Rural Areas

Gaspereaux

Named for the fish that spawn in the waters of the community.

A well-known area for fish processing and lobster fishing. The wharf was established as the community fish plant in 1893. One of the oldest homes on all of PEI stood in Gaspereaux and was known as the Steele House. It was once used as a mission station during the early years of the Catholic Scots by Bishop Angus Bernard MacEachern.

Sturgeon

Home of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, which was the first Roman Catholic Church designed by William Critchlow Harris.

Part of the Sturgeon River Watershed and Sturgeon Wharf are used by lobster fisherman and mussel farmers. In the past, Sturgeon has prospered with two grocery stores, a cheese factory, a forge, a sawmill, and a lobster factory.

Panmure Island

The first full time settlers were from Scotland and one of the first is believed to be Andrew MacDonald and his family in 1805.
The Panmure Island Cemetery was established in 1813 and the lighthouse is the oldest wooden lighthouse on PEI, built in 1853. The lighthouse offers tours and has a lovely gift shop during the summer months.
Home of Panmure Island Provincial Park.
Annual Abegweit Pow wow is at the Panmure Island Cultural Grounds.

Cardigan Head

lies west of Cardigan in Lot 52. Early settlers were African American, Irish and Scottish farmers and millers. The Cardigan Fish Hatchery was the main industry for many years. Cardigan Head was the location of the water tower which supplied the early steam locomotives for the Prince Edward Island Railway. Now, the Confederation trail which uses the railbed runs through the community and provides recreation for many.

Albion

A farming and fishing community in lot 59 noted for beautiful scenery. The name Albion itself, is an old name for England.

Victoria Cross

Knox’s Dam located in Victoria Cross was once the site of the first hydro electric plant which supplied power to the Town of Montague during the first half of the 20th century.

Union Road

A rural farming community located in part of lot 51 and home to Union Cemetery.

New Perth

Settled 1803. Name in use 1861. Perth is now the railway station name, but formerly it was New Perth. Home to New Perth Animal Hospital

Greenfield

Greenfield was settled by families mostly from Ireland. During the 1960’s and 1970’s Greenfield was a noted tobacco-growing area that employed a lot of local people and is now home to the Greenfield Snow Mobile Club.

Whim Road

Part of lot 59 was settled by Scottish settlers and was originally called Springton. Close to Buffalo Land Provincial Park and Moore’s Bird Sanctuary located in Milltown.

Cardigan North

lies east of Cardigan on the north side of the Cardigan River in Lot 54. It was also called Mitchell River after the river of the same name that runs through the community. Mitchell River is believed to be named after Michael Mitchell, a noted Mi’kmaq chief who was seeking solutions to problems facing the Mi’kmaq nation in the 1830s. Early settlers were United Empire Loyalists, English, French and Scottish.

Roseneath

lies to the south of Cardigan partly in Lot 52 and partly in Lot 53. It was named for Roseneath in Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Early settlers were Irish, English and Scottish people who were millers, farmers and some shipbuilders. The Roseneath School and the Roseneath Hall supplied the educational and entertainment needs of the community for years. The Kaylee Hall at Poole’s Corner continues to supply entertainment today. In the 1960s, Poole’s Corner had Poole’s Garage and the Kingsway Motel, today there is an industrial park in the area with many businesses and at the eastern end of the community there is the Brudenell River Resort and golf courses.

St. Georges

lies east of Cardigan in Lot 55. It is named for the Catholic Church in the territorial parish named by Holland in 1765. The post office was called Narrows Creek from 1880-1895. Early settlers were Scotch, Irish and English. A vibrant farming community, the young people were encouraged to join 4-H and Junior Farmers clubs. Ribbons were won at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair competitions in Toronto for quality produce and at Kings County exhibitions.

Launching

lies east of Cardigan in Lot 55. Early Scottish settlers came before 1800 to this piece of land between the Boughton River and the Cardigan River. There is an old cemetery at the shore near Launching Harbour where the first Catholic church, a log structure, was built. A second church (St. Michael’s) was built at the end of the Bruce Pt. Rd. The parish grew and in 1860 a new church was built in St. Georges to include all the Catholic families in the area. Launching is a large fishing community, with many of the fisherman also being farmers who grew a mixture of crops; with tobacco being grows in the 1970’s. The fishermen in Launching organized the first Fisherman’s Union on PEI in 1907. From tying up their dorys on the Bay to having a snug, safe harbour (built in 1949) the fishermen are keeping the lobster fishing industry alive in Launching

De Gros Marsh

is east of Cardigan on the north side of the Cardigan River in Lot 55. It seems that the area was named by the French who were occupying Brudenell Pt in the 1730s. Early Scottish settlers were mixed farmers and fishermen.

The beach area along the Cardigan River attracts clam diggers, swimmers and boaters.

Glenfanning

is northeast of Cardigan in Lot 53. It is named for Lady Fanning, daughter of Edmund Fanning, Lt. Gov of P.E.I. It was also called Dingwell’s Road, Grand River Road and Seven Mile Road. Early settlers were Irish, Scotch and African American. There was mixed farming and a number of men who heard about shipbuilding in the Cardigan area were attracted to that industry and settled in Glenfanning. Their names can be found on the payroll lists for a number of the vessels built at Cardigan.

Georgetown Royalty

lies east of Cardigan on the south side of the Cardigan River. Planned by Samuel Holland in 1765 as one of the territorial divisions of Prince Edward Island to be the shire town of Kings County this designation was later given to the town of Georgetown. Georgetown Royalty remained a rural community with farming as the main occupation. Today, new residents to the area are building cottages along the Cardigan River, taking advantage of the beautiful sweeping views of the water.

Summerville

is located on Route 3; it is the highest land between Pownal Bay & Georgetown. The community was first called the Town Road and had a tavern, lodging, and a post office. It was a way stop for travelers in the horse and buggy days. In 1867, a public meeting at the tavern voted for the name Summerville. The headwaters (from bubbling spring & small brooks) of three rivers begin in Summerville, the Vernon River, the Morell River, and the Brudenell River flowing West/North & East. The community was first settled in the early 1800s by Irish immigrant farmers. In recent years, as many of the farmers retired, much of the land is now rented to larger farms.

Over 24 Amish families have recently moved to Summerville and area. Re-establishing traditional family farms, invigorating the economy, and impressing Islanders and tourists alike with their resourcefulness and old-time farming methods.

902 838 2528
172 Fraser St,
PO Box 546 Montague, PE
C0A 1R0

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