Night prayers were then recited followed by a wonderful sleep in my bedroom overlooking and within breathing distance of Stanley River. Morning came quickly, and after a hearty breakfast, a loving embrace and the promise to be back next week, with my books and Grandma’s lunch under my arm, I joined the Campbellton and village schoolmates for the short trek to our two—

room schoolhouse situated mid—way up the school hill.

In an attempt to repay my Grandmother for her personal love and the love of Stanley Bridge that she instilled in my soul, I shall relate, albeit too briefly, some of the highlights of the begin— nings, growth and development of this idyllic village. Special emphasis will be placed on the Stanley Bridge that I remember as a boy from 1930 to 1940 when I spent many of my waking

hours there.

The Author's Grandmother, Mrs. Kemys Walsh

In the history of a community, geography almost invariably plays a very significant role. This is certainly true when we consider some of the highlights of the history of the village and dis- trict of Stanley Bridge. During the French Regime, on the Island, and for the first one hundred years, at least, of the British period from 1763 until 1863, the early settlers sought and settled the shores of large bays, substantial rivers and their tributary streams. PEI was, by and large, until the middle of the 19th century, a sea—side and creek-side settlement with slow and limited dispersal into the harsh woods of the hinterland which surrounded all these fine natural corri— dors. It is within this general geographic framework that we can glean our Stanley Bridge beginnings.

New London Bay, the focal point of this area, protected by impressive sand dunes from the often raging storms of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and enjoying a more than adequate entrance to the Gulf at New London breakwater, was fed by a series of pleasant creeks and rivers, among them, French River, South West River, MacIntyre’s Creek, Hope River, Anderson’s Creek, Trout River, Granville Creek, Old Mill River, and of course, Stanley River. The Stanley River from which this area derives its name was denominated as such by Captain Samuel Holland, who surveyed the Island in 1764—1765. Holland named 191 features for prominent British mili— tary and political figures. Interestingly enough, of these, only 92 are still in official use. Among them is Stanley River and Stanley Bridge. Holland, in this instance, immortalized Sir Hans Stanley (1720-1798) who in Holland’s time enjoyed the prestigious political cabinet port- f01io of Lord of the Admiralty, a position that Sir Winston Churchill filled during the first World War.