 The first newspaper published in Pictou was
the Colonial Patriot, which was also the first paper in the Lower Provinces to
advocate the principles of responsible self-government. It was followed in
1831 by the Pictou Observer, which like the Juvenile Entertainer, started the
same year, and the Patriot, ceased to be published in 1833, although the
Observer was revived in 1843, only to suspend publication the next year.
The Bee was published about 1835 to 1838. It was followed by the Mechanic and Farmer in 1838, and the Presbyterian Banner in 1842, both of which in 1845 were merged in The Eastern Chronicle, appearing at present as a bi-weekly in New Glasgow. In 1858 the Colonial Standard appeared, which in turn was replaced by the Pictou News, to be followed by the Pictou Advocate, the only paper published at present in the town. The latter, an eight to twelve page weekly paper, is liberal in politics. It takes a deep interest in local affairs, and by reason of its amount of local news, has a large number of subscribers both in and out of town. The Bank of Nova Scotia distinguished for having the largest reserve fund in proportion to its capital of any bank in Canada, with its 189 branches has had a branch in Pictou since 1839 and occupies a three story stone building, the ground floor of which is utilized for banking purposes, while the two upper stories are occupied by the Manager. The Royal Bank of Canada, a branch of which was established in Pictou in 1870 has 376 branches, a paid up capital of $12,000,000.00 a reserve fund of $13,236,000, and assets over $200,000,000, making it one of the largest banking institutions in the Dominion. The town has four physicians and eight members of the Bar. Hon. E. M. Macdonald, is at present the Dominion Member for Pictou County, which has had a representative in every Provincial ministry since 1875. Pictou has a number of good hotels and restaurants, among which the Wallace is the largest. It is conveniently located near the railway park on Front Street. The hotel has 63 bed rooms in addition to office, parlor, writing, lounging and dining rooms, all of which are well lighted and comfortably furnished and command a magnificent view of Pictou Harbour and the country beyond. The dining room seats 48 guests. The cuisine is choice and the service efficient and courteous. It is largely patronized by business men and tourists, who coming to Pictou for a day or a week find it a home of rest and comfort. The St. Julian is the outgrowth of a restaurant established by J. W. Hogg in the Hogg Block in 1912. The business prospering he converted the whole three story building into a hotel in 1916. It has a parlor and 16 bed rooms on the upper floors, all of which command a fine view of harbour and town. The dining room seats forty people. The meals are substantial, well cooked and properly served, every effort being made to see that guests are as well treated as possible. The town has four or five other hotels, as well as restaurants and boarding houses, where accommodation and meals may be had at moderate prices. |