ON SEA LOBSTER FACTORIES One of the busiest industries during May and June along the shore of Little Pond and Annandale were the lobster factories. Those factories provided the first employment for many of today's senior citizens. In fact, when we asked many of our older neighbors about their work experiences, most of them re¬ membered their days at the lobster factories very vividly. There were three factories operating in the area around 1900, the first one being at . Meachams Atlas of 1880 shows that it was owned by James Johnson of Annandale . Previous to Mr. Johnson 's ownership, the factory was first built by Robert Robertson and Sons in 1859. The Robertsons operated it until 1870. It closed then for a period of time because there was no longer free trade with U.S.A . and fish had to be taxed. A Canadian Co . called Forest and Sheare operated it for a time, perhaps only two or three years. The second one was situated at . It was owned and op¬ erated by A.A. MacDonald and Co . The third one was located at the mouth of on what is now re¬ ferred to as Brown's Cape. This factory was operated by Charles MacDonald 's family of . We know that factory opened about 1889 and was still listed in the Business Directory of 1900 and at that time it was under the operation of Joseph K. MacDonald , one of Charles' sons. This factory was still open in 1911. The Annandale factory was closed shortly after the turn of the century and A.A. MacDonald moved his business to Boughton Island . He sold the boiler to Edwin McFarlane who had taken over the operation of the factory from his uncle, James Johnson . In 1929, the McFarlane family sold the Cape Spry factory to Leon Johnson who operated it until it was closed in 1948. Many young girls from the surrounding communities found work at the factories. A bunkhouse was provided and they would live there during the packing season. Since this was probably their first experience at living away from parents watchful eyes, romance flourished between the young female employees and the boys who worked at the factory or on the fishing boats. One such incident related to us was auout one amorous youth who lived in the boy's bunkhouse, while the lady of his affections resided in the girls residence upstairs. Her dormitory had a 'Window overlooking a steep shed roof. The young man was observed by his roommates scaling the roof after the lights were out and entering the girl's window. His friends decided to interfere with these en¬ counters and greased the shed roof thoroughly. They then waited impatiently until after dark when he proceeded to climb the roof once more. This proved impossible that night however as every time he would crawl up one foot, he would slip down two, much to the amusement of his pals. 19