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- from "The Annapolis Spectator", 31 Jul 1963
Annapolis Hotelier Holds Taxi Record (by Hortense Spurr Gilliatt)
William R Perkins, genial owner and operator of the Hillsdale House in Annapolis Royal for the past 44 years, is the great grandson of Reverend Cyrus Peck Perkins, who was sent out from England by King George II as chaplain to His Majesty?s Forces in Annapolis Royal, and who later was the second rector of St Luke's Anglican Church here. William Perkins? father, the late Cyrus Alexander Perkins, bought the Hillsdale House in 1897. When he died in 1919[sic], Mr Perkins took over and has operated it ever since. He says, that when he was a lad of 8 years he was playing on the third storey of a building being built in town and fell to the cellar. He was down that time, but ever since has been moving up, he declared.
Worked Many Hotels
He has worked in many hotels-as a bellboy in the Vanderbilt in New York; in a hotel in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1907, when that town celebrated its 300th anniversary; in St Georges in Hamilton, Bermuda; in the Clarendon Hotel in Daytona Beach, Fla.
One of the First Taxis
From 1911 to 1914, he ran the Central House in Middleton and owned a Livery Stable in connection with it. It was during this period that Mr Perkins owned 3 race horses: Bellmack, Brian Queen and Royal Harry. The last one won a prize at the Halifax Exhibition for 3 classes ? best saddlehorse, road horse and all-round horse. With the coming of motor cars, Mr Perkins switched his interests to taxi-ing. He holds the record for being one of the first taxi drivers in Canada. This honor was challenged in 1957 by William Rathwell of North Bay, Ontario who started taxi-ing in 1914, but Mr Perkins disproved this claim, and retained the record. He began in 1912, and has held a taxi license for 50 consecutive years. He says: ?I didn?t get one this year as I don?t want to run any opposition to the boys in town. Mr Perkins first taxied for the late Captain John Spurr, who built the first Colonial Arms Hotel at Deep Brook overlooking Victoria Bridge. (The same deep sea captain who used to say: ?I sailed through Hell?s Gate to marry my bride in Paradise, Nova Scotia.)
$120 in One Day
Mr Perkins bought his first Overland car for $1250, and paid for it in 6 weeks taxi-ing. One of his best days, he says was at the Bridgewater Exhibition, when with a 10 cent far, he made $120 ? all in one day. He has made some 25 motor trips to Florida and has also motored to Mexico and California. The Hillsdale House is furnished with priceless antiques. One show piece is the bed in which King George V slept when he was a cadet in town. His signature is also on the register. Mr Perkins is a gardener, on the side. He grows pansies, roses and other flowers which fill the huge platters that decorate the dining room as well as the fresh vegetables for the meals. His sister, Miss Charlotte I Perkins is famous for her book ?The Romance of Old Annapolis Royal?. In 1919, Mr Perkins married Miss Caroline Orde, who has been a great help to her husband, in making his success throughout the years.
- from "The Annapolis Spectator", 7 Jun 1972 (Annapolis Heritage Society)
William Rutherford Perkins, 90, of Annapolis Royal, well known proprietor of the Hillsdale House summer hotel, died Thursday, June 1st, in the Stewart Nursing Home, Annapolis Royal. Born in Annapolis Royal, he was a son of the late Cyrus Alexander and Mary Jane (Turner) Perkins. He was well-known in the Maritimes and Florida. For over 50 years he operated the Hillsdale House, a summer hotel noted for its beautiful location, antique furnishings, good food and hospitality. During the winter months he worked in various Florida hotels. Four years ago the Hillsdale House was sold, and is now a private residence owned by Dr JA Lawrence, who had it restored to its original architecture of over 100 years ago. He is survived by an adopted brother, James, Middleton. He was predeceased by his wife, the former Caroline Orde, and 3 sisters: Bessie, Charlotte and Annie. Funeral was Saturday in Saint Luke's Anglican Church, Annapolis Royal, Reverend AG Peters officiating, with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Annapolis Royal.
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1882 - 1972 (90 years)
Cyrus Alexander Perkins, b. 29 Sep 1837 d. 12 Oct 1911, Annapolis Royal, Annapolis, NS 
