History of Souris
1724
A plague of mice devastates crops. This is the first of a dozen outbreaks that will be recorded over the next 90 years, though it is not known exactly when the harbour here is dubbed Souris or “mouse” by a French vessel encountering the aftermath of such an outbreak.
1829
William Cooper, land agent for Lot 56, is elected as a radical reformer. His platform was to seize large estates from their mostly absentee-proprietors granting the land to the tenants.
1843
Souris establishes its first school in Norris Pond and Edmund Shea taught.
1848
St. Mary’s church burns to the ground.
1864
John Shannon delivers mail from Charlottetown to Souris in a covered carriage four days a week. He is paid a sum of $3.50 a week.
1868
A plague of flying ants arrives on June 22 in East Point, extending along the North Shore many miles away. They are in places three feet deep and just as wide.
1869
John McLean and Uriah Matthew open a store in Souris.
1876
Construction is started on Saint Mary’s Convent.
1877
American CJ Haley builds a lobster factory just under the lighthouse in Souris.
1877
Alexander MacKenzie, Canada’s second Prime Minister, was the first Prime Minister to visit Souris.
1892
Fire started in Strathcona, July 12-23, and ended at Fortune Bridge, destroying thousands of acres of woods and fields and at least five homes.
1894
First ice rink opens. It’s small and relies on naturally made ice to operate. Artificial ice will not make an appearance in Souris until 71 years later.
1900
The new Souris School serving grades 1-10 opens.
1912
William Dingwell, graduate of the New England Institute of Anatomy, establishes Dingwell’s Funeral Home in Souris.
1913
The Souris Silver Black Fox company is formed by Dr. Gus MacDonald and Charles MacKinnon.
1925
Over 50 whales beached themselves at Norris Pond creating a temporary economic boom. The rendered oil brings $10 gallon.
1927
Teenagers Bernard and George Leslie shoot the last known Island black bear near the Souris Line Road.
1929
St. Mary’s Catholic Church is gutted by a fire. The stone shell is rebuilt with some modifications.
1931
The McQuaid block is constructed on Main Street by Art McQuaid.
1936
John McLean passes away. In addition to his business interests he served as a member of the PEI legislature, a member of Parliament in Ottawa and since 1915 as a Senator.
1958
The O’Donnell Usen fish company leased to Albert Griffin for the fish processing plant. The plant is the largest employer in the town until the fire in 1993.
1959
Souris’ worst fire destroys an entire block on Main Street.
1961
Sterling Burke’s bus from Souris Regional High School receives national attention on Jan 20th when it gets stuck in a snowstorm with 18 students and a teacher. Burke finally gets home 27 hours later.
1971
Dial telephone debuts in Souris. There is so much interest the circuits overload in the first week.
1973
Basin Head Fisheries Museum is officially opened.
2010
Souris celebrates its 100th anniversary!