Rudy Croken
Guest Opinion
The year 1919 was to be a banner year for the automobile on Prince Edward Island. While the fight to get the automobile accepted in 1918 with the same status on P.E.I. as it enjoyed in other provinces, there was still a way to go. By the end of 1918, most roads on the Island were open to the automobile every day of the week, with some market day restriction. This raised little reaction in the local press or among Island residents. By 1919, all but the most avid anti-automobile activists appeared to have accepted the automobile.
By 1919, cars started to arrive in significant numbers and new and used cars businesses sprouted up across the Island. Mr. J.A. Brace of Summerside, a former opponent of the auto, had in his employ Creel McArthur, an advocate for the auto since the first days, and was selling Overland cars, and had opened a parts supply division in their store.
Similar shops opened in O’Leary, Souris, Morell and Charlottetown with an ad from The Morell Garage Co. offering not only used cars but driving instructions, parts and repair service. It stated: “This is a special good lot of cars in first class running order and look like new cars. For persons who do not want to pay the price for new cars these are an excellent buy. We teach the buyers to operate and care for the cars and when in trouble we apply the remedy.”
An article in the Patriot reported on the opening of an up-to-date garage in Souris by Mr. W.L. Dingwell alongside his undertaking business. It stated that he installed Bowser gasoline pumps and that, “If Mr. Dingwell attains the same efficiency in this new venture as he has in his undertaking business, we predict it will be a success.”
On May 30, 1919, Executive Council dealt with the last requests, by petition, to have roads opened. It is interesting that the Town of Kensington – that had pledged to fight the running of the automobile to the finish – had finally capitulated. While some of the roads in these areas had been opened up to automobiles earlier, this completed the rest of the roads in these areas: the Road leading from St. Peters Bay to Hermanville via Goose River and Monticello; the Bear River Line Road leading from Monticello to Selkirk Station; and the Curtis Road leading from Selkirk to the Bear River Line Road.
The restrictions prohibiting the operation of motor vehicles on Tuesdays and Fridays were removed from the following town and roads and portion of roads. That is to say: the Town of Kensington and the Summerside Road leading there from to Haggart’s Corner; the road known as Suffolk Road, Township No. 34; and that portion of the Malpeque Road leading from Winsloe Station to the gate of John S. Morris’ residence.
In 1919, the automobile was in the news almost every day. News of personal automobile purchases from different areas of the province and the opening of new business ventures across the Island were all newsworthy items.
This is the second part of a three-part series by Island author Rudy Croken about about the history of automobiles on P.E.I. The series is based on Croken's book: Ban the Automobile: Instrument of Death. This year, Prince Edward Island is celebrating the 100th anniversary of cars being allowed to drive on its roads seven days a week.
