-14- 
     
    
   
   
    
     off the track twice and damaging three milk stands. (Weekly 
     
     Examiner June 14. 1901) Closer to Orwell the line came out as 
     
     far as Vernon Bridge. This then became a major center for trade, 
     
    
   
   
    
     supporting three stores and a wharf, to which Orwell directed 
     
    
   
   
    
     much of its business. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Transportation in and out of Orwell was not refined until 
     
     quite recently. Most of the social and economic life of Orwell 
     
    
   
   
    
     still centers inside the community around the turn of the century. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The mills were still active. The Daily Examiner (June 1. 1885) 
     
     shows the Orwell Carding Mills, operated by J. F. MacLeod, ad- 
     
     vertising new Scotch cards, far better than the old American ones. 
     
     The upper mill. owned by the MacPhails, was leased to Malcolm 
     
     Gillis. MacAlpine's l205 Directory. shows Alex MacLeod as saw 
     
     miller in Orwell; and in the l9lh. MacAlpine's Directory shows 
     
     John S. Martin is a sawmill operator in Orwell. Eventually, as 
     
     MacQueen tells in Sk e Pioneers, the mills were abandoned because 
     
     of economics and the deaths of their owners. The upper mill was 
     
     the last to be abandoned about 1910, and was swept away by spring 
     
     floods. Some of the stones in the Nicholson mill were donated 
     
     for use in the building of the beautiful St. Joachim's Catholic 
     
     Church in Vernon River (1877). in which parish Orwell's Catholic 
     
     population were included. MacQueen regretS‘ the passing of the 
     
    
   
   
    
     miller from the community scene, and that so many of these not- 
     
    
   
   
    
     able old families. for various reasons but chiefly economic. have 
     
     been forced to abandon (their) ancient and honourable calling." 
     
    
   
   
    
     (Hebridean Settlers)