the warehouse and forked onto the grader which was cranked by hand. The potatoes were then bagged and weighed. The bags were sewn with a bag needle and binder twine, then passed along a human chain to box cars where they were tiered ready for shipping.

Technological advances have greatly changed the method of handling potatoes. Today the operation is chiefly mechanized; rmch less manual labour is required.

The original O’Leary Produce Company using primitive methods served a vital need to the farmers of the area and the business flour- ished until its eventual sale in 1952 to H.B. Willis Incorporated.

In 1967 BB. Willis Inc. built a potato storage and packing plant on the C.N.R. siding near O'Leary Station. Construction of the build- ing was under the direction of George Meggison of Knutsford. This 180 by 135 foot building was, and still is, a worthy addition to the business community. The potato storage department consists of nine bins, each of which is 120 by 15 ft. and has a storage capacitv of 14,000 bushels. The two warehouses boast a combined capacity! of 190,000 bushels. The packaging plant measures 60 by 135 feet, less office space, and is used for packaging retail produce. During the peak season, this business employs between forty and fifty people from the area.

Potato warehouses in background on the right — on left Cow Feed Mill.

In 1951 Charles Willis was offered a position with H.B. Villis

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