| Number 20 | April 1, 2002 |
STEWART AND BECK BRANCHING OUT
There will soon be a new Beck business in Montague, P.E.I. George and Barry Beck, the operators of Stewart and Beck on Main Street, are splitting the operation into two distinct branches and hope to have the doors open by the first of May.
Barry takes over the new operation which will be located in the old Poole and Thompson building on the Montague waterfront. They are investing $420,000 to renovate the building to house Beck's Home Furniture, Gifts and Interior. It will carry the furniture line from Home Hardware along with Nancy's business, Silhouette Plus. Barry says they will be using three of the four floors in the building -- two for showrooms and one for storage.
George will continue to operate Stewart and Beck, and will specialize in the hardware line from Home Hardware. The Silhouette Plus building will be removed leaving more room for parking. With the furniture line gone from the Main Street business, there will be a lot more room for seasonal merchandise. George says the two business will complement each other and will be able to co-operate in many ways. For instance in the heating end, he will continue to sell stoves and furnaces and Barry will handle the installation.
Firm Has Long History
Stewart and Beck had its beginnings back in the depression. The year was 1932 and Cecil Beck (1.11.8.3.) and Ethan Stewart were working for Poole and Thompson, one of the major businesses in Montague. Times were tough, the business was struggling and the two were among staff who were laid off. They decided to go into business for themselves and their story is outlined in the Feb. 20 edition of The Eastern Graphic.
They rented some space in a building on Main Street for two dollars a month, hired a truck, stocked the shelves and The Globe Grocery was in business.
As the business grew, they expanded into other lines such as hardware, clothing, footwear and feed for livestock. The building they occupied burned in 1940 and when they reopened they called the business Stewart and Beck Ltd.
In the 1950's they joined the Clover Farm Grocery Chain, and in 1965 they built an adjoining structure to house furniture and appliances. Cecil Beck died in 1975 and by then two of his sons, George and Barry, were running the business. In 1980 they added more space, and in 1984 they dropped the grocery business and expanded the hardware line. The business now has 25 full-time employees and will be celebrating its 70th anniversary later this year.
Firm Has Long History
BELL STARRING IN HOCKEY PLAYOFFS
After more than three months on the disabled list, Thatcher Bell (1.4.6.5,3.6,3) returned to the ice in March and quickly showed that he's a good prospect for the National Hockey League. He injured his back in a game on November 21 and didn't get back into the lineup until the first of March. During that time the Rimouski Voyageur centre was examined by a number of specialists and surgery was considered but it wasn't required. Rest and therapy seemed to be the best approach and that gave Thatcher a chance to get home to Guernsey Cove and spend some time with his family and friends.
In his first game back in action in the Quebec Major Junior league, he scored two goals and assisted on another to help his team to a 4-3 win over Shawingian. He continued to perform well in the final games of the regular season, but it was in the playoffs against the Halifax Mooseheads that he really displayed star quality. For instance in the third game of the series, Thatcher scored five goals and assisted on a sixth in a 7-5 victory in Rimouski.
The timing couldn't be better for his career. He was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL two years ago and the team must offer him a contract before June or he goes back into the draft. Thatcher told Don Morrison of The Guardian that the contract is on his mind. "I think about my physical condition first, that's my No. 1 priority. After that, it's obviously my contract."
Thatcher is one of two Beck descendants playing for Rimouski this year. Danny Stewart (1.4.6.5,1.2A,1.1) is in his rookie season and showing a lot of promise.
WRECK OF BAD LUCK TUG LOCATED
Scientists using the latest multibeam mapping technology have charted the bottom of Bedford Basin, revealing many of the secrets hidden beneath its surface. Multibeam bathymetry has now provided full coverage of the basin floor, something that was impossible to obtain with older technology. The work was carried out by Gordon Fader, a marine geologist with the Geological Survey of Canada. The basin drains into Halifax Harbour and is the site of many shipwrecks.
Exciting researchers the most was the discovery of the last resting place of what was probably the unluckiest ship ever to ply the waters of Halifax Harbour. Built in 1915 the steam powered tug, Erg, was involved in two disasters. Originally named Sambro, the 55-foot steel hulled vessel sank in the 1917 Halifax explosion. In 1930 it was salvaged, refitted, renamed, Erg, and put into service as a harbour workboat.
On July 6, 1943, it was heading up the basin in heavy fog to drop off shipyard workers on a vessel in an assembled convoy when it was run down by a freighter. Nineteen men were lost, including Forrest Beaton. (1.4.2.2,5,) From their home in northend Halifax, his wife, Sibyl (Munn) Beaton, watched the lengthy recovery effort. It was two weeks before they recovered Forrest's body. Some were never recovered even though the Erg was raised and searched. The wreck was moved to another area but no one knew where.
Mr. Fader said the answer lies at the bottom of Roach Cove at the northern end of the basin. When the mapping work pinpointed an unknown wreck, divers went down and confirmed that it was the Erg.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PLANNED FOR EASTERN PEI.
Business owners in Montague and surrounding towns are hoping to revive a Chamber of Commerce to promote local industry. The idea was in the talking stage for a couple of months and a meeting was held in late February to determine the level of interest.
Debby Beck (1.6B.5.1.1A.2) of Montague Computer is one of the promoters of the idea. "We feel there is an interest and a need for a Chamber. It creates a network of business people and makes us more aware of what businesses are in the area," she said when contacted by The Eastern Graphic.
Montague had a Chamber of Commerce 20 years ago, but it shut down. It was just for businesses in the town, but the new one would include all surrounding communities.
"Outlying areas are really, really important," Debby said. "We don't want this to be just a Montague Chamber of Commerce. Small communities like Georgetown and Cardigan are perhaps not big enough on their own, so we want to involve them. They have a lot to offer," Debby added.
CEILIDHS FOR EQUIPMENT
A Murray River musician is doing all he can to raise money to buy equipment for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown. Garnet Buell (1.6B.6.5,2.) has organized a series of ceilidhs to be held every weekend until April 21st. The musicians perform every Saturday night in the Murray River Hall and Sunday night at the Kaylee Hall at Pooles Corner, near Montague.
Last year the ceilidhs were held only in Murray River and raised more than $7,000 for the hospital. Garnet says he hopes that they will do better this year with two sites. The concerts include bake sales, 50/50 draws and other money raising features. He got the idea for the fund raising effort after spending some time in the hospital two years ago. He was so happy with the care he received that he decided to give something back.
Many of you will remember Garnet and his musical friends who entertained at the last Beck Reunion.
Garnet is also interested in local wildlife. He complained publicly after a careless motorist wiped out most of a flock of Cedar Waxwings in late January. A flock of 10 of the colourful birds had been visiting Garnet's property on the Gladstone Road regularly. One day in late January a speeder ran into the birds, killing 7 of them.
Garnet said he's seen a car hit a bird or two, but he's never heard of someone doing so much damage to one flock. "I feel bad," he told the Eastern Graphic,"but there's nothing I can do because we didn't see who hit them. The person didn't even try to stop." He's asked the RCMP to keep an eye on speeders because a lot of people walk the Gladstone Road regularly for exercise.
Garnet said the Waxwing population reached an all-time low in the past few years and only recently started to come back, visiting berry-bearing trees and shrubs in the area.
BORN
Genge, Berry Lexa. A daughter born to Geoff Genge and his wife, Michelle Harris. Berry is their first child and arrived on December 6, 2001, and weighed 7 lbs, 4 ounces. Geoff, Michelle and Berry live in Caledonia, PEI.
BIOGRAPHY
Florence Eunice Billard was born at Murray Harbour in 1915, the daughter of Phil Billard and Eunice Gordon. She attended the Murray Harbour School and married Hubert W. Beck (1.4.2.3.4.) of Murray River about 1935. They spent the first 10 years of their married life in Murray River, in a house that Hube built on a lot at the corner of the Commercial and Point Pleasant roads. Hube was involved in the lobster fishery and worked for the Coast Guard during this period and Florence was a housewife. They both enjoyed music and he played the fiddle and she played the guitar and the piano. They would sometimes perform at small gatherings near home. They did not have any children.
Florence's nephew, Ralph Billard, said they moved to the Boston area to seek work about 1945. They settled in Cambridge and Florence got a job as a housekeeper for a Prof. Scott who taught at Harvard. Hube worked for various companies and served as a handyman for the Scott family in the evenings and weekends.
Ralph said they returned to PEI about 1970 and settled at first in White Sands. Florence became active in a number of organizations in their retirement years. She helped to get a chapter of the Women's Institute started in White Sands, and was also active in the Eastern Star, the women's branch of the Free Masons.
About 1975 Florence and Hube moved to Murray River. Ralph said Florence got quite involved with arts and crafts about that time. She was one of the founding members of the Wood Islands Handcraft Co-op with branches in Murray River and Wood Islands. She served as president of the group for a time.
Members made a wide assortment of crafts and sold them in their own store next to the Old General Store in Murray River. In the winter they would hold classes in the upstairs section of the building to teach various skills to anyone interested. Florence had a loom and would weave place mats and other items. In the summer they would sell their products to the tourists who dropped in. The members of the Co-op were supposed to help with the sales and you would often see Florence at work there. She remained involved as long as her health permitted.
Florence died Dec. 16, 2000, at the age of 85 and she is buried in the Murray Harbour cemetery.
A REMINDER
Sarah Jackson (1.4.6.8.3,) is still looking for recipes for the cookbook she hopes to have ready for our reunion next year. The cookbook, her third, will feature Beck Family recipes so send along some of your favourites. The older the better! She hopes to have it ready to send to the printers in August so get them in as soon as possible. Sarah lives at Beach Point and you can reach her by email at hsnjackson@pei.sympatico.ca
BELL IN NO RUSH TO GET OUT OF JAIL
The Prince Edward Island bomber, Roger Bell, (1.4.1,10,5.2.) has opted to remain in custody for at least a few more months. He pleaded guilty in 1997 to planting four pipe bombs over a nine-year period. He is now eligible for parole and a hearing was scheduled for May. He notified the National Parole Board on March 26 that he wished to waive his right for full parole. He gave no reason for his decision, but has applied for day parole, and his application will be heard in August.
Roger is being held in the medium security facility at Springhill, N.S. and that is where the hearing will be held. The former chemistry teacher has never said why he planted the bombs, one of which went off during the spring sitting of the PEI Legislature in 1995. However, he did express remorse. "I would like to apologize to the people who were caused fear or trepidation because of my deeds," he said in court after entering the guilty plea.
New Library for Murray River
Readers in the Murray River area welcomed the opening of their new library recently. The official opening of the $175,000 complex took place in early March. Premier Pat Binns, Lawrence MacAulay, the area MP, and Tom Scott, chair of the Village Council took part in the ceremonies. The new building is across the street from the former library, which was cramped and poorly heated.
It's equipped with an office, a meeting room, a kitchenette, storage space, computer access, washroom facilities, on-site parking and ample shelf space for books. Readership is up by 30 per cent so far and internet use by 90%.
There has been a library in Murray River for about 75 years. The first librarian was Beatrice Diamond who stored some books in one room of her home near the village railway station. She was succeeded by Joanna Ferguson (1.4.4,1.) who was the Librarian in the 1930s.
New Agricultural Museum for Orwell Corner
It's a three-year project that will cost more than $3 million and create an interpretive centre for agricultural history. It will also provide space to house and care for almost 40,000 artifacts belonging to the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation.
The announcement was made at Orwell on March 8 by Lawrence MacAulay, the MP for Cardigan and the Solicitor General of Canada on behalf of the Liberal government. Ottawa is putting up $1.2 million to get the project started. The Conservative government in Charlottetown seemed less than enthusiastic with a statement the day before that the provincial money for the project had not been confirmed.
And just how big will the museum be? Chris Severance and Boyde Beck (1.4.3A.3.6.4.) of the Heritage Foundation put on a slide show to illustrate the project. However, the documents appeared to show some discrepencies in the sizes of the buildings.
Boyde moved quickly to clear up any confusion.
"It's going to be a really big building," he quipped to the delight of the crowd.
The Vere Beck Family Home Page
We're always looking for news of Beck family members. If you know of any significant events drop me a line with the information. imunn@accesswave.ca
imunn@accesswave.ca