Antigonish Business Advertisements 1880s-1890s

"Advertising is salesmanship in print."
J.E. Kennedy, 1904

In the early 1890s, Antigonish had a population of about 2,000 people. An important mercantile centre, the town comprised forty five stores, four hotels, three livery stables, one steam saw mill, one cheese factory, one brickyard, three carriage factories and one woolen mill. The town was also home to St. F.X. College and Mount St. Bernard Convent, as well as a printing office and two banks, the Halifax Banking Company and the Merchant's Bank of Halifax. Antigonish was conveniently situated on the Intercolonial Railway Line. In 1892, a fare to New Glasgow and Halifax cost $1.20 and $3.96 respectively. The following advertisements from McAlpine's Directory and Gazetteer and Guide testify to the vitality of Antigonish's past. Just take a look!

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