Fire, that useful servant became a cruel master. On that fateful morning, as W. L. Poole stood helpless, watching the hungry flames devouring a fine monument of years of persevering effort, he was heard remarking, "There's a life time of work going up in smoke." This un¬ expected occurrence took place on the morning of Oct. 29, 1929. For a short time after the fire the company had a temporary office in the Masonic building, then an office was fitted up on the second floor of the ware¬ house, and from then on, up to 1962, the company continued in the produce trade. When the founders of the firm passed on Louis H. Poole bought out the Thompson family interests in the business; and he carried on up to the time of his death, which occured June 14th, 1962, at the age of 64 years. Lou, as he was familiarly known, has been greatly missed by many, many people. Mrs. L. H. Poole has sold the warehouse to the Brookins Produce Dealers, I've been informed. NEW BUSINESS FIRMS Clark Brothers , Stirling and Kier, sons of Russell Clark , grandsons of Saul Clark , Mount Stewart , came to Montague, and in May 1934 they started a new store building on the Poole and Thompson site. The store was opened for business October 15th, 1934. Kier and his staff carry on a well-stocked general merchandise business. Sterling is in charge of the Mount Stewart store. They also had a store at St. Peter 's Bay, but they closed that one. Horace Fraser was in charge there. They do not deal in farm produce, as far as the writer is aware. There are two produce company branches here. The E. D. Reid Company , William Naddy , Manager, and hhe Brookins Company , George Brookins , Jr., manager. Stewart and Beck , Ethan Stewart and Cecil Beck , have established themselves in a successful merchandise business. Their store is on the site of the A. C. MacDonald store. Hilchey and Vanlder- stine are doing a good business in the John MacLean building. Groceries, hardware, furniture, floor coverings and oilcloths. The Co-operative store, located in the Owen Connolly building next to H. L. MacGregor 's store is under the management of Arnold Wightman , and doing well. They are all doing well. This is an indication of progress, and it is good for the town. One might be led to ask: What accounts for all this? Well, various factors have contributed to the volume of business being done in Mon¬ tague in this present day. Montague's growth up to about fifty years ago was very, very slow. Much credit has been due to The Montague Furnishing Co ., for its more rapid growth. Other manufacturing plants have been established. At present the future looks bright; as very soon the construction of a large frozen food plant is to begin. This plant will be built on land formerly owned by Malcolm Lamont . One thing which has been to Montague's advantage, is the fact that it is situated in the centre of a good farming district. It is surrounded, or at least within easy reach of such good farming communities as New Perth , Brudenell , Roseneath , Lower Montague , Head of Montague , , Kilmuir and Heatherdale, and the . INDUSTRIES Some time in the 1880's or the early part of the 1890's, an enterpris¬ ing man by the name of Vere Beck of Alliston , King's County started a Monumental Works in Alliston . The business grew, and after some years he and his son Robert W. Beck moved the business to Montague. The father passed on, and Robert has greatly enlarged the business. He moved the plant from his lot on to its present location. His son Ralph is in partnership with him. A few years ago they started a branch in Charlottetown . Preston Beck , a nephew of Roberts, is in charge of this branch. —16—