The Eastern Chronicle, New Glasgow, N.S., Thursday, 31 Dec 1942: J.ED MacDONALD, WELL KNOWN FIRE INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE BROKER, IN BUSINESS FOR 47 YEARS, BECOMES PROVOST STREET'S OLDEST BUSINESS MAN To Mr. J,. Ed MacDonald well known insurance and Real Estate broker goes the distinction of being the oldest active business man doing business under his own name on Provost Street today. Born in Hopewell, Pictou County, moving to Westville at an early age Mr. MacDonald spent his young manhood in the Mining town, securing his High School education under the Proncipalship of the late A.P. Douglas, afterwards Editor of the Enterprise. As clerk in Fred Cameron's general store, young Mr. MacDonald gained his first business training. From this position he followed similar work at the Drummond Store. He undertook clerical work as Bookkeeper at the Union Store and later became Manager of the Stillman Woolen Mills at West River. Fifty years ago Mr. MacDonald moved to this town accepting a position as Bookkeeper for Thompson and Sutherland Ltd. Three years later he resigned to launch out on a venture of his own. Buying out the Candy-Restaurant buisness of E.D. Bidden, now the location of MacLeod's Tea Room. Mr. MacDonald added a wide range of goods including bicycles, cameras, talking machines then becoming the rage, also china and jewellery. In a single year more than one hundred new bikes were sold and it was from this stand that the first bicycle, phonograph and camera in Eastern Canada were sold. About this time Mr. MacDonald added Fire and Casualty Insurance lines and with authority to represent twelve of the world's strongest Companies, extended buisness and dwelling property, furniture, auto and casualty insurance protection over thousands of risks in this community. Claims paid in the past forty years run into an enormous figure. More than a quarter of a century ago he added Real Estate to his lines and gradually narrowed down his interests in business to Fire Insurance, Real Estate, Mortgage Loans and Estate Management. Representing several strong Mortgage Companies, loan disbursements to the public in Pictou County and eastward to Mulgrave have exceeded one million dollars. It is notable to mention that save one unavoidable case now in progress Mr. MacDonald has not had a single foreclosure despite the large sum of money involved, a record unparalleled in business history. Mr. MacDonald has ever shown keen public spirit. He is Past President of Rotary, a member of long standing in practically every Fraternal organization in this community. He took an active part in the Victory Loans of the last great war and in 1918 as chairman for Pictou County led this territory to a substantial oversubscription of its objective. During the last war he was asked by the Federal Government to act as County Registrar in a Dominion Wide registration. In carrying out this enormous task, Mr. MacDonald solicited the cooperation of 550 Deputy Registrars and moved by the spirit of patriotism and a desire to make some sacrifice at a time when the boys were offering even their lives, the entire counywide organization waived their claim to fees totalling $4,000 which were turned over to war services, the hospital and local chairities. This incident drew warm expressions of appreciation from Ottawa. Mr. MacDonald is married. His wife, Jessie Douglas is a daughter of the late Geo. A. Douglas. They have two sons and a daughter, Mrs. Elliott DeWolfe, at home, E.Stewart MacDonald, Assistant Manager , Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., New Glasgow, and Dr. Donald MacDonald, Physician-Surgeon at Yarmouth, N.S. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Carolyn Wallace