Francis (nee Maude McKie). In the early 1900’s Albert Myers started up a store which was located almost directly across the street from McFarlane’s. Chester and George Banks operated a store north of Annandale village on the south portion of the James Banks property.

Little Pond had a store operated by Dan Steele for many years. This Steele store opened around 1890. Lige Blackett operated stores in Little Pond and at Annandale corner.

Mrs. Tillie Dingwell operated a store where Alan J. MacDonald lives at the present time between 1941 and 1944. She also ran a small shop at her home on the Cape Spry Road later on.

The store at Annandale Corner was first owned by Robert Howlett. Lige Blackett then took it over. In our research it became apparent that Lige Blackett was a man of many talents. He was a cobbler, a tailor, a sealer and a cook at the lobster factories. He was also refuted to be very fond of flowers. Lige sold it to Leon Johnston who in turn sold the store to Rand Jenkins. James and Gladys Johnson took it over for a short interval and then sold it back to Rand Jenkins who was the last one to operate it as a store. it was later used as a drive—in restaurant for two seasons by the Norton family.

During the 1970’s, James and Gladys Johnson started a store in Little Pond in the historiCal old Jenkin’s ship building house. They called it “The Olde Yard Point Country Store”. They operated the store jointly until Gladys' untimely death in the fall of 1981 . James Johnson continues to operate this business at the present time.

Forges and Blacksmith Shops were very plentiful in the area and were always kept busy shoeing horses and repairing wagon wheels and other work. Bridgetown and Dundas had such blacksmiths as Jim MacDonald who operated his forge where Maurice MacMaster now lives. Spurgeon MacDonald had a blacksmith shop where Central Kings Fire Hall is situated.

Ed Turner operated a forge at Dundas Corner. Daniel MacDonald had a forge on the road leading to Poplar Point on property now owned by Joseph Johnston.

In 1879, WC. Jenkins was Annandale’s “Village Smithy” where Melvina Blackett now lives, and later it was James Taylor who had a shop. By 1900, Fred Swallow had a shop in Little Pond and later Lloyd and Elliot Dingwell had a horse- shoeing shop.

Up the road in Howe Bay, Edwin MacKie (John McKie’s grandfather) had a forge where he specialized in repairing wagon wheels. His forge started up in the 1870’s and in 1898 he was charging the modest sum of $1.25 for binding wagon wheels.

John Joe and James MacDonald operated a forge on their farm in Little Pond for many years. The brothers retired about ten years ago, although James still can be called upon to do some light work in the forge to help out a neighbor. This forge was first operated by James’ grandfather, Paul Lawless, who lived along the west end of the present MacDonald farm, near the Little Pond Com-

munity Center. 67