10. Léon and Marie Arsenault

shallow river. But Léon was convinced that it could be done and that it was the best location in the area to shelter the fishing boats. Today people generally recognize that the busy Abram's Village wharf exist primarily because of Léon's persistency.

Léon and Marie Arsenault surrounded by ten of their children. Fred Arsenault around 1940 From left to right: Matilda, Théodore, Léna, Pete, Emily, Dorothy,

Corinne, John, Aline, Edmond. Picture taken in 1940 by Aldine

Arsenault.

The first truck in Maximeville, and one of the first in the entire parish, was owned by Léon. In 1927, when he was 46 years old, he bought a brand new 4-cylinder Chevrolet one ton- truck. When Léon’s mother died shortly after this purchase, he was glad to offer his truck to carry the remains to church instead of the old fashion horse-drawn hearse! For the funeral, the back of the vehicle was lined with a black fabric. Indeed, the truck proved to be very useful. He used it to haul his potatoes to the market and to carry on his business outside the village. On Sundays, members of the family and many other people from Maximeville and Abram's Village went to church aboard that truck. The fare was 5 cents a person.

The truck was carefully stored in the garage for the winter and it was only brought out once the roads were dry and suitable for a motor vehicle. Horses and sleighs, therefore, remained the principle means of transportation during the winter months. Once the bay was frozen solid, it was possible to ride on it to go to church and, in the spring after the ice was gone and while waiting for the roads to dry, the family and neighbours went to church by boat.

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