My Family Tree

Elton Woodside
Elton, born 1911, lived on his father's farm. He married Elsie
Heaney, born 1915. They have three children: Shirley, Louise and
Ralph.
Shirley, married Roland Livingstone, Union Row
and are now living in Charlottetown. They have three children.
Louise married Keir Adams, Conway and they are
now living in Charlottetown. They have two children.
(local PEI History)

1952 - Mr. John Burgoyne undoubtedly owes his life to the ready assistance or Mr. Elton Woodside, the "Flying Farmer" who came to the rescue with his plane and flew him lrom his home near New London to Summerside when it was found by his doctor that Mr. Burgoyne would not live unless operated upon immediately. All roads were blocked with snow...

1957 - TO THE FLYING FARMER Sir, Thanks to Elton Woodside who rendered his assistance in search of my brother and his friend who were stranded in the Gulf of New London harbour. I hope the people appreciate his services as I do I am. Sir. etc. THOMAS GALLANT

See also the National Film Board documentary, and the interview with Elsie Woodside on the website Island Voices.

submitted to the Charlottetown guardian February 7 2014 (online): Elton Woodside of Clinton, Prince Edward Island, was known as the "Flying Farmer" after earning his pilot's licence in 1946 and beginning frequent flights over the Island in his Fleet Canuck aircraft while still operating his farm. By the mid 1950s, Woodside was flying The Guardian newspaper from Charlottetown to carriers in western P.E.I. daily, as well as making twice weekly flights to Nova Scotia for the mail. Woodside was also credited with saving lives and rushing expectant mothers to the hospital.

 

CLINTON'S FLYING FARMER
Until recently, the majority of P.E.I, farmers carried on mix-led farming, but Elton Woodside was probably the most mixed of mixed farmers for he combined the role of airman along with his (mixed farming; hence the name "Flying Farmer". This "Spud Islander" enrolled in a flying school, run by his friend Paul Sharpe on June 21st, 1946. On July 19th, 1946, Elton made his solo flight at Paul's Flying Service, the first of the Summerside students.
He had never been at the controls of an aircraft before, and went I solo in just seven hours and fifty-five minutes of instruction.
A clipping of June 6th, 1947 reports:
"A new record in aerial development for this province has I been made by Elton Woodside, a Clinton man. He has been acclaimed the first farmer to build his own airport to operate a privately-owned plane. Taking delivery of a two-passenger Fleet Canuck, which he flew from Charlottetown last Saturday after-noon, Mr. Woodside achieved a year-long dream when he landed at his own airport in Clinton. Elton's airstrip lay on top of a hill above his farm buildings, and was 1800 by 300 feet, which gave
him a 90 foot elevation just a matter of seconds after the take-off.
Each year Elton put on a private air show on his own airstrip, I inviting airmen for miles around. As many as 3000 spectators would crowd unto his farm to watch.
The aircraft was ski-equipped in winter and, when the roads were temporarily snow-blocked, the air-minded farmer made numerous mercy flights to get sick people to the Hospital. He flew an expectant mother from French River to Charlottetown and beat the stork by minutes. Again, he flew an expectant mother from South Rustico to the City Hospital in Charlottetown, where, shortly after, a baby girl was born.
During stormy weather, his plane came to be known as "Mercy Plane", and many people owe their lives to his timely transportation, when the roads were snow-blocked and an emergency operation had to be performed. His fame as a skilled pilot, who answer- ed all emergency calls, if at all possible, spread around the continent and his skill and daring received wide-spread recognition in the U.S.A. as well as in Canada.
He became known as the "airborn newsboy", as he, along with Paul Sharpe airlifted the Daily Guardians to the West Prince area, propping the bundles near the various post-offices early each mornmg, providing speedy service to all Guardian subscribers, often under adverse weather conditions. This service began in 1952. At this time, he was honored by being made a star of a National Film board special film "Eye Witness", which told of the dropping of | Guardians in West Prince County. Also in 1952 he took over the twice-weekly mail delivery from New Glasgow to Pictou Island, where his kindly manner and the dependable service he rendered, won the hearts of the Pictou Island people. He continued this service till 1962.
Apart from the fun Elton got from flying, he found his plans a valuable adjunct to farming, and used it to fly in everything from a seven-day-old calf to groceries and household supplies for his family.
_ Elton sold his plane in 1962 and discontinued the services.

From History of Clinton, which can be read at www.Islandlives.ca.