Pictou County Postcards - An Edwardian Era Retrospective Look at Vintage Postcards from Pictou County, Nova Scotia

PICTOU HARBOUR

EVENING ON HARBOUR, PICTOU, NOVA SCOTIA

Collection ID#: PC 00522
Photographer: Unknown
Printer: Warwick Bros & Rutter, Limited, Publishers, Toronto
Publisher: Warwick Bros & Rutter, Limited, Publishers, Toronto
Postmark: Used card but not mailed.

I love the rich colours and the "over the top" design on the patriotic cards. The message on this very attractive Warwick Patriotic postcard reads "Dear Ted, I am in Pictou. Clarence is here and he sent for us to come over to see his cousins the Davison boys. When I gt back I will go to (illegible). I saw Jack today. They are going to Sumerdale (illegible). Got your letter Sat night. Sent the medesin to Effie. Till"

Someone has written the number 3676 in the upper left corner of the back of the card. I am guessing that this may be an ID reference # in the Warwick Patriotics book?

OUTWARD BOUND, PICTOU HARBOUR, PICTOU, N.S.

Collection ID#: PC 00680
Photographer: Unknown
Printer: Novelty Manufacturing & Art Ltd., Montreal
Publisher: W. T. Ferguson
Postmark: July 11, 1925 - (Illegible), N.S.

Wonder what the sender meant by "Does this look natural?" Was she referring to the ship that was in the harbour? The card was mailed to Mr. & Mrs. R. M. Newhall, 5 Twinehurst Pl., Southbridge, Mass by Freida who must have been living temporarily in Southbridge, but was visiting "home".

Mr. Newhall likely worked for the American Optical Company, as this address is for one of the houses in the American Optical Twinehurst Neighbourhood, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, 1989.

WAITING FOR THE TURN OF THE TIDE, PICTOU HARBOUR, N.S.

Collection ID#: PC 00643
Photographer: Unknown
Printer: Stedman Bros. Ltd. Brantford, Canada
Publisher: Unknown. Printed in Germany
Postmark: Date illegible - Pictou, N.S.

A very pretty hand coloured card, albeit in colours that I have never actually seen in the harbour. Addressed to Mr Joseph Fraser, Water Side, Pictou Co., N.S., the card was mailed by Mary McDonald, Box 484, Pictou, N.S.

Mary cheerfully (and perhaps somewhat jealously) writes "Hello Joe, How is everything at Carribo this spring. I am in Pictou since quite a while now. I was down to see the factory crowd this evening. How do you like the girls surely you will get a (illegible) among all those nice loving girls eh. I may go over the 24th. Hope to see you and all. Please answer soon. Love from Mary McDonald."

PICTOU HARBOUR, NOVA SCOTIA

Collection ID#: PC 00604
Photographer: F. O. MacLeod
Printer: Not specified
Publisher: Associated Screen News Limited, Montreal
Postmark: Unused card

This photo for this real photo postcard was take by F. O. MacLeod and it has NO. 103 directly below his name. There are relatively few postcards by this photographer, and I have not been able to locate any information about the studio.

ENTRANCE TO PICTOU HARBOUR, INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY

Collection ID#: PC 00687
Photographer: Unknown
Printer: Valentine & Sons' Publishing Co., Ltd. - Printed in Great Britain
Publisher: Valentine & Sons' Publishing Co., Ltd. - JV 101246
Postmark: None

A lovely view with the lighthouse on the opposite shore.

I.C.R. BRIDGE ACROSS HARBOUR, PICTOU, N.S. HARBOUR. (One mile from shore to shore).

Collection ID#: PC 00596
Photographer: Probably James McLean
Printer: Unknown Belgian company
Publisher: James McLean
Postmark: Sept 12, 1908 Pictou, NS

This card is the only one I have seen of this view angle. It mentions the distance from shore to shore in the title which is also unusual. The card is addressed to Miss T. M. Langille, West River Ste., Pictou Co., N.S. (We know from other postcards that this would be Tena Langille). The message reads "I am running on the Pictou Branch so will be impossible to get up this week. Will not even get to Stellarton Sunday. EEM"

Surf at Pictou, NS

Collection ID#: PC 00595
Photographer: Probably Miss Isabella McDonald, Pictou, NS
Printer: Unknown, appears to be Belgian
Publisher: P.C. & N. Co., Salisbury, NB for Miss Isabella McDonald, Pictou, NS
Postmark: Meadowville Station, NS - June 3, 1912

A very rare card, perhaps because of the rather bland photo. There is a lighthouse in the background but it is so small that it is hardly noticeable. Addressed to Miss Ira MacKenzie, the postcard is signed by Mother, who seems a little preturbed with her daughter for not replying to letters, or sending any kind of word home as to how she is getting along. Some things in this world never change!

REAR LIGHT, PICTOU HARBOR RANGE, PICTOU, N.S.

Collection ID#: PC 00646
Photographer: Unknown
Printer: Kodak
Publisher: Unknown
Postmark: Unused card

The lighthouse can just barely be seen above the tree line. Although a newer postcard, this is the only one I have ever seen of this view. The GPS co-ordinates are 45°41'18.3''N 62°40'43''W. Built and lit in 1889, more detailed information about the lighthouse can be found at http://www.nslps.com/light-detail.aspx?ID=461&M=D&N=1 and at .

PICTOU LIGHT, PICTOU, NOVA SCOTIA

Collection ID#: PC 00688
Photographer: Unknown
Printer: E.S. & A. Robinson (Canada) Limited - Card ID: E-6
Publisher: The Book Room, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Postmark: None

The printer E.S. & A. Robinson (Canada) Limited was started in 1932 as the Canadian division of the very large and much older company in Britain. This postcard has a very low card ID number (ES-6) so it may be one of their earlier postcards.

WATERFRONT, PICTOU CENTRE, PICTOU, N.S.

Collection ID#: PC 00649
Photographer: Unknown
Printer: Unknown
Publisher: James MacLean & Sons, Pictou, N.S.
Postmark: Illegible but possibly August 193(0s) from Pictou, N.S.

This card was mailed to Mrs. D. M. MacLeod, Wood Island North, P.E. I. and the message reads "Dear Katie, Glad to get your letter before we left Boston two weeks ago. Henry went back Friday and I am staying for a couple of weeks longer. Boston was too hot for me this summer. Our new address is 41 Long Ave., Allston, Mass. Love. Lilla."

SUNSET, PICTOU HARBOUR, N.S.

Collection ID#: PC 00651
Photographer: Unknown
Printer: Valentine & Sons Publishing Company Ltd, Montreal and Toronto
Publisher: Valentine & Sons Publishing Company Ltd, Montreal and Toronto & Inter-Colonial Railway
Postmark: Unused card

Valentine card #103,082 is on front in lower right water area.

CUSTOM HOUSE, PICTOU, NOVA SCOTIA

Collection ID#: PC 00660
Photographer: Probably James McLean
Printer: Warwick Bros. & Rutter, Limited, Publishers, Toronto
Publisher: James McLean, Pictou, Nova Scotia 1568
Postmark: Mar 16, 1907 or 1908?, Three Bridges

This lovely building serviced the harbour arrivals. These days it serves as a small but pleasant inn with large rooms. There is also a private pub / dining room that looks like it has a decent menu.
http://www.customshouseinn.ca/

Pictou County PostcardsVintage Postcards from Pictou County, Nova Scotia