is a challenge in itself. A tip of a hat, or a wink of an eye is not just a casual gesture to an auctioneer; each is a signal from a potential buyer making a bid on the animal up for sale,” explained Ralph. It is up to the auctioneer to protect a bidder's identity until all bids are cast. An auctioneer must look as if he is gazing into space; at the same time, he must keep an eye wide open for other signals from other potential buyers in the crowd.

Purebred registered Holstein cows were also for sale at the farm; many were shipped to thriving markets in Quebec, Ontario, Newfoundland, and U.S.A. as well as to foreign markets in Cuba, Iran, Korea, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.

When Ralph entered semi-retirement in 1987, his son Gordon took over management of the auctions.

Ralph died May 14, 1988. His quality livestock business provided an invaluable service to farmers for approximately twenty years. In the fall of 1991, Dr. Gary Morgan and Dr. Daniel Dalton bought the business and renamed it the O'beary Livestock Auction.

O’LEARY CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR

In 1947 Lloyd Matthews opened the Clothing and Footwear busi- ness across the street from MacWilliam and Turner’s store. The busi- ness specialized in high quality merchandise.

Ralph Ozon went into partnership with Lloyd in the clothing department. In 1957 Lloyd left to work at the Post Office, but contin- ued to work at the store part time until 1959. Ralph carried on the business alone for another fifteen years until he moved to Summerside.

The building became part of Lloyd and Irene Ramsay’s home on Beechwood Avenue.

O'LEARY FARMERS’ CO-OPERATIVE

According to the information available from the minutes of the association, it can be said that the co-operative’s beginnings can be traced back to a public meeting held on May 6, 1940. The meeting was called to discuss the possibility of organizing an egg and poultry station. A provisional board of fifteen members was appointed to set the wheels in motion and make all necessary arrangements. Minutes show the following people to be members of that organizing com- mittee:

264