A band stand was erected on land owned by Dr. P. A. MacIntyre in 1901. The Souris Band gave a performance that was well attended by the community.

Eighteen year-old Henry McCormack was interred in St. Mary's Cemetery in Souris after passing away among relatives in 1901 at Grant's Crossing, after suffering with tuberculosis. His grave is now visited regularily by those interested in American history. His younger half-brother John went on to be one of the most powerful American politicians in history serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives. On Nov. 22, 1963, Speaker John became first in line to the Presidency with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas.

William Poole moved from Newfoundland to Souris in 1902. He fished lobsters off East Point with 300 traps for a 14' long Shelburne dory. He was paid $1.10 for 100 lobsters.

The Annual Tea party in support of the construction of the new St. Mary's Church was held on July 16, 1902.

Locals in Eastern King's called January 15 "Pig Day," when farmers ship hogs to the local pork packing plant. In 1903, much concern was expressed about "fish-fed hogs," and about renegade porkers running at large in the countryside.

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Souris, designed by W.C. Harris and built of sandstone quarried in nearby St. Catherines, was officially opened in 1904.

The first cold riveted tanks at Souris to store gasoline and kerosene were built by Frank Stephen MacDonald in 1906.

The Ella M. Rose wrecked spectacularly at Souris on September 2, 1906. While trying to run for the harbour, she crashed into the breakwater. The captain and crew had to jump onto the semi-submerged roadway and dance through the waves to shore.

James J. Hughes, M.P. and J. Augustus White of Souris were appointed to attend the Maritimes Board of Trade Meeting in Halifax in 1908. Improved train facilities were a concern.

Rad Schenell and one of his brothers of Souris built a 50 foot boat in 1911. They took it To Labrador searching for gold. They found little gold, but did discover a large iron ore deposit.

Souris residents were disappointed to discover that the elephant was unable to be a part of the circus that set up its tents in Carlton's field on Pond Street, in 1911. It had to be left on the mainland, for the elephant's rail car could not run on the P.E.I. Railway narrow gauge rail lines.

A moving picture show started in the fall of 1911 with Nelson Paquet as manager. The business was owned by a Mr. Gravestock of Pictou, Nova Scotia. The business lasted for three years, then folded.

The Souris Electric Co, the first outside Charlottetown or Summerside, was incorporated in 1913.

The Souris Silver Black Fox Co. Ltd. was formed by Dr. Gus MacDonald and Charles MacKinnon in a wooded area at the east end of the town in 1913. Edwin Clay of Dundas was the first caretaker.

Harry D. McLean of Souris traveled overseas in 1914, with a boat load of oats that were collected from local farmers to feed the Army horses that were in France during World War I.

The famed 105th. Highland Regiment, consisting of 1,250 men and officers is recruited from across P.E.I. for action in World War I. Part of D Company under the command of Capt. W. E. Hardy was stationed in Souris in 1916.

On April 28, 1917, Souris citizens turned out to say farewell to a group of Kings County soldiers who had trained in the town for action in artillery units overseas. They stayed in the Stone Hotel which had been converted into barracks. They drilled on the Souris breakwater, held rifle practice on the Chepstow Rifle Range and went on route marches on the Souris Line Road.. The officer in command was Lieutenant Roy C. McLean.

Souris residents celebrated the end of World War I a little too soon. News came through on November 6, 1918 regarding the cessation of hostilities. Souris citizens removed the Cadet Corp's .3030 rifles and ammunition which was stored in the high school. The celebrants shot the guns in the air. They also used the buoys of the Matthew & McLean herring traps in the harbour as targets, sinking them all.

Souris Town Council passed a by-law in 1919 that included automobiles with horses. Cars were to be driven at 7 ½ miles an hour on the left side of the road.

The publication Prince Edward Island, The Garden of the Gulf And Its Resources, included this flattering description of Souris in June 1920 as part of a large article, entitled Prince Edward Island.

Souris, population 1,400 is picturesquely situated on Colville Bay, one of the numerous bays that fringe the eastern end of the Island, and one of the best harbours in the Province, being open to navigation the year round. It is the shipping port and marketing place for a large and prosperous farming community and is also an important fishing centre. The value of the fish output from this port is about $150,000 yearly, consisting of cod, lobster, hake, kae sounds, mackerel and herring. The fishing industry gives employment to about 200 men the year round a number considerably augmented during the summer months when lobster packing and fish curing are in progress. The town of Souris is more than a fishing and farming centre. As a summer resort it is yearly becoming more and more widely and favourably known. Many visitors from abroad have their summer cottages here, while others from different parts of the province take advantage of the hotel and private boarding house privleges in the village. There are excellent bathing, boating and fishing facilities within reach, while the picturesque sand dunes on the north side are a great attraction and within easy reach. There are several large general stores, including those of Messrs Matthew & McLean, J.J. Hughes and Messrs Sterns Bros. The large sash and door factory of Mr. Bernard Creamer gives employment to a large number of men.

The Island was dry in 1923 and getting drier. In a provincial plebiscite, Islanders vote overwhelmingly in favour of banning the importation of liquor into the province. Of the larger towns, only Souris votes "No."

1st. Kings M.L.A. Harry D. McLean introduced the contentious church union bill in the P.E.I. Legislative Assembly on March 25, 1924.

Fire, the great enemy of Island church structures, visited Souris in 1929. St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church was gutted by fire. The stone shell was re-built with some modifications.

Matthew & McLean's closed down its can making shop on Breakwater Street in 1938. At its heyday the employees turned out 40 cases of cans each day, 96 cans to the case

Roy C. McLean was the foreman of the coroner's jury which investigated the death of Maritime Amateur Middleweight Boxing Champ, Benny Binns, who died in a domestic disturbance at his father-in-law's home in Souris, on August 4, 1945.

In 1947, Paul's Flying Service in Charlottetown offered a quick trip to Souris for $11.20 one way.

The first Island owned dragger, the Souris II, was launched at Caraquet, New Brunswick in 1950. In a couple of years Souris Harbour has many at berth and the town is dubbed Home of the Dragger Fleet.

The fast boats at July 1950's Souris Regatta came from Murray Harbour North and Lower Montague. Preston Higgenbotham, John Boudreault and Lloyd Reid took most of the top prizes.

The Souris Exhibition Association decided in February 1953 to carry on in Souris, rather than amalgamate with the Dundas Plowing Match.

The flying of the Union Jack caused a stir at the Souris Exhibition on September 7, 1955. It was hung upside down. This being a signal of distress embarrassed Island politicians and churchmen, who had their photo taken with it in the background.

Souris natives Jim MacDonald and Kimball Jarvis were a part of the crew of the M.V. Theron which carried the advance party for the Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1956. The late Sir Edmund Hillary, of New Zealand, of Mount Everest fame, was among the explorers involved in the trip.

Bruce L. Stewart, Imperial Oil Commission Agent, invited all to attend the official opening ceremony of the Bulk Plant in Souris on December 4, 1956.

Souris fisherman Jacques Gallant in 1957, was the first Island dragger owner to pay of his investment and burn his mortgage.

The first annual inspection of the Souris Sea Cadet Corps took place on May 9, 1957. The Corps was formed eight months earlier.

Souris native Wilfred C. MacEachern was named as Chief Executive officer of the Canadian Post Office Department in November, 1957.

Copyright
Waldron H. Leard