Downtown in Charlottetown in Queens County, Prince Edward Island — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)

Where the Money Was
⎯⎯⎯
Là où il y avait de l'argent à faire

Where the Money Was Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, October 13, 2024

1. Where the Money Was Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Island ships were traditionally built to export agricultural goods and lumber. By the early 1800s, Islanders learned they could make more money selling ships than moving barrels of fish and produce across the Atlantic. Shipyards soon scattered nearly every bay, harbour, and creek along the shore. Both city and town thrived as skilled hands from across the Island came together to craft some of the world's finest vessels. While a few men made fortunes, dozens more prospered: blacksmiths, handlers, sailmakers, and carpenters were all needed to construct a sound vessel. Unfortunately, the industry and with it, its fortunes ran aground. The advent of steam and steel brought the "golden age" of shipbuilding to an end by 1880.

Selon La Tradition, less navires construits a Pîle sont destinés à l'exportation des produits agricoles et du bois. Dés le début des années 1800, les Prince-Édouardiens découvrent qu'ils peuvent faire plus d'argent à vendre des navires qu'à transporter des barils de poissons et des produits agricoles de l'autre côte` de l'Atlantique. Des chantiers navals surgissent alors dens presque toutes

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les baies, tous les port et toutes les rivières le long de la côte. Tout Charlottetown se développe avec l'arrivée d'ouvriers compétents venus de partour dans l'île pour bâtir certain des meilleurs navires au monde. Tandis queue quelques hommes font fortune, des dizaines d'autres prospérent: des forgerons, des fournisseurs de quincaillerie marine, des confectionneurs de voiles et des charpentiers sont tous nécessarires à la construction de solides navires. Malheureusement, l'industrie - et avec elle, ses fortunes - s'est échouée. L'avènment de la vapeur et de l'acier met fin à l'âge d'or deschantiers navals dès 1880.

Captions:
For half a century shipbuilding fueled Charlottetown's economy.

Pendant plus de cinquante ans, les chantiers navals sont le moteur de l'économie de Charlottetown.

Captions:
Floating Ferraris
Built with the best materials and finished with elaborate care, Island ships were famous for their quality. Shipbuilders like James Peake Jr., William Douse, and James Duncan put Charlottetown on the map. Vessels from their shipyards were often sold to England and from there could be seen sailing all around the world.

Would she float?
With many dressed in their best clothes, Islanders gathered at the waterfront to see if the answer was yes. Launch day for new ships was an important affair:

Peake's Quay Restuarant & Bar image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, October 13, 2024

2. Peake's Quay Restuarant & Bar

often closing schools, and stores and prompting workers to take the day off. All hushed as the slip was greased and the foreman commanded, "Knock away the dog shores!" Released from its hold, the vessel glided down the launch-ways to the tune of cheering crowds.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 46° 13.926′ N, 63° 7.372′ W. Marker is in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, in Queens County. It is in Downtown. It is on Great George Street. The marker is across the street from Peake's Quay Restaurant at 11 Great George St. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11 Great George St, Charlottetown PE C1A C1A, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Coastal P. E. I.

It is also in Atlantic Canada.

Globally, it is in North America

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: William Henry Pope (1825 – 1879) (within shouting distance of this marker); Great George Street Historic District / L’arrondissement Historique de la rue Great George (within shouting distance of this marker); Heralded Arrival… of the Circus (within shouting distance of this marker); The Gainsford House (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); A Wet Warehouse in a Dry City / La sobriété avant tout (about 90 meters away); Impulsive Ambush / Une attaque impulsive

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(about 150 meters away); Carvell Building (about 150 meters away); Confederation Birthplace Memorial Park/Confederation Boulevard (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlottetown.

Also see . . . Shipbuilding. Prince Edward Island proved to be an ideal place for wooden shipbuilding with its abundance of timber including birch, beech, pine, spruce, maple and juniper.3 The Island’s many bays, inlets, and sheltered rivers also provided excellent areas in which vessels could be launched.4 Shipyards began popping up all over the Island, and the areas along the North and West Rivers were no exception. Shipbuilding became established in the North and West River areas around 1820.5 There were several shipbuilders around the vicinity of Cornwall, the more well-known builders included William White, Simon Dodd and brothers Napoleon and Frederick LePage. Although the exact locations of these shipyards proved almost impossible to find, there is a certain amount of information that can be extracted from various resources. For instance, it was very common for ship launches to be announced in the local newspapers. In fact during the 1820’s, Prince Edward Island newspapers are littered with them. Some of these launches can be found in the following pages. (Submitted on November 4, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 140 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 4, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.

Where the Money Was⎯⎯⎯Là où il y avait de l'argent à faire

Where the Money Was
⎯⎯⎯
Là où il y avait de l'argent à faire