from the imminent

The desire of many residents to preserve some of the history of the pioneers of Stanley Bridge inspired the members of the Stanley Bridge Community Society to begin collecting material

over four years ago.

A sincere thank you to the residents of the district who contributed the genealogies to the histo— ry committee. A special thank you for the researched work completed by the late Mrs. Ann MacLeod Coles and the late Rev. Lorne and his brother, the late Wendall MacKay. Information from Island churches and Cemetery records have proven to be the most accurate written records. Mistakes will occur. However, we trust that readers will understand.

We chose the sub-title “hub of the universe” as being appropriate since the Island’s favourite daughter, Lucy Maud Montgomery, so described the self-sufficient village of Stanley Bridge.

We trust that this book contains items of interest to everyone. We sincerely hope that our work will encourage others to record the history of their ancestors so that their past will not be lost. Hopefully, future generations will be able to understand more fully, the hardships faced by the pioneers who settled Stanley Bridge over two hundred years ago.

It is with pleasure that we present this record of our forefathers and their descendants. Their untiring efforts to establish a home in a foreign land, which was full of trials and tribulations, must have been very discouraging. These circumstances helped us to allow the small village of Stanley Bridge on the North side of Prince Edward Island become, at the beginning of the twen- tieth century, one of the most prosperous and populated villages.

It remains a great phenomenon how this small area could, within fifty years of being settled, become a centre for shipbuilding, with five shipyards, a recognized International importing and exporting depot and be completely self—sustaining. Although these early residents had none of today’s “modern conveniences” which could help lighten the burden of their everyday activi—

ties, their joy of accomplishment was accepted in its simplicity.

On behalf of the Stanley Bridge Historical Society

Helen M. MacEwen

President

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