OLD CUSTOMS Annual winter horse racing first started at in 1886. Snow shovels were used to clean the snow off the ice. A type of sleigh called the cutter or speed sleigh and a high trotting sleigh, which was built high on a frame with only one seat so you could see out over the horse was used. In the summer months horse racing was held at Vernon Bridge . Some of the people in Orwell Cove who raced or owned race horses are as follows: James MacLean , Jack Rooney , Neil Donald Gillis , Wilbur MacDonald , Wilfred MacLean , Michael McKenna , Jack (the captain) Nicholson, Gerard Morrisey , Allan J. MacDonald , William Morrisey , and Gerard Rooney . In early days, candles made from tallow were the only means of lighting in Orwell Cove . Tallow was a white, nearly tasteless solid rendered fat from cattle and sheep. Its' uses were chiefly found in the making of soap, margarine, candles, and lubricants. When the candles were being made, a long wick was placed in the centre to achieve a bright burning candle. Later, around 1835, kerosene was distilled from coal, and the invention of the kerosene lamp and the barn lantern came into being. The kerosene was imported, and could be purchased at the general store of D.D. McLeod . The lady of the house usually took on the task of cleaning the lamps and lanterns and trimming the wicks, so they would be ready for use in the evening. As improvements continued, a better lamp was introduced. This one was powered by naphtha gas, with two white silk mantels. Before lighting this lamp, air had to pumped into the base of the lamp. When the lamp was lit, it gave a brilliant white light. In the early days, soap was made at home. On soap-making day, a pot was put on an outdoor fireplace, or on the stove in the kitchen. In the pot went all the fat and grease that they had saved during the year. Lye made from hardwood ashes was used before lye could be purchased at the local stores. This lye was mixed with water, added to the melted fat, and 57