Description Pictou Parade ECNALUBMA

ECNALUMBA
I was wondered why the word “ECNALUBMA” was on the front of the ambulances operated by MacDonald Brothers with is “Ambulance” spelled backwards, so I took my curiosity to driver Jack Green, and he told me. The word “Ambulance” is deliberately spelled backwards so that, as the ambulance approaches a car, or truck, ahead, the drivers of the vehicles can look in their rear vision mirrors and see the word, in correct position, and then know that the vehicle behind is not just another can. Also in front is a single red light, down low (just below the front widows) so that cars, or trucks can se the red light. The big dome light a top the ambulance is too high for drivers in the front to see it in their rear view mirrors.
WRONG PLACE
From the May issue, 1883 of the Pictou News, the editor, D. MacDonald, B.A. published this report; “A P.E.I. man, Episcopalian in religion, and 46 years old, old enough to know better, was up before his worship on Wednesday morning, charged with being drunk on the street. He said he had bought a bottle of gin and was rubbing some on his sore leg. His worship told him he had rubbed most of it on the wrong place, and would have t pay $2, or spend 30 days in jail. No wonder fines were paid.

LADIES COLLEGE

Back in 1883, the Pictou News reported, “A ladies College for Pictou was a prospect, and money had been raised for the start of the college. But the project had to be abandoned ad it was found impossible to raise additional funds needed for the college.”
Too bad. If that project had gone through, just think of the intelligent (and not doubt, beautify) ladies that would be flocking in to our town. Oh course we have a town full of beautiful ladies without the college, most of whom didn’t need a college education to put with their hands in some man’s kitchen sink.
SHORTLINE
June 29th issue of Pictou News, 1883- “six hundred men at work on the Short Line railway.”
SUMMER DUST
Pictou News, June 22, 1883 issue; “The dust on the streets is terrible. There are suggestions that the town should have a watering cart. New Glasgow has a water cart. Pictou should follow.”

NEW OUTLET
Pictou News, August 2, 1883: “J.D.B. Fraser, local druggist on water street has opened a branch drug store in River John. R.D. Stiles will be in charge. “It may be noted here that J.D.B. FRASERS drug store in Pictou was the same location that it was later operated by R.D. Stiles, and still later became the McKenna Drug Store, and now known as Pictou Pharmacy.

TEACHERS SALARIES
The April 13 issue pf Pictou News, 1883, reported “Council increased teachers’ salaries. Miss Forbes $300 per year, Mr. Armstrong $550 as the yearly salary.”
In those early days all teachers were “Miss” and men teachers received more then female teachers. Hector McInnis was appointed to Pictou Academy Staff at the salary of $750 per year. He resigned from Sydney Academy to take the Pictou Position.

ITEMS
April 20, 1883, Pictou News; “The Roads are pretty bad.” “Does nothing ever happen at Durham or West River,” the editor inquired, “Look alive up there and send us some readable items for our next issue.”
The editor cautioned the Three Brooks correspondent: “Your submission is not news. We can’t publish what you sent. It’s a little too suggestive…” Wonder what that was? Perhaps something for to Playboy.

PARTING TOUGHT
Not all the news from Three Brooks was fit to print.

By Roland H. Sherwood