"Busy Period Following Incorporation,

"The quietness. moderation and good order which has attended the first election of the Mayor and Councilmen in the City of Char- lottetown is a favourable omen." commented the editor of Has- sardis Gazette of August a. 1855, on the day fouowing the big event. This prediction has been amply fulfilled. Few disturbances have marked civic elections since that date. and Charlottetown probably holds a record in this respect com- parable to any municipality in the Dominion.

The Gazette editor was equally optimistic with regard to the pros- pects of the newly incorporated ('ity. "We cannot suffer ourselves for a moment to doubt.” he said. "that this memorable day will be the commencement of a new era of increased prosperity to the new city. As much will depend on the line of conduct. adopted by the miiniripality and as the future will be in a great degru influen- ced by the measures they origin- ate. so we. trust that nothing will he decided on without the utmost deliberation and caution. The law invests the Mayor and Common Council with very extensive pow- ers and it will be.their duty to

use these powers with discretion, so as best to promote the hap-

Reviewed

he is mortal. the Corporation. of which he is a part. is destined to immortality. and that the work. ordered by the Corporation. should be in accordance with this differ-

founder. have mouldeud in the dust the monuments of their good government and prudent admin- istration will proudly rear their

to their successors, of the wisdom and propriety of erecting their edifices on solid foundations. and of imperishable material."

POLICE FORCE APPOINTED

Council. held Aug. 17 of that year. a Police Force of six men was appointed under Marshal Ui- Hara, each man to receive I sal- ary of about C45. and the Marshal

At the first meeting of the .-

ence. so that. though the original -..I

heads. and serve as an example ..

Vhcaffa ..” ill i"

Firing

5152; each to provide his own dress. The Council later, appar- ently conscience stricken. paid for their dress. Still later. the sum of 525 additional was granted the Marshal and each policeman. and following this. money was voted to cuffs and a half-dozen Police lanthorns. From the year of incorporation (1855) until the year 1877, when Mayor Carvell undertook the work of placing the City records and business in regular order. there were no City reports issued and we have to depend upon the ' books and other records.

I first Mayor IIOIIERT HUTCHINSON

piness and welfare of those who have this day by their suffrages raised them to their honourable stations."

The following wen the success- fvtl candidates:

Mayor-Robert Hutchinson. Esq.

Common Councilmen:

Ward 1-Robert Longworth and Ienjsmin Davies.

Ward 2-John G. McDonald and Donald Maclsaac.

Ward 3--Ariemas

Simma and

Silas Barnard.

Ward 4-Thomll Dodd and David Stewart.

Ward 5-Thomas Pethlck and

Richard Hearts.

Return for Councilmen: Ward l. Davies 12). Longworth 86. O'Neill 67; Ward 2. McDonald 75. Mc-

lsaac 67, Rankin 62: Ward 3. Barnard 06. Slmms M. Percival 5; Ward 4. Stewart I24. Dodd

105. Beer 76. Lobban 00; Ward 5. Heart: 71: Pethick 09. Smith 3!.

EDITORIAL ADVICE

On the 15th of the smile month the editor of the Qazetta noted the first meeting w made the following smsibl. comments:

"The City Council met for the first time in the Colonial Build- ing in the room. appropriated to holding the Superior

But from these sources and from the newspapers covering the per- iod in question we are enabled to present some sort of account of the work accomplished by the early City fathers.

Before the incorporation the duties now performed "by officials of the City government were car- ried out by persons appointed by the Provincial authorities. There were regulations governing the towa pumps and wells; statute labor was the means depended on for keeping the streets in con-' dition: there was a bread assize to determine the weight of bread: the enforcement of law in the case of breaches of the peace was left in the hands of con- stables. and culprits when arrest- ad were tried before Justicet: of the Peace.

FIRE BUCKE1” RE(ivl'LA'l'IONS

Street lighting was accomplish-

by means of oil lamps and the task of keeping then lamps bright and burning was a matter that generally fell to the care of the citizen near whose dwelling place the lamp was situated.

For extinguishing fires every citilen was expected to keep on hand a number of fire bucketk

buckets specially devised for this particular use may be found among the relics of the past in old houses. Particular stress was

this bucket supply and upon the keeping of the pumps and wells in proper working order; for the citizens had good reason to dread fires breaking out among their wooden houses. Another regulation

was the breaking of the streets.

or informed the Council that John Lawson. Esq..

given the requisite security

the oaths prescribed by law. Some necessary preliminary business was thr-n dispatchcd and committees appointed and the f'ounril was adjourned until Fri- day next.

"The Corporation of Charlotte- town is now in action. and much will depend upon the spirit in which the first set of municipal officers commence proceedings. in all changes of Government. whether municipal or otherwise. most men an apt to expect too much from those entrusted with

power. while on the other hand, a.

dread of being considered an ex- travagant and wasteful. has the

meet of introducing in the tam-'

a niggardllnesa. which is the rc- vorse of grood galley and aounr' economy. apu lcaaln prl t- hnpsndlture. a liberal melhodwot doing business is over the cheap- III the e "

sdtmn Ablllcl

'heGnuttaweIt-taad- mlshtboaowosuacllasfot-

Eli??? Zg:a5

id 7lsi; 5

had been elected Recorder. had. -been presented to His Exceliency,C'"9"9-g 0' "N dll! 0' still. 1. the Lieutenant Governor. and was-1355 ""8 Dlrllraphi

approved of and that ho had beenl duly sworn faithfully to discharge ill! by!-llwl. The removal of the the duties of his office by His Ex- Flour and Meal Market from the cellency. That Mr. W. B. Wellner old Court House to the corner of had been appointed Clerk and bad Great G a o r g e and Richmond and street: has been determined on. been sworn into office and that and part of the building occupied Mr. Michael O'Hara had beenlan appointed City Marshal and hadltitted u for th l likewise given security and taken intended? .1,o' Iii” purWu' H is

several l

an Engine House,

adopt rules and regulations with respect to the old Market House, by way yo! reducing the now promiscuous' assemblage of carts. trucks, tab-- les. etc.. into something like or. ider. The old Court House is to he ""95 "D '0? I Council Chamber. Mayor's and Police Court. Post: Office. Locltup House. etc. Therel seems to be every desire on the Dsrt of the Corporation. to ren. (Continued on page 15)

r .....................

i As proud dtlaena at Charlottetown, we happily join in

CIITQNIAL GOOD WISHES TO ALI.

We look hrward bl st.II'ljilu.ltttIle.

procure one dozen pairs of hand-g

All these auangements for the Court of law and order of Charlottetown

Judicature. His Worship the May- "Y" W” l" "" "W 'e8"'"l0"! which were passed when incor- Ring! ring the hell

has-1-ia(er..t.llw"ip0rB'f.l0fl took place. We find in tell our indispensable file of Hassard's

"The City Council are busy with '

has been

IOITIE

l

l

The Great Fire of Sunday morn- ing. July to. i866. was a vivid recollection to old Chnrlotteton- inns, and was recorded by the Island's unofficial poet laureate, John l.ePage, in verses which still convey an impression of the urgency and excitement of the event. Breaking out in an old building on the east corner of King and Pownal Streets. the fire destroyed nearly the whole of four blocks in Ward One. cut- ting a swath two blocks wide un- til it was finally checked before destroying the buildings fronting on Great George Street. On: hun- dred buildings were destroyed. leaving thirty families homeless. At this time all citizens were obliged to attend fire: under the direction of the chief engineer and fire wardens. An old-fashlon- ed hand engine. manned by fire- men. was placed as closely as possible to the burning building. and between this engine and the pump a double line of men was formed. facing each other. Euu buckets of water were passed from the pump to the engines by one line. and the empty bitc- kets were passed back by the other.

Soon after 1866 the citizens do- cided to procure a steam fire en- gine for C:rAsl0ff.Qt0WIl which cost about 35.000. It was known as the "Rollo" and was brodght here from London on the deck of one of Peake's bnrquea. Later a sec- ond engine. known as the ”Silsby" was procured front New York.

John LoPage's verses on "the Great Conflagration" were so

and even yet the old leather popular in then. My ant they

were printed and widely distribut- ed on handbills as well as in the newspapers, and were recited and OVGII llllf OI numerous OCCIIIDII.

placed upon the maintenance of H". any um

Fire! Fire said the Crier. Where? Where? said the Mayor.

is Pownal Strut! Beeta.

said Major

l'll0l'0lIIly Those ancient piles of wood - enforced after every snowatn-u. The Bagngll Buildings - which

complete

For sixty years have stood! Of venerable memory

Among our oldest names; the folk to These buildings are in flames!

Enwrnpt in balmy slumber: lay

aule From Fort Edward 1900

” The Great Conflagraiion

The citizens around,

Tir'd with the toils of Saturday. And "sleeping very sound"y Ding, dong! Ding. dong! both loud

and long. The Fire-bell, in its way, Said. Sleepers rise and rub your

eyes. Therein work to do today!

In haste they rose. put on their clothes. Each striving for the van; Some with the engines and the hose. And some with buckets ran. The people swarmed. the lines were formld, But pipe and hose were value 'Twss all too late to stop the no of Bagnall's old domain!

Thence. raging contlagration red Went forth three several ways: Nort.li.ito the "Mansion House" it spread, . And set it in a blau. Three times was checked the furious flame Before the die was cast: Three times the fire renew'd its

claim. And brought it down at last.

southward the fiery current streams. With wreck and ruin fraught, Mike Kelly's dwelling brightly gleams. And Barns:-d's. too. has caught! Up Water Street. with raging heat. The igneous blllows roll. Eastwarrl their course with galli- erlng force. And rage beyond control. But ah! to trace their onward . way Exceeds the Muse": flight; On shingles dry the cinder: fly, And blaze where'er.they light. A hundred roofs in ruin flare-

"I'll vain to think on names -

.CEl.EBRATlNG WITH CHARLO'lTET.OWbl

Cruwell Studio (copy);

Alas! for teeming millions there. "Truck Street" is all in flames!

And now. remark, on fatal spark! And ere the hour of noon The fire has burnt from Pownal Street To Eckst:-idt's grand saloon. One blacken'd scene is all between That meets the astonished eye. Save Peake's brick warehouse. two whole blocks in smoking debris lie.

How great a matter who can tell One spark abroad may send. Or who divine. if kindled well, Where its effect shall end? Not Queen Street wide. the city's

pride. Nor all her sonsi emprise. Can downward bring the fiery

wing On which destruction fiiesl

Across Queen Street the flame is sent. Urged by the heated blast, To the old seat of Government. That "relic of the past"! Though ninety years it there has stood. Defiant to decay. Enveloped in a fiery flood. Behold it pass away

With all its neighboring rnnge!- and how The flames again axtendl Two other blocks are burning

now.

Where shall this ruin end? Riches are making fiery wings

With which to take their flight: lExeunt in fumo!" - transient

things. . How soon they're out of sight!

Up! up the hill! to Great George Street The fire has made its way; But there, thank God for mercy great. The flame: their fury stay. Thanks be unto the fire brigade Who fought through stifling air. And by their efforts nobly made, Stopp'd devastation (hora.

some say the Bishop turned the flame: Well! -If that tale be true. llil not object in wonders name: To thank the Bishop too. For had the large Cathedral caught) And burnt with fury down. We might have said; as ruin. spread. i

Good-hve lg Charlottetown.

.&v,

my Tl-ll csursumst run so mount aseuit

CONTQNUI TO A 3UCCISSFOI. CONCLUSION We happily a-ociaiis atinolvds in ad wishes for a bright and prosperous future.

To Ow Visitors - Welcome. Welcome!

usrnorounuc in.

His a far cry from the year I855. but there will be some who will recall. and not without pride. stories. written and fold. and handed

clown to them of the early pioneer days. '

These tell of hardships. disappointments and discouragemenis. There are stories too of achievement and advancement. and today as we stand on the threshold of an- other century we can take heart from the

accomplishments of the past.

.. Our Greetings To -Fellow Cliarlotieionians MacDt)llALll -- ROWE Woollwollllllfli company Limited

FO4UNDED.i19OO -

l

It is very significant that our Hardware Business was founded within two years of the Incorporation of the City

of Charlottetown. . M . .

It means our products. literally thousands of different

-pieces. form part of most homes and public buildings of the

City of Charlottetown.

.li means we have provided materials Province - wide for many in the iron. painting. electrical. building and hardware re- tailing trades - to serve them is our chief interest.

It means" that thrpugli the years our company has employ: ed hundreds of men and women. contributed to the City's upkeep and improvemontband maintained 'our property. in- ventory and our position as the minding Hardware House on Prince Edward Island. ' ' .

i

iAB.OVE ALL

If m an; a debt of gratitude to the public for their pet- ronaqa, rid our determinations to iconiinuo to offer service. qual' and fair treatment-to all who honor us b ' being oust men. We hope to be even more fit for this tax in the l950's than we were in the l850's. '

7! ; 13...! .- -”

I