Description Pictou Parade 13-9-70

Roland Sherwood’s

Pictou Parade

Fires

Back in 1964 a late spring fire destroyed business and fraternal places on Lower Water street, such as the place then known as The Mens’ Shop”, The Oddfellows Hall, along with the Jamison Laundry and the J.W. Priest shoe company.

                After a cleanup of the fire debris re-building began, so that this section of Water Street, across from Hector Square saw the erection of the Oddfellows Hall, which organization uses the upstairs section for their Lodge. The lower, street portion of this fine brick building houses a home furnishing store, while west of the building is the progressive bicycle shop of Rex Corkum, and the J.W. Priest Co. Ltd.

Another Pictou?

                A few weeks ago I wrote that there was another place known as Pictou. It was in the United States, but at that time I couldn’t remember where. In the meantime James DeCoste told me that he had searched through a United States Atlas and no such place as “Pictou” was listed. This could be, for, if the name of “Pictou” was carried to Colorado by some native of Pictou in the search of gold, he could have given the name of his home town to the place where he settled.

                That of course was many years ago, and the place could have become a ghost town and the name removed from all records.

Old Wallace

                Over 30 years ago the hugh building on Front Street known as the Wallace Hotel was still standing. It later became the Wetmore building, and when the shipyards were being converted to the building of steel cargo ships during the Second World War, the old building was renovated to make the first offices for the shipyards.

                Later, when more adequate offices were erected on the shipyard property, the Wetmore building’s second storey was left vacant, but a hardware store occupied the ground floor.

                Later still that bulding went up in flames and took along the Mansour building that was located west of the Wetmore building. That same spot, left vacant after the fire is now a car-display and parking lot.

Familiar Signs

                For many years before the building became known as the Old Scot, it was the Julian Hotel. This building stood on Water Street, west of what was then Ferguson’s Drug Store, a business now operated by William Dodson.

                On the east side of the huge wooden building, facing toward Front Street, was a painted advertirement for “Shamrock Smoking Tobacco.” That painted ad.  stood the ravages of the elements for a long number of years and became so familiar to Pictonians that a few ever looked up to read the notice.

                Shamrock Smoking Tobacco was a very popular brand in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. Even after the bulding changed hands from Julian Hotel to Webber’s Hotel, and later, Old Scot, that Shamrock sign, remained until the very day the building was removed.

                Another familiar sign of earlier days was that of the two smiling, pipe-smoking elderly gentlemen advertising “Old Chum Smoking Tobacco.

Bandshell

                I hope those who have the knowledge of how to secure grants will be giving attention to that proposed project, a loacal bandshell, so that it might be available for next Summer’s activities, especially during the Pictou Lobster Carnival. Many will recall when the Firemen’s Youth Band was a going concern under the able direction of Brenton Godfrey, and presented band concerts on the station grounds

                A bandshell was once proposed for what was then known as “In Town Park” (which is now the Broidy Childrens’ playgrounds) but did not materialize.

                I believe that the Firemen’s Youth Band, which was disbanded last year, is to be revived this fall. I hope this plan is carried out, as the band was always an asset to the town.

Parting Thought

                Strike up the band, here comes a parade.

By Roland H. Sh