former employees of the Matthew Hotel were Blanche MacGregor and Dora Ellis.

Many of the guests were salesmen or buyers and stayed only overnight; but, on occasion hockey teams from Alberton, Ellerslie and Wellington would stay there. Home cooked meals were always served.

Vernon Matthew moved to Summerside to work as office manag- er for the Silver Fox Breeders Association in 1932 and sold the house to HA. Jelley. The hotel which was located where the Irving Oil Garage stands today was burned in the fall of 1944.

THE ORIENT HOTEL

Major and Empress Howatt began their business career in Coleman where they ran a general store and the Post Office. In 1915, they moved to O’Leary for they believed business opportunities would be more abundant in the village. They bought the house that is presently owned by David Ferguson and began a small hotel. The couple named the hotel the Orient — a unique and appealing name. Their business soon became too large to accommodate all of the clientele so the Howatts hauled their former Coleman store to the site where Herbie Strang’s house now stands. Renovation of the old store began in 1918 at which time a back part was added; and, in no time at all, the Orient Hotel was back in business at a new location. The new hotel consisted of a parlour, a smoker, a large dining room, a kitchen,and many bedrooms. Overnight accommodation was pro- vided for travellers and to any boarders who were in need of tempo- rary lodging. All guests were served home cooked meals.

The Howatts had a boardwalk constructed from the Orient to the train station. Local boys and sons of the Howatt family were employed to carry baggage to and from the train station.

The most distinctive element of the Howatt Hotel was the enter— tainment provided by the family for their guests. All of the family were accomplished violinists; their daughter, Helen, was a pianist. Major Howatt would step dance night after night for his guests.

In 1929, the Orient Hotel was sold to Harold MacLennan. It was with regret that the Howatts had to sell their business which had been their livelihood for so many years; but because of Mrs. Howatt's poor health they were obliged to sell. They moved to Charlottetown.

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