After Fred left the site; it was taken
over by A.E. Mundle and Co. who later moved to O.D. Black's carriage
shop (at an angle opposite the 3rd. Royal Canadian Legion location,
which still operates today from the same site).«picture»
Then came the forties. The town was on
its feet. Tramp steamers rolled in like a wave that couldn't be turned
back. Pulp was this town's lifeline. Fishing and fish plants sprang
up everywhere. In 1943, Jimmy Flaganan built a smoked herring operation
near York Point. This was managed by Newton (Newt) Bryant (the first
man to smoke herring in Kent Co.). A.M. Reidpath's 2nd freezer, which
opened in 1943, was in like prosperity. That year they handled 80 barrels
of oysters a day. One day, they set a record in moving a million pounds
of herring. Reidpath's brand names included Sea Kist Fillets; Frosty
Bright Smelts; Bradelle 1 lb. pkg. Boneless Cod; Marshland Cranberries
and Reidpath's Shad, Roe, etc. «picture»
Restaurants offered full course meals
for a low of 45 and 50 cents. Cafes like Dan Daigle's Blue Diamond in
the North end of town; Fidele Daigle's downtown Sea Side Cafe and Gerard
Daigle's Alpen Glow, which was near the church, were often filled to
capacity.
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Entertainment was popular and a blindfolded
man walked around the Court House. The Victory Theatre was built in
1940 (using the old grist mill with major renovations - located where
Ferarri Apts. are). The Victory was destroyed by fire on Feb. 2nd 1950.
Another hardship was about to be dumped
on this town. On Sept. 16th 1940, a gale which many claim was similar
to the Saxby Gale of 1869 hit the town. This gale had been predicted
by Lieutenant Saxby of the Royal Navy. The street were literally covered
with the pulpwood which landed everywhere.
Boats crossed the road at York Point
and Os Mundle's Fox Ranch (Shirley's Ladies Wear) took a battering.
But once more the town continued on undaunted. This was Richibucto and
Richibucto always survived. Then came the war and our Militia lived
up to all that was expected of them. They even survived the taunts of
their nicknames, which included, "Canada's Last Hope" and "After Soldier
Mints". «picture»
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