DIALOGUE The Photographer Duncan McNabb, Hugh R'. McDonald, S. McDonald

SONG Old Joe ’3 Dream Miss Cassie Carr

READING Uncle John writes to his City Cousin Peter Brodie

RECITATION Lochiel’s Warning Miss M.L. McDonald and Hugh R. McDonald

SONG The Man Behind the Plough Misses Christina and Eva Carr

Softball — Baseball

‘It is difficult to say when softball began as a recreational activity in Stanhope. Joseph Robison remembers playing the game as a young boy in the Tracadie — Corran Ban area, but does not remember any teams from Stanhope.

Baseball was more popular at that time; games were played on Saturday afternoons, and depending on the community interest, at times quite large crowds watched. In those days only the catcher and the first baseman wore fielding gloves. Joe also remembers that the type of ball played was of a high quality; women used to play ball too, but not as much as the men.

Following the second world war, interest in softball was renewed, and it once again became a popular summer activity. Sunday after- noon was the ideal time for informal pick-up games at the beach, where families would go for a picnic and fun. Over the years the games became more organised, and teams and leagues were formed.

In the early 19503 Stanhope had a team in the North Shore Softball League, which consisted of Covehead, Bedford, Pleasant Grove, Grand Tracadie and Douglas Bros. & Jones. Games were played twice weekly, ’on Wednesday and Sunday. Stanhope home games and practices took place at first on land where the Stanhope Canteen in the National Park is now located; later, games were played on land to the east side of the road leading to Stanhope Cape, on the shore side of the National Park Highway. Players on this team were Mervyn and Emmett Robison, Joe and Leo McCabe, Lea and Elmer Misener, Jack and Joe Myers, Pat Horgan, Leslie and Louis McCabe, George Shaw and Harry MacLauchlan. A trophy was donated to the winning team by Douglas Bros. & Jones. Stanhope won this trophy in 1953, beating D.B. & J. for the prize. The trophy was displayed in the window of the local general store, and it was burned when fire destroyed the store (owned by Earl Higgins) in 1959.

In 1963 it was decided to pick a select group of players and enter the city league in Charlottetown. This group was known as the National Park All Stars and was made up of players from many com- munities. Some of the original players were: John Hughes, Kevin Hughes, Frank Bradley, Vince Bradley, Joe Caswell, Ken Fitzpatrick,

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