during that time - initiation of the summer crafts festival and the Island Crafts Shop, with very encouraging sales at each, increased sales and better quality at the Christmas Fairs, a Standards Committee which has persevered in helping craftsmen understand and correct weaknesses in their work, input from federal and provincial agencies anxious to help -which should make the future look rosy. Unfortunately this satisfaction has to be tempered with concern caused by the lack of interest and participation of many members. When the late Muriel Lister encouraged us to form a truly provincial craft organization, to press for a handcraft centre and for assistance for beginning craftsmen, and led the way in setting up Christmas and Summer Fairs, she helped us place ourselves in the forefront of Canadian provinces in hand-craft development and opportunities for craftsmen. Expensive workshops with the country's best teachers attended by only two or three members, hundreds of dollars in prize money unused because classes had no entries, opportunities to exhibit one's work passed by, as well as educational experiences such as slide shows - while craftsmen in other provinces are grasping every chance to advance - are indications of an apathy that is dissipating our advantages. My warm thanks to all the craftsmen who conscientiously practised their crafts, participated in the opportunities open to them and obligingly helped with Council activities. "Let's make hay while the sun shines!"......." OCTOBER, 1974

THE ISLAND CRAFTS SHOP

"CRAFTSMEN'S COUNCIL SHOP: THE EXECUTIVE DECIDED 70 RENT A BUILDING ON SYDNEY ST. IN CHARLOTTETOWN, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE POST OFFICE, IN WHICH TO OPERATE A SHOP FOR MEMBERS FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS AT LEAST, WITH THE HOPE THAT IT WILL BECOME A PERMANENT BUSINESS. AND THAT EVENTUALLY IT WILL ENABLE THE COUNCIL TO BE SELF SUPPORTING, THE SHOP WILL BE RUN ON A CONSIGNMENT BASIS FOR THE FIRST YEAR AT LEAST (PROBABLY AT 25% COMMISSION, WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT MEMBERS BE PAID MONTHLY) AND IT 1S ESTIMATED THAT WE MUST SELL AT LEAST $ 3,500.00 OF CRAFTS PER MONTH TO COVER THE COST, SO LET'S ALL GET WORKING TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THIS IMPORTANT STEP..,.."

FEBRUARY, 1974

 

“It was decided to rent 37 Queen St., Charlottetown for the Craftsmen's Council shop, The importance of Council members supporting this venture with their crafts and their help was strongly emphasized as future could mean a setback of years.

ALL goods will be taken on consignment, 25% commission will be charged, and craftsmen will be paid the end of each month for goods sold, ALL craftsmen in Queen's Co. who can possibly do so will be expected to donate their time for at least one shift each two weeks,

Everything will be checked by the Standards Committee before being put out for sale, Goods will be accepted initially May 21 - 25 and thereafter members will be expected as far as possible to bring their crafts in on a designated day of the week, probably Monday. The Council will be responsible for care of goods while in its possession.

The committee in charge will be accepting applications for the position of manager until April 15. These may be sent to Mrs. Brian Cudmore, 224 Pownal St., Charlottetown . . .”

 March, 1974

"MANAGER OF THE SHOP WILL BE SANDI MYERS, WHO HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IS PRESENTLY STUDYING AT N.S. COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE SHOP IS 892-5152, AND SANDI IS ANXIOUS NOT ONLY TO HELP THE SHOP SUCCEED BUT TO ASSIST CRAFTSMEN IN ANY WAY SHE CAN.

PLANS WERE MADE FOR THE OFFICIAL OPENING, AND IT WAS DECIDED TO HAVE IT FRIDAY, JUNE 7 IF POSSIBLE, BUT THAT THE SHOP WOULD ACTUALLY BE IN OPERATION

BY JUNE 1......."

MAY, 1974

"The Island Crafts Shop is in a state of uproar at present. The new display units arrived and a number of the Queens County people have been putting in a lot of hours assembling these units. They will be very handsome when filled with your crafts. By the way..... THE SHOP NEEDS YOUR CRAFTS......NOW In order to increase efficiency, the system of numbering the stock has been changed. In the past it was ticketed with your membership number. Now it will be numbered in the order in which it arrives at the shop. All existing stock has been so numbered and by the time of the annual meeting, (semi-) you will be able to pick up your stock sheet, or it will be mailed with your next cheque. If there are articles of yours that have been there for a very long time, why not trade them for other articles. The shop also needs VOLUNTEERS, to man it during the summer. PHONE NOW 892-5152"

May/June, 1977

"WE ARE STILL PLANNING TO OPEN OUR NEW SHOP ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1980. THE ACTUAL MOVE WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1980. SOME MEMBERS OF THE SHOP COMMITTEE WILL BE AT 146 RICHMOND STREET (LOCATION OF NEW SHOP) ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 AND FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1980 FROM 1:00 p.m. to 500 p.m. TO RECEIVE NEW STOCK, WE HAVE MADE PROVISIONS IN THE BUDGET FOR A MEDIA PROMOTION - A REAL ADVERTISING BLAST, IN NEWSPAPERS AND ON RADIO. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FAIR COMMITTEE WE ARE PLANNING TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENT - BOTH FROM THE TIME OF THE FAIR AND UP TO CHRISTMAS, THEREFORE, PLEASE MAKE SURE THE NEW SHOP IS WELL SUPPLIED AND PLEASE CHECK WEEKLY, EVEN BY JUST PHONING, TO KEEP THE STOCK AT THE POINT WHERE OUR CLAIM OF "AN ISLAND SHOWCASE FOR CRAFTSMEN" IN OUR ADVERTISING WILL NOT BE MISLEADING IV SEPTEMBER, 1980

The Island Crafts Shop moved to its new location at 146 Richmond Street and was officially opened by Honourable Barry Clark on October 6, 1980......"

April/May 1981  

-----------------

Exhibitions Markets & Conferences

"Be sure to come to the Centennial Craft Exhibition opening at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery May 8th at 8 p.m. All Craftsmen's Council members are invited to come -- and bring your wife or husband too -- to see the crafts, to meet Paul Bennett, Executive Director of the Canadian Guild of Crafts (Ontario branch) and to have fun, because this is our centennial party. Craftsmen's Council is providing sandwiches and coffee and there will be a cash bar. Your help in making sure principals and teachers in your area know about the exhibition, and encouraging them to take their students, will be much appreciated. When the Art Gallery is notified ahead of time that a school group is coming, a docent will be on hand to make the visit more enjoyable and informative. There is no admission charge for this exhibition. Congratulations to the following craftsmen whose work was selected for the Centennial Exhibition: Mrs. Milton MacDonald, Montague; Jean Shumate, Murray River; Sandra Hodge, Cardigan. Anne Rankin, Eileen Praught, Patricia Johnston, Glen Dunning, Freda Condon, Ruth Sommers, Linda Friars, Sandi Myers, Hilda Woolnough, Donald Stewart and Annette Galloway, Charlottetown; Earl MacDonald, Brackley Beach; Jame Germaine, Kelly's Cross, Dorothy Elliott and Helen Smallman, O'Leary; Arthur J.B. Arsenault and Jacques Arsenault, Abram's Village; Marjorie Champion, Travellers' Rest. Only 60 entries were submitted, a big disappointment to your committee, headed by Elspeth Putnam, Anne Coneen and Mary Burnett, who worked hard to promote the event, with the generous assistance of many other Council members. Fourth member of the coordinating committee is Beth Cudmore, who is working to make the opening night enjoyable for everyone attending 

April, 1973

"C.C.C. [Canadian Crafts Council] ANNUAL MEETING. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA INCLUDE, AT CAVENDISH --CLAM DIGGING, CORN BOIL AND TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS. WALL HANGS ARE STILL NEEDED FOR THE HOTEL. TICKETS FOR THE QUILT AND RUG RAFFLE TO BE DRAWN AT THE CONVENTION WILL BE ON SALE AT THE SUMMER CRAFT SALE......." July, 1977

--------------------

"CANADIAN SAMPLER. THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND COMMERCE INVITED CRAFTSMEN FROM EASTERN CANADA TO PARTICIPATE IN A TRADE SHOW AT THE CANADIAN CONSULATE GENERAL IN NEW YORK ON NOVEMBER 17 - 21, 1980. OVER 100 CRAFTSMEN'S SAMPLES FROM ONTARIO, QUEBEC, NOVA SCOTIA, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AND NEWFOUNDLAND WERE SHOWN TO AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES IN NEW YORK. A SIMILAR SHOW WAS HELD AT THE CANADIAN CONSULATE GENERAL IN BOSTON ON JANUARY 19 - 23, 1981 If MAY, 1981 "The Christmas Fair will be held November 18, 19 and 20th. 10 ft. booth space will cost $ 140.00 and there will be no commission. The Council will try to accommodate people wishing to share a booth. Admission $ 1.00 per day for customers.  Deadline for booths is October 15, 1982. Ask Wendy if she is interested in working on a poster. I. Scott will call J. Condon to check on the cost of parking. Door prizes will be purchased from the Island Crafts Shop..." October, 1982

AND THEN THERE WAS 

Even a brief glimpse at the early years of the Council such as this prompts us to continue with “and then there was . . . .” and the list of the various exhibitions, fairs, conferences, reports and meetings could go on and on . . . .  the Annual Handcraft Awards and Exhibition, the different provincial shows staged at the Confederation Centre, the many one person and group exhibitions by Council members at the School of Visual Arts, Atlantic Visions Atlantique, Production Pieces,  The Piggery...... The Atlantic Crafts Trade Show ......The Christmas Craft Fair . . . The C.C.C. Annual Meeting in 1977, The First National Canadian Crafts Council Conference in 1982.......and who can forget all those surveys and briefs presented to the various levels of government.......The Hebert-Applebaum Commission and mention must be made of the support of the Handcraft Division through grants and programmes to the Council and individual craftspeople and all those hours, years of volunteer time  . . . busy twenty years indeed! 

-----------------

KEY TO PHOTOS

1. Margaret Stewart, Olive Livingstone

 2. Carol Downe

3. ?, Barry Jeeves, Joan Auld

4. Elspeth Putnam, Sadie Roberts

5. Margaret Quinn

6. P.E.I. Booth Gift Show 1972

7. ?, ?, ?, Margaret Quinn 8. Margaret Quinn, Ann Morrison, Ron Arvidson

9. Henry Purdy

10. Sandi Mahon

11. Mary Burnett

12. Herb Leavitt

13. A.B. White, David Loewy

14. Joanne Scantlebury, Ian Scott, David Loewy, Barbara E. Henry, Elizabeth Sears

History of PEI Crafts Council - 1965-1985

 To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the PEI Crafts Council (originally the PEI Craftsmen's Council), a special booklet was published in 1985. The entire booklet is copied below.

History of Marathon Running on PEI

 While the PEI Marathon had provided a continuing venue for runners in recent decades as one of the top five qualifying races in Canada for the fabled Boston Marathon, the history of organized running goes back many years on the Island. 

The PEI Roadrunners have compiled a history of their early efforts in establishing marathoning on the Island starting in 1979 and continuing into the 1980s as well as documenting some outstanding runners historically in the Maritimes and on PEI.

In PEI, Michael Thomas established himself as one of Canada’s best distance runners prior to WWI - in 1911 he finished 26th at Boston.

Following in the footsteps of Michael Thomas, another Island Mi’kmaq runner, John Paul, established himself as a premier distance runner in the 1930s. His record included a 13th place finish in the 1936 Boston Marathon. Like Thomas, Paul has been inducted into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame.

The full article is here.

As well the club maintains a full history of running and club activities as well as scans of many news clippings.

Rev. Thomas Henry Bussell Somers (1907 - 1965)

 This material has been copied from a brochure called Service of Dedication The Rev T. H. B. Somers Memorial Chapel  January 21, 1968 – the original is located at the Kirk of Saint James, Charlottetown, PEI

REVEREND T. H. B. SOMERS, M.A., S.T.M., D.D. 1907 - 1965
photo - the Kirk of Saint James

THE REVEREND T. H. B. SOMERS, M.A., S.T.M., D.D. 1907 - 1965

Thomas Henry Bussell Somers was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, was educated in its public school system and University, attaining the degree of Master of Arts, after which he pursued the Theological course in Knox College, graduating with a surpassing record in 1939. Upon graduation he was awarded the Travelling Scholarship, which took him to Union Theological Seminary, where the degree of Master of Sacred Theology was conferred upon him in 1941. Ordained in Vancouver on May 4, 1939, Mr. Somers served in the Presbytery of Westminister for one year before proceeding to Union Seminary. Then in 1941 he took up his ministry in the Kirk of St. James in Charlottetown, a ministry that was to last for almost twenty-four years. During this time his gifts as a scholar, preacher and pastor were recognized not only by the congregation and community he served, but throughout this Province and the National Church. He was Moderator of the Presbytery of P. E. I. in 1945 and of the Synod of the Maritime Provinces in 1947. He also served as Presbytery Clerk since. 1945. But above and beyond all these, his great service to the Church was his contribution to the New Book of Common Order, which appeared for use in 1964. For eight years he laboured diligently with other outstanding men of the Church, and from his depth of historical and liturgical understanding made a contribution of unsurpassed worth to the Book. Many of its best pages come from his hand, and when used by us in worship, his intellect and faith will continue to minister to Christ's people. Mr. Somers was deeply involved in groups and activities which ranged far beyond the boundaries of this denomination. He was a Chaplain in the R.C.A.F., President of the P.E.I. District of the Canadian Bible Society, and honorary life governor of the British and Foreign Bible Society, a Director of the Charlotte-town Rotary Club, the Protestant Family Service Bureau, the P.E.I. United Appeal, the Provincial Rehabilitation Council, and the P.E.I. Tuberculosis League.

In April 1965, when presenting his name to the Principal of Knox College as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Divinity (Honours Causa), Professor David Hay said: "It is a matter of pride and joy to this College that in Mr. Somers we have had an alumnus in whose person the Presbyterian Church in Canada has received an enhanced repute throughout the Maritime Provinces and beyond, and still more that in him a gifted personality has been offered to the service of the Cross."

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to honour the memory of one who served this congregation as its pastor with faithful diligence, together with many others whose lives have enriched the ministry of Christ in this place. Having served the Church Visible, they now serve the Church Invisible, and we who are left to carry on their purposes here, honour their memory and give thanks for the privilege of having known them. In erecting this, the Dr. T. H. B. Somers Memorial Chapel, it is our intention to perpetuate their memory, and at the same time, in their name, further the beauty of this sanctuary and add to the facilities for its ministration.

May all who come into this Chapel therefore, recall with gratitude the lives of those in whose memory it is erected. May they know that they [are] in the presence of men and women of deep spiritual insight and loyal faith, who serve Almighty God in their generation with glad devotion. And may all who enter herein give to him who is King and Head of the Church the praise which is most proper to His name.

* * *

The Dr. T. H. B. Somers Memorial Chapel is erected by the Congregation in loving memory of a faithful and devoted Minister, and as a repository for tributes to other men and women who have worshipped here. The Book of Remembrance is inscribed with these names, together with the names of those who donated the memorial gifts. From this time forward all memorials will be recorded in like manner, wherever the gift may be located in the sanctuary.

We bid a warm and cordial welcome to the Reverend Gordon Taylor who is sharing in the Service of Dedication this morning. No stranger to our Congregation, Mr. Taylor ministered here for some months during the illness of the late Dr. Somers, and in that time endeared himself to our people. We are grateful to him for making the trip to be with us at this time, and for his ministry of preaching.