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Issue # 17, December 2001
Dear Friends, As I gaze out the window to the world outside, I think of Santa who, in slightly more than two weeks, will pace the floor of our kitchen wondering where in heck I hid the cookies! But he won't have reindeer ruining the tiles of my roof; oh no! this year he'll have to put up with a couple of work horses tied to an old buggy since there is yet not a hint of snow in the air for a sleigh to slide on! Now this may change by the time you read this but on this particular December eve, it feels more like a pleasant warm September day than a few days to Christmas! And since we are in "the season" and, after all, I am supposed to write of Tantramar history to you, you will find below the text of a copy of the Christmas issue of The Sackville Tribune of Thursday, December 18, 1902 (I'm pretty sure Sackville had snow then!). A photocopy of this little treasure was passed on to me by Ray Dixon who thought that you and I might be interested to see it. Please note the writing styles of the day: an interesting use of words and also the complete absence of criticism . . . many of today's "letters to the editor" would likely never have made it in the paper in 1902! Consider this Part I since I had space for only two of the six pages of this newspaper. Watch for Part II in the new year. The Christmas season at the turn of the century was as important to Sackville businesses then as it is now! Consequently, the "Special Issue" of The Tribune in 1902 was devoted to the town's businessmen and their businesses. Many of you will not be familiar with the businessmen discussed below but, for some of you (like me), after a few minutes and a bit of thought, the bell will ring . . . familiar family names of Sackville, street names around town, buildings and stories still told around the Post Office . . . all these should start circling around your head and pieces of old puzzles will start to fit! Sackville flourished at the turn of the century; so travel back 99 years with me and let's enter into the office of the reporter and editor who put compiled this special issue and peek over their shoulders as they wrote, probably sitting at a small desk by a coal fire on a cold and wintry evening . . . Peter Hicklin
![]() Sackville IllustratedM. WOOD & SONS
Wholesale Dealers
This is the oldest existing business here, being established by the late Mariner Wood upwards of seventy-five years ago, when he was a young man not more than twenty years of age. The oldest ledger in the possession of the firm was opened in 1830. Mr. Wood at first did business in a small shop on the Philip Palmer farm. He soon afterwards purchased the adjoining property where he built a store and the business was carried on there until 1864 when it was removed to the present stand at Lower Sackville. His business at first developed into a general country trade. In 1847, he commenced ship building and between 1850 and 1856 had the principal interest in a number of large vessels built by Charles Dixon for the English market. Later he sailed and managed ships built by Edward Ogden, Henry Purdy and others. In 1871, a partnership was formed with his two sons Josiah and Charles under the firm name of M. Wood & Sons. Mr. Wood died in 1875 and the business has since been under the control of Senator Wood, Charles having died shortly after the partnership was formed. The firm, which dealt in general dry goods, hardware and groceries, is almost entirely wholesale, dealing in flour, tea, sugar, molasses and general groceries. They also buy and export lumber, hay and country produce. It is practically the only wholesale firm in Sackville. For many years a large trade has been done with the West Indies. In 1874, Josiah Wood started a private bank, the first in the place. This business was taken over in 1882 by the Halifax Banking Company.
R. Alder Trueman entered the employ in 1844 as clerk and book-keeper and remained until 1898 when he retired. He is still hale and hearty, although in his 78th year. His high character of honesty and integrity might be referred to as contributing to the high standing of the firm. C. W. Ford entered the employ in 1880 and since Mr. Trueman retired has had a large share of responsibility in the management of the business. Senator Wood was born in1843, graduated at Mount Allison with Honors in 1863, received the degree of M.A. in 1866 and D.C.L. in 1891. He studied law and called to the bar in 1866. He did not practice his profession but entered his father's business in 1867. He represented Westmorland in the House of Commons from 1882 to his appointment to the senate in 1895. Politically a conservative, he is also an Imperialist. He is a member of the senate and Board of Regents of Mount Allison University. He is thoughtful and well-informed and his opinions always command respect and attention.
---------------------- NEW BRUNSWICK & PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND RAILWAY
The head office of this railway is at Sackville, where the principal stockholders reside, Hon. Senator Wood being the President of the Company. This railway was completed in 1887, the charter having been granted in 1873. Traffic has steadily increased as the general business of the country has expanded. Last year it assumed greater importance than formerly, owing to the trial of a winter steam boat on the route between Summerside and Cape Tourmentine. It is said to be the intention of the government to again try this route during the present winter. The N.B. and P.E.I. railway enjoys a good patronage during the summer, conveying
It is one of the best branch lines connecting with the I.C.R., being free from accidents in the past and kept open successfully during the winter months. In fact it is as well equipped as the present traffic demands. ---------------------- F.C. HARRIS
Mr. F.C. Harris is the popular and efficient superintendent, and being a man of well-known mechanical attainments, as well as a businessman generally, the road is fortunate in the acquirement of so good an officer. Mr. Harris is a Sackville boy, being the son of the late John Harris a respected farmer. Early in life Mr. Harris showed a fondness for mechanics, and resisting all persuasion to remain on the farm, he went into the I.C.R. shops in Moncton. Later he was a practical locomotive engineer on the I.C.R. and and subsequently engaged in manufacturing work in the Moncton lock factory. He afterwards gave considerable attention to electrical engineering and was mainly instrumental in establishing the electric lighting system in Sackville, and has been more or less engaged in overseeing this enterprise while occupying his present position. Mr. Harris is 52 years of age and is in religion a spriritual and can talk quite as interestingly on this little understood theme as on the perhaps less difficult themes of mechanics and electrical energy.
Mr. Harris has lately invented and patented an improved snow-plough, the rough model of which has proved highly satisfactory.
---------------------- Barrister ---------------------- General Merchant He is doing an excellent trade in men's clothing, having sold among other articles eighty over-coats this fall. Mr. Hickey well-merits his success being active, a capital salesman, pleasant to his customers and is liked by everyone. He is a native of Melrose, N.B., his father being the late John Hickey of that place. There are two other sons in the family, Frank, who travels for a Toronto firm, and James, who does all the fancy turning for Rhodes & Curry, Amherst, N.S. Mr. Hickey is now favoring his customers with one of the prettiest calendars ever issued by a Sackville business concern.
---------------------- Stipendiary Magistrate ---------------------- D. Cameron, Manager ---------------------- W. H. Harrison, Manager ---------------------- Manufactures Mr. W. B. Dixon, who is the thoroughly competent secretary-treasurer of the company, has had thirty-two years experience in the stove business. He is a son of the late Charles Dixon and is one of the most popular of Sackvilles' citizens. To his good judgement and excellent executive ability, is due much of the success with which he has been associated.
---------------------- Traveller ---------------------- Barrister ---------------------- Druggist ---------------------- Grocers So dear friends, members of the Tantramar Heritage Trust, I hear Santa checking his bells, waxing his sleigh and exercising Rudolph for the big day. So when he arrives to your chimney, may he find you all in good health and preparing for a new year of heritage discoveries and many more happy visits to The White Fence.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR -your friendly editor and members of the Tantramar Heritage Trust's executive and all members of the Board of Directors - enjoy, keep healthy and play safe!
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