St. Eleanors, Prince Edward Island
Encyclopedia
St. Eleanors is a neighbourhood in the city of Summerside
, Prince Edward Island
, Canada
.
Located in the northwest part of the township of Lot 17
fronting Malpeque Bay
, St. Eleanors was named after Eleanor Sanksey, a housekeeper for a Colonel Harry Compton.
It was largely a rural farming community on the northwest edge of the small port town of Summerside until World War II
. In 1940, several farm properties in the northern part of St. Eleanors were purchased by the federal government for the construction of RCAF Station Summerside, a Royal Canadian Air Force
training and operations base. The arrival of the RCAF in the hamlet spurred construction of new roads, particularly the all-weather highway known as the "Western Road" (Route 2
). The military spending stimulated dramatic population growth throughout the remaining years of the war and through the Cold War
as the base was repurposed, being renamed CFB Summerside
in 1968.
The community's status evolved as it became enveloped in suburban residential growth during the post-war period. In 1983, St. Eleanors achieved village status. In 1989, CFB Summerside was identified for closure by 1991, causing the village's economy to undergo a significant readjustment. In 1995, St. Eleanors was amalgamated into the City of Summerside.
Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Summerside is a Canadian city in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island.- History :...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Located in the northwest part of the township of Lot 17
Lot 17, Prince Edward Island
Lot 17 is a township in Prince County, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is part of Richmond Parish....
fronting Malpeque Bay
Malpeque Bay
Malpeque Bay is a bay on the north shore of Prince Edward Island, Canada.-Description:Malpeque Bay is the second largest bay in terms of surface area in Prince Edward Island, following Hillsborough Bay. It is also notable for almost dividing the province; an isthmus occupied by the city of...
, St. Eleanors was named after Eleanor Sanksey, a housekeeper for a Colonel Harry Compton.
It was largely a rural farming community on the northwest edge of the small port town of Summerside until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1940, several farm properties in the northern part of St. Eleanors were purchased by the federal government for the construction of RCAF Station Summerside, a Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
training and operations base. The arrival of the RCAF in the hamlet spurred construction of new roads, particularly the all-weather highway known as the "Western Road" (Route 2
Prince Edward Island Route 2
Route 2 is a two-lane uncontrolled access secondary highway traversing Prince Edward Island, Canada from Tignish to Souris.Route 2 is commonly called the "All Weather Highway," as it was one of the first such roads in Prince Edward Island to be open for traffic in all seasons...
). The military spending stimulated dramatic population growth throughout the remaining years of the war and through the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
as the base was repurposed, being renamed CFB Summerside
CFB Summerside
Canadian Forces Base Summerside was an air force base located in St. Eleanors, Prince Edward Island, Canada, now part of the city of Summerside.-RCAF Station Summerside:...
in 1968.
The community's status evolved as it became enveloped in suburban residential growth during the post-war period. In 1983, St. Eleanors achieved village status. In 1989, CFB Summerside was identified for closure by 1991, causing the village's economy to undergo a significant readjustment. In 1995, St. Eleanors was amalgamated into the City of Summerside.