Eastern Kings Meeting Place

It was from the beginning a general store, with dry goods, hardware and groceries. The interests went beyond this building, The business owned about 30 boats, which were engaged in coastal ground fishing. Matthew & McLean's constructed their own wharf and employed a dozen men or more in the sheds, icehouse and eventually more in their own canning factories at Souris, Bayfield and North Lake. The company owned full-time fish stands at Little Harbour, Red Point and North Lake. They dried and pickled fish, canned lobster and other products.
In later years they purchased property and grew crops for export. Potatoes were purchased in bulk and warehoused, until they were shipped. Local farmers were financed for fertilizer and other costs, and then the crops would be purchased and exported.

Uriah Matthew
1843-1902

Hon. John McLean
1848-1936

The firm owned coastal vessels, such as the ill-fated Nutwood, which shipped produce throughout the Atlantic region, the Boston States and the West Indies. The ships would return with salt for fish processing, coal for heat and goods for sale for the two stores. By 1887, they had expanded to Dundas with a branch store. It was moved four years later to the wharf site at Bridgetown.
The Company also managed rental properties. Their flour warehouse constructed in 1873, was moved in 1898 to the west on Main Street. It became know as the three suit building. W. B. Leard Tailor was in the west side, lawyer J. B. Mellish was on the east and the final suit of all - caskets were stored on the third floor. They also owned homes throughout the areal which they rented then would sell to the tenants once the occupants were able to purchase. Waldron B, Leard purchased the building and his house from Matthew & McLean in 1919.

Roy McLean inspecting Aeneas MacDonald's potato
field in Chepstow

There was also limited banking provided. Several people who had difficulty managing their money trusted the honesty of the firm to assist them in the management of their lives.
The firm members branched out in other businesses. John McLean managed a starch factory at Dundas and was a director of Bruce, Stewart and Co., The Charlottetown Guardian, Eastern Trust Co., Maritime Life Insurance Co., and the Denatured Alcohol Co. His son Roy was a co-founder in 1932 and eventual president of Associated Shippers Inc, of P.E.I. Roy took an interest in the farming sector. His knowledge, and interest in the growing, and marketing of potatoes, helped establish the industry in the area.

Roy's brother Harry specialized in the company's fisheries division. He traveled widely in the firm's interests, including a trip overseas in 1914 with a boatload of oats collected from local farmers, to feed Canadian Army horses that were in France during World War I. The Matthews spent their time in the sales side of the store. Together the families built the business into a profitable venture for all.
In the 1920's, when the firm were operating at its peak, there was well over 200 people employed. The owners were considered to be benevolent employers. Every summer there would be a company picnic for their staff. There are family stories in the area of how a bleak Christmas would be enhanced through the gift of an orange or a candy being slipped into a child's pocket. The dissolution of the original partnership in 1902 with the death of Uriah was quickly adjusted to include his widow and children. Before the store closed in 1974, there had been a third generation of the Matthew family and a fourth generation of the McLean family employed here.
This building is one of several that is today the home of many memories. In 2000, the Souris Downtown Revitalization Committee restored the premises.
It was more than just a store. The stairs to the second floor provided magic to the children at Christmas time. The loss of a dime in the furnace grate by the cash would be compensated by one of the owners. Up until 1966, every student in the region came here to purchase their text books. Many a young bride came here to pick the wallpaper, borders and paint for her new home.
There was much laughter and greetings extended by friends and neighbours on Saturday nights. Everyone came to town from the country in that era. They eventually ended up at the store if for nothing more than to gaze in the front windows at the wares. The horses would be tied to the hitching posts or placed inside the horse sheds, bordering Church Street. The slovens and carts would be bringing molasses and goods up from the ships to the barn in back. Young couples would walk arm in arm along the wooden sidewalk.

The desk from the office - today . . .
Today there are many artifacts, such as the ledgers as well as items that were sold here on display. On the second floor, a portion of the tin ceiling remains. The desk, where Roy McLean died suddenly one morning in 1959 while preparing for a day's work, is on display. The typewriter, which saw thousands of statements pass through the rollers, is here as well. The history of the community as a whole is on display with a timeline on the Museum's wall. The story of the Island Tartan may be found here.
On August 20, 2007, the Matthew & McLean Building received a Prince Edward Island Heritage Designation. Videos from the event may be viewed below.
M & M Museum
August 17, 2007
History from the
Hon. Allan Campbell
Following the
presentation
Musical
entertainment
We invite you to visit the Matthew & McLean Museum in season. We are open concurrently with the P.E.I. Visitor's Information Centre - June through to October. Through prior arrangement, the Museum welcomes groups for tours and relive a vibrant part of Souris' past. Those wishing to use the Museum for wedding, family or reunion photographs are welcome to do so.

Prepared from excerpts from the booklet Matthew & McLean Museum, written by Waldron H. Leard, published by Matthew & McLean Museum and the Town of Souris in 2003. The full publication may be found at the Museum.