Elmer Hamilton - Goalie Gordon Fyfe — Defense John Fyfe — Defense Elmer Fyfe — Forward Stanley Cole Sr. — Forward Paul Fleming — Forward

Boys and girls teams also played in Stanley and all games were followed by skates for all who wished to participate.

That is the Stanley Bridge of my youth. My grandmother died in March, 1948, and the property was sold in August, 1949. The home has been tastefully refurbished and is impeccably main— tained by the present owners, George and Lorraine Carr. Meanwhile, studies at Prince of Wales College, St. Dunstan’s University, the University of Montreal (Theology) and the University of Toronto (History) were my preoccupation until 1959. In 1959, I taught at St, Dunstan’s and continued teaching there and at the University of Prince Edward Island until 1994. But my fondest desire was to build a summer residence in Stanley Bridge. The dream became a reality with the purchase of a small acreage and the building of a cottage in 1967. Since then I spend some five months of every year in my summer home overlooking New London Bay and the

Stanley River and all the “favorite haunts” of my youth.

Stanley Bridge, of course, like the many dozens of self—sufficient villages began to undergo rad- ical change by the mid 1900’s. Land consolidation, modern technology and vertical integration reduced the number of family farms to a mere handful. The agricultural hinterland upon which the village depended and which it, in turn, served, were no longer mutually co—dependent. School consolidation erased its district school, Centralization in a few urban centers signaled the end of the small personal, closely knit village that was Stanley Bridge.

But this momentous change did not mean that Stanley Bridge would become Oliver Goldsmith’s “Deserted Village”. Its location within such a prosperous agricultural area and the excellence of the water communication provided by the Stanley River and New London Bay ensured that Stanley Bridge would endure. There are many, many, healthy signs. Stanley Bridge still has a solid core of citizenry descended from the original settlers. We have a large number of people moving into the area — especially around the Bay and Rivers — constructing beautiful and permanent homes. New businesses are being established. As we write, a massive three—storey Inn featuring a 150 seat restaurant and Convention Centre has been constructed on the west side of the Bridge. One of the oldest residences — the Ferguson property — is tastefully converted into a Tea Room and Restaurant and the Nicholson Tailor Shop into Carmody Gift Emporium. It is situated adjacent to my Grandmother’s property on the west side. The fisher— persons still ply their trade in the traditional fishery with a large growth in the mussel and oyster segments of the industry. I am convinced that Stanley Bridge residents will guarantee through their love and affection and dedication to their village that good old Stanley Bridge (Fyfe’s Ferry of old) will continue to be a precious jewel set in New London Bay.