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From: Alta Flynt <>
Subject: [ROOTS-L] Thistle Mission Band Newspaper Clippings-79
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000 11:24:14 -0600


Main Surnames: MASSIE, BURCHILL; Also: PARKIN, CLARKE, WRY.

(The only date I can find on this clipping is on the reverse side - "y
17, 1937." This seems to have come from the Saint John, NB newspaper,
and was folded so that it would fit in a small envelope. There is a
picture of Colonel Massie which I have scanned and will send to anyone
who requests it.)

PASSING BRINGS MANY REGRETS
Lt. Col. A. E. Massie Dies Suddenly at East Riverside.
With profound sorrow, friends throught the Maritime Provinces will
learn of the death of Lieut. Col. A. E. Massie which occurred at his
home at East Riverside shortly before last midnight. He had been in
poor health for some months but the seriousness of his condition was not
generally realized.
Born in Scotland, he came to New Brunswick with his parents as a lad of
11 years and had been identified with many different phases of life in
this province, besides serving overseas during the Great War.
In every phase of community life which he touched as skilled mechanic,
commercial traveler, leading business man, a member of the City Council
and the Board of Trade and in his membership in St. Andrew's Society he
displayed an ability and geniality coupled with the sterling qualities
of his Scottish heritage that made him an outstanding figure, enjoying
the esteem and high regard of all with whom he came in contact.
He was born in Aberdeen on Oct. 14, 1868, a son of the late William and
Annie (Soutter) Massie and when the family came to New Brunswick they
took up residence in Fredericton. There he received his early
education. He graduated from the Fredericton High School with honors
and he delighted to recall his association with his famous teacher, the
late Dr. George R. Parkin. He made his residence in Saint John and
vicinity in 1910.
His first business venture was in watch repairing and in that skilled
craft he received training in matters mechanical which stood him in good
stead when he launched out into wider business endeavors. From watch
repairing he stepped out into a field in which he was most eminently
successful, that of commercial traveler. He represented Ames Holden
Co., Montreal; James McCready Co., Ltd., Montreal, and Merchants Rubber
Co., Kitchener, Ont. Eastern Canada and Newfoundland were embraced in
the territory he covered and during those years "on the road" he
obtained a knowledge of people and conditions through the extended area
that were invaluable in later activity.
He was advanced in the employ of the Dominion Rubber Company (Maritime)
Limited through all the various stages from traveler to that of head of
the firm's organization for the Maritimes and Newfoundland. When the
firm underwent reorganization, Colonel Massie enjoyed a short period of
retirement only to return again to full business activity as a member of
the firm of The Jones Electric Supply Co., Ltd., King Street.
Enters Politics
He first offered as candidate for the City Council in 1934 and was
elected at that time. He served with zeal as commissioner of harbor,
ferries, public lands and publicity, until the recent election returned
the full slate of the Civic Improvement League nominations and the old
commission system went down to defeat.
Colonel Massie served as a vice-president and as a member of the
council of the Board of Trade, being chairman of the entertainment
committee. He was among the most enthusiastic members of St. Andrew's
Society and had served as president of that organization. Until last
year, he held the honored office of "bard," and his exceptional literary
gifts were displayed in the writing of the rhymed greeting sent by the
Saint John Organizations to sister societies on St. Andrew's Day. He
had been a noted singer as a young man.
He had served for 30 years in the militia and enlisted shortly after
the outbreak of the Great War and went overseas as lieutenant-colonel
commanding the 2nd Canadian Divisional Train and won the D. S. O. in
active service, being three times mentioned in despatches. He returned
to Canada at the end of the war and was for a time general sales manager
with the Dominion Rubber Company footwear division in Montreal office
before taking up the Maritime appointment under that firm.
For a considerable period, Colonel Massie was connected with the Saint
John Tourist Association and in 1932 he was appointed director of
publicity. When publicity was added to the activities of his department
as city commissioner, he continued his enterprising efforts to bring
Saint John's attractions before the public and make the city a centre of
tourist traffic. The air port was also under his supervision and he was
untiring in his endeavors to have the airport facilities keep pace with
modern ideals.
Colonel Massie had membership in the Riverside Golf and Country Club
and in St. Andrew's Curling Club and was a member of the Masonic order.
Besides his wife, who was formerly Miss Ada Burchill of Fredericton, he
is survived by two sons, Dr. R. A. Massie, Sawyerville, Quebec, and
Donald A. at home; two brothers, Stephen of Boston and George, a
barrister of Edmonton, Alta.; three sisters, Mrs. E. C. Dyer, South
Portland, Me.; Mrs. William C. Clarke, Duke Street, Saint John, and Mrs.
F. C. Wry, 127 Wright Street, Saint John.

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