SMITH

Upton Smith son of Wesley and Jean Laird Smith of Cavendish, purchased the store in Stanley Bridge from William T. and Annie Weir Aug. 31, 1931. Upton was known as a commercial traveller as well as a store owner. On November 6, 1931, less than three months after purchas— ing the store for $1700.00 the store and contents were destroyed by fire. Upton rebuilt but went

out of the store business. He sold the new store to Dermit Fleming on Oct. 29, 1932.

Upton and his family did not again operate a store in the Village until after they purchased the house, buildings and two acres of land from WT. and Annie Weir in the mid 1930’s. The Weir fami- ly moved to Charlottetown. Besides Upton and Ella, his family which included Wesley and Jean Smith, his sister Freda, and grandfather John Laird also moved to this home. The Smith fami- ly took over the operation of the store which was located in the for- mer John Murphy house. This house was closer to ‘the top of the hill’, next to the MacNeill home. The Smith family later purchased and moved the former Nicholson Tailor Shop to the end of their driveway. This was the site of the new Smith General Store. The house is presently owned by Catherine MacKinnon and Donald

Harron.

Upton lost his life in a drowning accident at the ‘Red Bridge’, Wilmot, in 1940. Following Upton’s death, his mother Jean Smith, gave ownership of the property to Ella Stavert Smith in Dec. 1940. The Smith family moved to Rustico, however, Upton’s widow remained in Stanley Bridge. In 1942-1943 Ella Smith taught school in the Junior room of Stanley Bridge School. In the summer of 1943 she moved with her young family to Bedeque. She sold the property to Ella Manson on January 21, 1943.

UPTON (Sept. 15, 1909 - Nov. 7, 1940) m. ELLA BLANCHE STAVERT (1903 — Sept. 28, 1996) daughter of Alberta Cobb and John W. Stavert of Bedeque. They had two children :

1. David Laird b. Feb. 8, 1937 David served in the R.C.A.F. from 1956 to 1985. After retirement, he operat— ed the Petro—Can service station on Water Street East, Summerside. David also acted as an agent for the “Ryder” truck rental business. David

was twice married.

David m. 1. Gail Profitt daughter of Fred and Ferne Profitt of Spring Valley. They have two children.

BAD FIRE AT STANLEY BRIDGE LAST NIGHT

November 6th

General Store, Barber Shop and Warehouse 0f Upton Smith Razed

To The Ground.

Friday 6th Nov.

(Special thanks to the Guardian) Fire of an unknown origin destroyed the general store and warehouse of Mr, Upton Smith at Stanley Bridge last night. The loss is estimated at nearly $9,000. The building was valued at nearly $3,000 and the stock between $2500 to $3,000.

Mr. WT Weir sold the store to Mr. Smith this summer and his lobster factory equipment stored in the building was valued at $3,000 was destroyed. The insurance was about $2500.

The fire was discovered shortly before 10 o’clock by Dr. Fleming. Mr. Smith had left the store about an hour before. The fire appeared to have started underneath the floor of the barber shop. When discovered the building was full of smoke and nothing could be done to save it, and in a short time it was a mass of flames. Mr. Weir‘s house nearby was saved with diffi- culty, Neighbors for miles around came and rendered what assistance they could. (1931)

1. Aletha b. May 22, 1961 Hi. Paul Pickering of SeaView

2. Wesley Upton b. Dec. 24, 1963

m. 2. Mary Gard. They have one son, Christopher Laird Gard Smith b. 1990

2. Alberta b. Aug. 8, 1940 m. David Ferries and lives in Ottawa, ON. Alberta teaches at

Algonquin College.

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