History of Valley field and The envied owner was Murdock MacPhee . The first horse- harness used, pre-dated the present automobile trailer by about fifty years. This harness consisted simply in connecting the vehicle to be pulled, to the horse's tail, by means of a rope The conditions that faced William Martin , then, in 1840 were such as called for faith, fortitude and ingenuity. He was fortunate in being able to live with friends in the ''Clearings" (now Grandview), while he was building his house. He walked through the woods, daily, to and from his work. He was generally accompanied by his seven year old son, Donald. One evening, when the house was nearing completion, Mr. Martin had occasion to go to the Clearings and, knowing he could not get back before dark, told Donald to sleep in the house that night. Donald Martin , thus, was the first white person to sleep in a house in the whole dis¬ trict of Valleyfield . William Martin and his family lived in the new house during the winter of 1840-41, The spring of 1841 was one of great activity in the district when the Douse's Road district was well taken up by newly arrived settlers. These were Malcolm Montgomery , John Bruce , Malcolm Bruce , Peter MacPherson , Malcolm MacLeod , Bessie Matheson , a wido*v and her sons, as well as many others. All these are directly represented here by their descendents. When we consider that these pioneers had to live almost completely off the land, we can appreciate the ingenuity and enterprise they displayed. Money was scarce, even if there had been easily accessible places in which to purchase com¬ modities. Thus it was that the settlers became adepts in handicraft work. Sheep were raised mainly for the wool needed for the making of cloth and blankets. The raw wool was washed, carded, spun and woven into cloth in the homestead. Even the forest and field yielded the necessary dye-stuffs. Flax was grown and home-treated to provide the linen for weaving into materials for home use. Much of the cloth and linen goods was of very high quality and texture. Footware, furniture and implements were products of the farm work¬ shop. We who live in this age of dependence upon factory- made articles would find living conditions of the early settlers difficult were we forced to live under like conditions, They were a happy, healthy and contented people. They and their descendents contributed generously to the spiritual and in¬ tellectual advancement of civilization. Transport conditions were non-existent. The newly arrived settler who was fortunate enough to have a friend who owned a horse, or ox, or who had money to spare for the hire of such luxurious means of travel, might have his belongings BHBBB