Odds & Ends / The Westville Tram Cars / That was then - This is Now / "Contraptions" 1911 / The History of Westville's Water System / Westville Streets in 1899 / Photo Feature: Streets Then & Later / People / Thank You
Town Councilor George C. Wright
of Acadia Ave. taking a spin in his '20's Chevy. This
early twenties photo shows a rare glimpse of the old and
very large rink that once stood on North main Street but was
later destroyed by fire. George Wright was a town
councilor for many years and a member of the Westville Band
until its disbandment. The other structure in the
background is believed to be the Catholic Church when it was
across the street of its present location.
In 1911 these “Contraptions” were a Fiery Topic in Pictou County
An amendment to the Motor Vehicle Act was introduced to the Legislature in 1908 by R.M. MacGregor provided that the Municipal and Town councils would have the right to say on what days of the week motor vehicles would be allowed to run, and was successfully passed. Under the new amendment, automobiles in Pictou County were only allowed on the country roads on Mondays and Fridays.
In 1911, the automobile question still continued to be a fiery topic in Pictou County. When the automobile season opened in 1911, the regulation restricting their operation to Mondays and Fridays was again in force in the county. The approaching election made it a particularly delicate and touchy subject to deal with, and the candidates did not want anything that would excite the anger of the people.
Those actively opposed to
the Bill claimed, “Automobiles have come to stay.” If so,
why oppose?
Those supporting the Bill did so in no certain
terms: “Why have they come to stay? Automobiles have not
come to stay! Just wait till they kill a few people by
tumbling the wagon in which these people are traveling
peacefully along, and we will see if they have come to
stay.” Is it reasonable that the mass of the people who
will never own an auto will have to give up the roads they
made and practically own to the devil machines? Is it
reasonable to believe that legislation will take the roads
of the country people away and transfer them to the rich
man, who may wish to make Motor Tracks of them? Have they
come to the Public Roads of Great Britain to stay? If so,
why is the government proposing to construct an automobile
road for the exclusive use of these contraptions so as to
keep them off the public roads? In England the public roads
are wide and the country comparatively level. In this
province, there is no chance to escape one of those human
spirits on wheels, where the country is hilly and the roads
narrow. If an automobile comes suddenly over a hill in the
face of a horse unacquainted with them, ten men would not
keep him from going over the bank with the wagon to which he
may be attached. Automobiles have not come to stay on our
country roads and they won’t stay.
During the months of July and August, the controversial issue of the “Auto Nuisance” in Pictou County again arose to a heated pitch. The damage to the streets and country roads, by the chain-bound wheels, was deplored, and also the noise created by the motor cars. Appearing in the papers were such articles as: The Auto Association is greatly surprised that Country People assert their unalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is next to being a public indecency. Poor deluded Country People! They presume to retard the joy riding of the Town Plutocrats.”
“The sawmill sounding chugers were very busy Sunday, with the horse and rubber-tired buggy, we hear nothing but the rhythmical beat of the horses’ feet on the roadway; but with the motor car we have unmusical sound of the sawmill chugging and that horrid stink.”
The auto craze in Pictou County was gaining in popularity and the editor of the “Eastern Chronicle” was deploring the fact even the farmer were becoming interested.
By mid-April 1915, five Overlands, eight Fords, three Studebakers, three Maxwells and four McLaughlin-Buicks had already been sold in the Pictou County area, with the season just beginning.
(Editor’s note: Taken from Chronological History of Eureka and Ferrona With Historical Introduction, Brief Biographies and Other Information by Edwin T. Bliss.)
This 1930s scene at the corner
of College and Main streets shows the rough paving job of
only the Main Street.
The first building on the right is Charlie Wing's Chinese
restaurant, known as "Charlie's". The double
parkers are out doing their business.
Joe Wright
On the north end of Westville’s Main Street can be seen a brick garage which is one of Westville’s landmarks. For 33 years this garage was owned and operated by a well-known citizen of the town, J.R. (Joe) Wright.
Mr. Wright very clearly remembers the opening of this garage.
“It was on October 2, the same night as the opening of the Roxy Theatre.
It is also interesting to note that he tore down Westville’s Dufferin Hotel to clear a spot to erect his new garage and body shop.
Had First Service Car
The distinction of having had the first car-lining machine in Pictou County belongs to Mr. Wright. He also had the first service car in the local area; he did service work for J.J. Hoare and V-8 Motors. Also, Mr. Wright was one of the oldest Irving dealers in the province.
From 1925 to 1959, he was well-known for his position behind the wheel of Westville’s fire engine. He is now an honorary member of the Fire Department, as is also true of the Curling Club.
-The Evening News
-August 5, 1961
A 1941 newspaper advertisement
The office of the Free Lance
Newspaper, circa 1900
(Photograph Collection, Public Archives of Nova Scotia)