Working With A Purpose 35

Wyman Clark was the last member of the Clark family to operate the mill and for him it was just a part-time operation. Unfortunately the mill dam washed out during a spring storm and since then the saw mill has been operated with auxiliary power.

In 1949 the mill was sold to Keir Marchbank who had been in charge for some years. He continued to operate it until 1977 when he was forced to close it due to ill health. Its closing brought an end to a service and a conve- nience that had been in continuous operation for over one hundred and fifty years in Wilmot Valley.

MARBLE WORKS

A small industry that operated for a few years in Wilmot Valley was the Marble Works. It was in Lot 19 across the road from the school and its location can be seen on Lakes Map, 1863. The shop was owned by Simon L. Hale whose occupation was marble engraver. His work included mantle pieces, table tops and tombstones. Some of his work can be seen in the Baptist Cemetery, Bedeque and in Lower Bedeque Cemetery. These tomb— stones tend to be similar in appearance—a slab of white marble with a design at the top, either a carving of hands or an open Bible. It would appear that the parties who bought the tombstones did their own in- stallation as they do not have a base like the stones of today.

His work can be distinguished from others because a marble engraver, like a painter, usually marks his work in the lower corner. Unfortunately a. coating of moss and the natural erosion of the marble which occurred over the years has made the mark hard to find.

“in 6 Mary

.8 u u {a};

k; liaii‘zvzg 'a‘L,” ‘ a”?!

A memorial stone, {shown right) from the Marble Works, Wilmot Valley, has lhe

name of engraver, 5.1.. Hale in lower lefl corner. This scene from Ihe Yankee Hill Cemetery. French River, has been drawn by Dean Johns/one.