Historic Summerside, 1900-1970

Edward L. Edmonds is a professor of education at the University of
Prince Edward Island and an honorary chief of the Lennox Island
Mi’kmaq of Prince Edward Island.

A source of “roots” lies deep in the heart of many an Islander: none
more so than Island-born and -bred Fred Horne, the archivist at the
MacNaught History Centre and Archives. In this fine book, Horne gives us
the history of Summerside, the capital city of Prince County on Prince
Edward Island, a town well known throughout Canada for its splendid
19th- and early 20th-century residential architecture.

In its heyday, Summerside had booming commercial, agricultural, and
fishing industries. Horne traces the development of those businesses
(including the town’s once renowned silver fox industry), as well as
the town’s theatre, early radio, and sport. Only the more debatable
areas—such as party politics and education—have been excluded. The
text is abundantly illustrated with black-and-white photographs.

All in all, this is a useful source-book for anyone interested in
Prince Edward Island and its rich heritage.