At one time in our district nearly every farmer owned a small boat and would fish oysters. These oysters were a delicacy and sold for a good price. However. prices decreased and the industry declined.

Today some of the residents of our district are fishermen. They fish lobsters in spring and other fish during the summer months at Malpeque. Early in the spring they make nets and traps and haul them to Malpeque. It was quite a task before the roads were paved to haul the traps through mud. The lobster fishing begins around the first of May but due to ice conditions they don’t get out as early.

Blacksmiths were needed in every community as there were many horses. One of the first known blacksmiths in our community was Pat Noonan who operated a shop from 1870-1880. Roderick MacLellan, who was apprenticed seven years at Stanley Bridge and Kensington, Operated a shop on a farm near the Cross Roads. Another blacksmith, Louis MacLellan, had a shop near Indian River Bridge. These men shod horses and repaired farm machinery.

Down through the years many stores have been operated in Indian River. Around 1885 a small store was run by Stephen Campbell, father of Mrs. Austin MacLellan. From 1930-35, Albert MacLellan kept a store in the house. From then on until 1950 a store was Operated by Mrs. Joseph Gillis. In 1952, Fred Ready of Irishtown, purchased and hauled the old schoolhouse to Hickey‘s corner. Since then he has successively operated the store. A fi re in 1960 destroyed the interior Of the store and Fred had it fixed over and painted. We have a picture in our original history of Fred sitting at his store counter. This store was the second schoolhouse and has four floors.

Indian River had a garage Operated by Sidney Heckbert, and a wood-

carving shop operated by Anthony Lockard. A shoe maker, Mr. Campbell, carried on the task of repairing shoes. Many carpenters lived in Indian River and some residents now are carpenters.

Doctors were not as common a few years ago as today. Mother had to be the family doctor. Her famous medicine cabinet consisted of tonics made of herbs, sulphur, and molasses.

In an old diary we found unusual remedies. Included were these remedies for the following: toothache — one ounce Of alcohol, mixed with cayenne pepper and kerosene; for chillblains - two slices of white turnips simmered in a dish with lard for two hours. This mixture was then spread on linen cloth and applied to chillblains; for hoarseness - white of an egg added to lemon juice. The first doctor to practice in our district was Archibald MacLellan who graduated from MacGill University in 1890. He was only here a short time. He was a brother of Austin.

Doctor Edward Gillis was born and attended school in our district. He studied medicine and after graduating took up residence in Kensington. He made many calls to our community.

One of the best known places in the community was Tuplin’s mill. The first mill was Operated by John MacLellan. Years ago every few miles on all never—failing brooks there were mills to grind the grain and saw the lumber. Over one hundred years ago Thomas Tuplin came from Margate to run the mills at Tuplin’s brook, as we know it. His sons, John and James, in turn ran the mills that were grist, lumber, and shingles. Fred, son of James, was the last owner. Three times the mill was destroyed by fire and rebuilt.

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