TANNERIES William Dawson owned and operated the first Tannery in Cra- paud. This was situated north of Howatt's Mill, on property now in pos¬ session of LeRoy Howatt . The building- in which he lived was a log house, built where the present one stands. Among his apprentices was Colin MacKay , who later bought McNeill's Distillery, opposite Peter MacDon- ald's Harness Shop , and converted it into a Tannery. Later on, James Arbing operated this Tannery, doing business there until his death in the early 1890's, when it was taken over by Murdock MacDonald , Rose Valley . He operated this for a few years,, after which the business ceased to exist. STARCH FACTORY' (From The Examiner, January 31, 1883) —"On Wednesday evening, January 23, an important meeting of farmers and others took place in Crapaud Hall to consider the establish¬ ment of a Starch Factory at, or near, Howatt's Mills. Mr. George Lowther was called to the Chair. Mr. Donald Farquhar - son, M.P.P ., of Charlottetown , presented the object of the meeting in convincing language. " Mr. William Lea advocated principally the establishment of a Cheese Factory, but expressed his willingness to go in for a Starch Factory along with the rest. " Mr. Farquharson promised that, should the committee appointed be able to get a sufficient acreage of potatoes, and a sufficient number of cows signed for, both lines of business would be carried on — the number of acres to be three hundred, and cows, four hundred, at the least. " Mr. William McDonald strongly advocated the establishment of a Starch Factory. He considered that fourteen cents per 60 lbs. for the class of potatoes required by the factory, and the time gained by delivery, would pay the farmer better than if he received twenty cents a bushel for shipping potatoes. "The meeting was almost unanimous as to the desirability of a factory being established at Crapaud , and, at the close, a list was at once opened to receive the names of all who would subscribe. The com¬ mittee appointed have since canvassed the district with every possibility of success." Eventually, the Starch Factory was established, and was built close to the bank of the river, by Howatt's Mill; the receiving hatch being in the roof of a lean, which was level with the bank. The farmers drove their teams to this lean, and dumped the potatoes through the hatch into a bin. The potatoes were thoroughly washed, elevated through a grinder, then unto a screen, where the liquid drained through into receiving tanks. A drier was located here, and, when completely processed, the starch was shovelled into sacks, ready for market. The factory operated for at least five years, after which the build¬ ing was dismantled. Although the Starch Factory became a reality, the Cheese Factory never seemed to materialize, and very soon after, a Butter Factory was established. -*•«! 94 )§►•-