Fair Island of the Sea...

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	Although this looks like some desperate pioneer trek for life, this was the standard way Islanders used to reach the mainland during the winter freezeup. Before the advent of the icebreakers, the only way to get across the Northumberland Strait in winter was the ice boats. (Published by Carter and Co. Ltd., Charlottetown, unused and undated.)
	Where the Strait was still open, the passengers rowed. Where they encountered pack ice, all disembarked, and all able-bodied people were put to work pulling the boats over the floes. Women, children and the elderly had it easy; they just had to clamber over the ice by themselves. (Published by Warwick Bro's & Rutter, Toronto, dated August, 1911(?). Part of the "Garden of the Gulf" series.)
	Land ho! It's hard to believe that so many people were desperate enough to cross the ten or so miles of the Strait this way. (Published by Warwick Bro's & Rutter, Toronto, unused and undated. Part of the "Garden of the Gulf" series.)
	The advent of the ice-breaking ferries brought allowed Islanders more freedom in the winter. However, the early ferries still ran into problems. Here, the Earl Grey looks like a stranded Arctic explorer, as passengers disembark onto the ice. (Published by Raphael Tuck & Sons, Art Coiletype, series No. 1023, printed in Germany. Unused and undated.)
	Passengers on this run of the Minto, into Georgetown, must have almost felt nostalgic for the iceboats, as the vessel is nearly swallowed by the ice. (Published for James McLean, Pictou, NS by Warwick Bro's and Rutter Limited, Publishers, Toronto. Dated July 1, 1907.)
	The Prince Edward Island struggles through more giant ice floes on the route between New Brunswick and PEI. The first railcar ferry on the route, she used a bow propeller to weaken ice ahead of her by creating turbulence under it. (Publisher not identified; unused and undated.)
	What, no ice? The S.S. Charlottetown, during a more civilized summertime crossing between Borden and Cape Tormentine. According to the back, she was 342 feet long, and could accommodate 40 automobiles and 16 railway freight cars, and came with a first class restaurant on board. The sender remarks, rather dourly, "So we do have boats down here, if not much of anything else." (Published by Valentine-Black Co. Ltd., Toronto, published in Great Britain. Undated and unmailed, but with message on back.)
	The tiny Charles A. Durning appears here making the crossing between PEI and Nova Scotia, carrying a handful of cars. Presumably this ferry was part of the privately-owned Northumberland Ferries operation. The crossing between PEI and New Brunswick was government-funded, and had larger vessels. (Published by Photogelatine Engraving Co. Toronto, dated August 13, 1952.)
	The Queen of the Strait - the giant M.V. Abegweit. This huge ferry that plied the waters between New Brunswick and the Island could move massive amounts of traffic; 60 cars and nearly a thousand passengers. I remember as a child hearing people waiting at the Borden terminal sigh with relief, "Here comes the Abby - we'll be sure to get on." The author of this card says "I am on this boat right now". (Published by PE Co. Canada, dated July 21, 1953.)
	Of course, the ferries were not the only ships that came and went from the shores of the Island. At the turn of the century, sail was still an important part of the commercial transportation system, and shipbuilding was once an important part of the Island economy. Here, a graceful schooner is tied up in Montague. A note on the back assures us that "it looks as if this three master is on land, but she is really in water".(Publisher not identified; undated and unmailed, but with message on back.)
	Although no Island-built vessel ever reached the fame of Nova's Scotia's Bluenose, Island fishermen were proud of their boat, and things could take a competitive edge. (Published by C. & Co. (Carter & Co.?), unused and undated.)
	Ferries were not just a way of crossing the Strait - they once moved passengers and goods along the coast and larger rivers. Here, a ship picks up passengers at a wooden wharf along the West River. This card was apparently published during WWI, since a message on back gives a picture of the Island during that period - "Isn't this war dreadful? Ever since it began, the people have been sending money, cloths (sic), food, flour, oats and anything that is of any use to the poor Belgians and soldiers. A large amount of money & other things left this little Island for the war." (Publisher not identified; undated and unmailed, but with message on back.)
	Ah, the days before emission controls. The S.S. Northumberland does her best to completely conceal Charlottetown harbour under a thick blanket of smoke. The writer, apparently from New Brunswick, says "This is the boat I came over on." (Published by The Valentines & Sons Publishing Co. Ltd., Montreal and Toronto. Dated September 16, 1910.)
	Islanders did go swimming occasionally, but only when garbed in modest and cosy wool bathing suits.  (Published by C. & Co. (Carter & Co.?), unused and undated.)
	The economic yearnings of poorer Islanders seem captured in this shot of a "Boston boat". This steamer would take the more adventurous to seek their fortune in what was often referred to as the "Boston States". Ties between PEI and the Boston area are still strong, as evidenced by the number of Massachusetts license plates seen on Island roads each summer. (Published by Taylor's Book Store, Charlottetown, dated July 22, 1906.)
	In the early years of the 20th century, not all was idyllic. This postcard shows the arrival of some of the British Fleet into pre-World War I Charlottetown. These iron leviathans must have looked strange moored among the wooden ships that populated the harbour in those days, and their arrival was surely the talk of the town for many days. Prince Battenberg was Admiral of the Fleet Prince Louis Alexander Battenberg (changed to Mountbatten in 1917), the grandfather of Prince Philip. (Published by Warwick Bro's & Rutter, Toronto, date illegible. Part of the "Garden of the Gulf" series.)
	Only 89 years early, a version of the "Fixed Link" can be seen in this "see-through" postcard. The verse reads: At the Capes in the winter you stand on the shore, New Brunswick behind, P. E. Island before, And you long to get over, but how can you cross? You are stopped by the wind, and the lolly and frost But this is to tell you a way has been planned, By which you can pass to the opposite strand, So don't be discouraged, despondent or blue-- Hold this to the light and you'll see your way through. ("Tunnel Post Card", published by Bayer Photographer, Charlottetown, dated August 29, 1908.)
	The reverse of this card shows the tunnel crossing the Strait when held up to a strong light. ("Tunnel Post Card", published by Bayer Photographer, Charlottetown, dated August 29, 1908.)
	The end of an era - M.V. Abegweit II, in her last year of operation. Running the Marine Atlantic Borden-Cape Tormentine route, she could carry up to 250 cars in a single crossing. (Published by Allied Sales Ltd., Charlottetown, dated May 31, 1997.)
	A bridge not too far. One wonders what the iceboat travellers would make of the Confederation Bridge, opened in 1997 and replacing the Marine Atlantic ferries. (Published by Allied Sales Ltd., Charlottetown, dated May 31, 1997.)

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This page was last updated July 16, 2000.