Stephens & Clark was dissolved by a mutual agreement.

During this period, the Stephens were not the only merchants in the area. A steady source of competition was owned and operated by John M. Grant. His two story, mansard roof building not only housed a mercantile business, but also served as a residence for the Grant family. The store was located in the front part of the building, and two large paned windows provided ample lighting during the daylight hours. These windows also served another purpose. They were display cases and a means of advertising the latest fashions and wares to the passersby. John Grant had a tavern in Kinlock on the road to Eldon. Here he provided the comfort of a bed, a blazing fire, and a stable for the travellers' horses.

It was in 1825 that the government required all tavern or roadhouse keepers to be licensed. The price for a licence

varied. In the country, the price seemed to be 2 pounds except in a few cases.

"The host of each roadhouse was obliged to sign a solemn contract which read in part (I quote) " I, John Doe, do swear that the beds and stabling accommodations now exhibited and according to the inventory hereto annexed, are at all times for the use of travellers who may stop at the tavern and said stables are within the distance of one hundred yards from the tavern; and further, that I do "bona fide" solicit and will at all times use,

such licence for the sole purpose of keeping a tavern or Inn SO HELP ME GOD. " (End of Quote)

They were required to keep a sufficient number of good stabling for horses, and they also were prohibited from supplying any persons, except lodgers, with liquor of any kind on Sunday on pain of forfeiting for the first offence 40 shillings and for every succeeding offence the sum of 5 pounds."9

Another respected merchant of vaell Cove was Donald D. McLeod. He was the son of Donald and Jessie (MacDonald)

Historic Highlights of PB, page 110.

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