and able assistant, Evelyn . . . My last call was made at the Mount Stewart Consumers’ Association where I saw the manager, Jimmy Doyle and some of his staff, including Fred MacDonald, Margaret Douglas and Margaret Rose. As I was nearing this store, I was surprised to see an old landmark, the Mirimar Hotel, being torn down and, on making en- quiries concerning this, I was informed that the building was being re- modelled to serve as a warehouse. Just before leaving, I decided to pay a visit to the railway station where I shook hands with Agent Harry MacKay and discussed the weather with his clerk, Norine Barrett.”
In the second account he reported that as he “entered Mount Stewart today, the first person I met was Lieut. (Nursing Sister) Mar- garet MacLeod who recently returned home after a year’s service over- seas. She is the daughter of William L. MacLeod, the merchant. The next resident I perceived was Urban MacDonald . . . His son, Vickie. who served in the navy for several years, came on the scene then, and we had quite a lengthy conversation . . . During my visit I learned that two brothers, Reggie and Colin MacDonald are now operating a theatre in the village . . . The two MacAskill boys, Lewis and Preston, have established a shoe repair shop. Another brother, Jim, was one of the first from Mount Stewart to go overseas, and he just returned home last June. His English bride arrived a short time ago.”
J. Lester Douglas
October 2, 1950 marked the passing of a prominent Island politi- cian in the person of James Lester Douglas of Charlottetown and for- merly of Head of Hillsborough. A son of Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Douglas, he was in the service of the Prince Edward Island Railway from 1902- 1912, during which time he was awarded the bronze medal of the Royal Canadian Humane Association for saving the life of a nine year old boy who had fallen from the railway wharf in Summerside. For some years thereafter he was in Vancouver in the contracting business with the firm of Coffin and MacLellan and, upon returning to the Island, engaged in farming and in the wholesale potato and turnip business. Elected to the House of Commons by acclamation in a by—election held in 1938, he was re-elected in the successive General Elections of 1940, 1945 and 1949. His unbroken record and large majorities established him as one of the strongest Liberal Party candidates in the Maritimes. In December, 1950, his brother, Harvey, was returned as Liberal can- didate in a by—election in the Second District of Kings for the seat formerly held in the Provincial Legislature by the late Hon. H. H. Cox. He was subsequently re-elected in 1951 and 1955.
Village Incorporation
The question of village incorporation was discussed at a meeting of Mount Stewart residents held in the Legion Hall on November 4, 1952. Sentiment in favour of this move was highly favourable, and, after pre- liminary matters had been attended to, an election for the three-member Board of Commissioners was held. As a result of this contest, Mr. Wen- dell Glover became the first Chairman, ably assisted by Messrs. Merton Jardine and James Doyle. Mr. R. H. Innes was chosen village clerk. Over the years a large number of citizens have given freely of their time in the prosecution of the Commission’s very necessary work. In February, 1964, ten years after incorporation, the chief concerns at the annual ratepayers’ meeting were the location of a site for the village dump, the development of a park and the erection of a new library. Ten
~——119——