Affleck, Frank Kohout, and Leaman Callbeck, carried products similar to the Raleigh man. In fact one lady of the house asked the Watkin’s man for Raleigh’s linament! One product promoted by one of these companies was pepper that wouldn’t make you sneeze!

Household appliances were popular with the coming of electricity. Vacuum cleaners were one of these appliances and at spring house- cleaning time every housewife could expect a visit and demonstration from Hodge Montgomery, the Electrolux saleman. There were also a number of men and women who arrived to sell their brushes and cleaning aids to ease the work of the busy housewife. Hillus Cairns took a turn with the Fuller Brush business. While in the store on Christmas Eve, a neighbour casually asked Hillus “How is business?”. Hillus replied; “Not bad. I sold a shaving brush tonight to Santa Claus!” As well, ladies came with products to make the lady of the house beautiful. It was a delight to have Diane Roberts and later her mother, Frances, come by with their Avon products and cheery greeting. Frances always helped to make the day brighter. Other cosmetic salesladies wereJune MacDonald, Rita Stevenson, Elizabeth Wood, Marjorie Molyneaux, and Hattie Trowsdale.

These travelling ladies and men helped to add some spice to the life of the community. The exchange of friendship and the contact with folk outside the community not only helped to keep country folk in touch with the outside world but nurtured a brand of Island hospitality.

Chisholm Funeral Home

Death was an undeniable part of the community in the early 18005 as it is now. Small pox and diphtheria epidemics were feared because they claimed residents of all ages. Caskets were made by either a family member or a local carpenter, then taken to the house. The casket was put in the parlour on a stand or table that was covered with a cloth skirt. Embalming was unknown. Alexander Morrison and later William Chisholm made caskets in the fumiture factory at The Comer. Island pine, and later pine imported from New Brunswick, was covered with a plush white, blue, grey, or black fabric. The caskets were lined with White satin and a breast or name plate inscribed with the name and dates of the deceased was fastened to the outside of the casket.12 Helen Chisholm Asprey remembers seeing her grandfather, Jim, engraving the silver coloured name plate with an awl in free hand script. Often the plates were removed and given to the family before the burial.

A man named John Dobson, who worked for William Chisholm, liked to play practical jokes. One day when William, who had a nervous temperament, left the factory for a few minutes,John got into the casket they were working on, closed the cover and lay waiting for William. When William returned and opened the lid, he was so startled to see

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