various items under the gas pedal to prevent him from driving at such alarming rates, and sending neighboring children along with him to watch the speedometer were well known throughout the community. Perhaps the most notorious story concerning Dr. Roddie’s driving was the time he literally ran into an oncoming train, and was indignant when CN sent him a bill for the damages a month later.

Whatever means it took, Dr. Roddie got to his patients quickly. Occasionally, farmers woke up in the morning to find their barbed wire fences cut, as fields often provided a short cut in the winter months travel by horse and sleigh. After long nights of travelling sometimes as far away as far away as Selkirk, Dr. Roddie sometimes fell asleep and awoke to find Belle had delivered him home safely. The territory covered by Dr.Roddie was roughly a twenty km radius, with the community of St. Margarets being the boundary between him and Dr. Gus in Souris.

The poor transportation, bad weather endured during his travels, the lack of medical technology, and the hardships of being a country doctor, often never got paid for his services, all evoked positive emotional responses from the people of St. Peters and surrounding areas. (12) They appreciated Dr. Roddie, which was displayed in many different ways. According to Roddie Pratt, who was named after Dr. Roddie, “Pretty near every house had a Roddie.” (13)

Dr. Roddie MacDonald in his office, which was located within his home. Photo courtesy of The Prince Edward Island Public Archives"

* Accession No. 2664—495.

341