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A 3 - s “ EARLY HISTORY OF LONG RIVER 1787 — 1967

The Indian name for Long River meant Crooked Creek, on account of the river turning from North West to North East at Brennan’s Point; it is not known by whom or why the name was changed.

The first event in Long River must have been a naval engagement but between whom? No historian gives us any clues but we find earth embankments thrown up at Brennan’s Point and several cannon balls have been dug up with oyster shell mud, the last ball was found in George Pickerings field a mile away a few years ago, these balls range in size from 31/2 to 6 inch. Above Brennan’s Point in early days would be a perfect hideout for priates because vessels could not be seen from any angle of the South West River.

If Capt. Wm. Kidd was there it would be before 1701 for he was taken from Boston to London and hanged as a pirate at that date.

One cannon of large bore was found, but it is not known if it came from Brennan’s Point or the bottom of the river, the last ball found is now in the Old Mill Museum.

Samuel Holland surveyed RE. Island in 1765' but little progress in colonization was made till after 1800.

Roads were just blazed trails across country, people mostly travell- ed by water.

The first roads were quite narrow. After the trees and stumps were removed the road was plowed and levelled with log drags and shovels. Brooks were bridged with logs and poles and swampy places had logs laid cross ways to make a road known at that date as a cordroy road.

The broad South West River had two ferries, the main one was Coles Ferry running from Hazen Dougharts to Walford MacEw-ens a distance of 700 yds. The fare was 21/; schillings (.40) for horse and wagon, Grahams Ferry now Clifton Bridge.

Wm. Fyfe operated a ferry just above Stanley Bridge, when he was busy the women operated it. In 1854 William Manderson, drew up plans for a bridge. Wm. MacKay, Donald MacKay, Charles Anderson and James MacLeod made the abutments and Manderson made the draw- bridge.

The first to drive across Stanley Bridge were the Hons. George

Coles and Edward Whelan; they got three rousing cheers from the on- lookers.

Clifton Bridge was built in 1870 by George Bell; the abutments were made by logs placed cross wise and fill-ed in with stone from Suther- lands quarry, it also had a drawbridge made by Manderson.

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