1880s – Travel becomes common
Editor’s Note: 2017 marks the 150-year existence of two architectural gems that grace Summerside’s streetscapes. The Lefurgey Cultural Centre and the Wyatt Historic House Museum, both owned by the City of Summerside, occupy a whole block between Granville and Spring Streets, with Prince Street to the south and Winter Street to the north. Built in 1867, each building has an interesting history. In tribute to their milestone anniversaries, 15 weekly articles, focusing on decades, will highlight the changes that have taken place within their walls and in the community. This is the third in that series.
The ability of people to travel greatly increased in the 1880s. On Prince Edward Island the railway allowed its citizens to get from one end of the province to the other with relative ease, and for those who wanted to venture further, the terminal at Point du Chene, reached via steamer, connected to the various railway lines that had been built across the continent.
The “age of sail” was on the decline, being surpassed by the era of steamships. However, in Summerside, John Lefurgey, along with a few other ship owners, were still having sailing vessels built on the waterfront. The port was a busy one with produce, as well as people, leaving the harbour for faraway places.
The Lefurgey family was particularly mobile during the 1880s. The eight children who had reached adulthood were venturing from the Island for education and pleasure. Charles, the eldest, was quite adventuresome as he became familiar with his father’s shipping business, and in 1882 he spent five months touring Great Britain and Europe. Described as a “young man of extraordinary qualities” he was on a business trip to Baltimore when he died of a brain embolism in 1883. His death was a severe blow to the closeknit family.
The responsibility for learning the family’s business then fell to William, who studied at Eastman’s Commercial College in New York State. The young Lefurgey women began to move away from home for education and travel, followed by marriages. In 1881, the eldest, Rosara, married William A. Brennan, the owner and publisher of The Summerside Journal, and in 1887 Beatrice married George McSweeney, who owned the Brunswick Hotel in Moncton. Both weddings were held in the Lefurgey House.
The year before, the house had been praised in the press for its “bright and tasteful colour” and in 1889 a hot water heating system was installed. During the same decade, things were relatively quiet at the Wyatt House. The house was occupied by Charles W. Strong, collector of customs, and the brother of the original owner, Robert Strong. He lived there with his second wife, Charlotte Treadwell, and children from his first wife, Martha Wright, who had died in 1870.
In 1885 he moved to the house that is now 307 Poplar Ave. and the house at 85 Spring St. became a temporary home for Mrs. J. C. Pope. She moved out and went to Ottawa to live after the property sold at auction as part of the Milcah Allison estate, Mrs. Allison being the sister of Sarah, Mrs. Robert Strong. The purchaser was John Lefurgey, who owned and occupied the house in the adjoining yard.