HISTORY OF 7 STELLARTON / t. by \ Aubrey. Dorrington REFD 971 V .615 D Not To Be Taken Prom the Room Terence A HISTORY J OF STELLARTON by Aubrev. Dqrrington TABLE OF CONTENTS Pioneers 1 Coal Mines 3 Railways 48 Town Departments 55 Early Industries 61 Churches 66 Schools 76 Fraternal Orders and Clubs 78 Military 83 Bands 89 Theatricals , 93 Sports 96 Post Offices 108 Theatres 109 Libraries , 110 Newspapers 110 Power Plants Ill Hotels 112 Airplanes 113 Air Cadets 114 Mining Museum 115 Rifle Association 115 Credit Union 116 Tram Cars 116 Buses 117 Housing 118 R.C.M.P 119 Medical Doctors 119 Male Chorus 119 Local Council of Women 120 Red Cross 120 The Early Days 121 Miner's Houses 127 Origin of Street Names 129 Old Residents 130 History Briefs 131 Biographies 134 Bibliography 144 5Q104 Cover Design by Lynn Cornish ° Copyright 1976. Printed by The Advocate Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd., Pictou, Nova Scotia PICTOU ANTIGONISH REGIONAL LIBRAE DEDICATION I dedicate this book, "History of Stellarton", to my dear wife Mildred, to whom I am indebted for her valuable work and assistance in handling all my correspondence, keeping my files in order, taking dictation and doing all the typing of the manuscript, and for her help in researching and compiling of all material for this book. Without her help this history by me would not have been possible. Signed Aubrey Dorrington FOREWORD The writing of this book, has been prompted, by the feeling of the writer, that the need existed for a history of the town. Also, that it would serve a useful pur­ pose, and that this should be a statistical history. Differing to other histories of a general nature, in this respect, that it would furnish specific and ready reference, on matters pertaining to the town and its people. The compiling and gathering of data for this history, was made for the purpose of preserving the history of the town of "Stellarton" for future generations. Also, that it would give a stranger in our midst a thumbnail sketch of our industrial, cultural and religious background. In many cases it will be found that this book does not follow the narrative form, it was felt that articles by other writer's would be interesting and informative, and in some cases written in the present tense. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author acknowledges with thanks financial contributions to assist wiih ili>- publishing of this book. Dr. Frank H. Sobey Branch 28, Royal Canadian Legion The Town of Stellarton The Stellar Curling Club. William M. Sobey ABOUT THE AUTHOR He was born on March 22,1913, in the Tom Munroe building at Acadia Corner in Stellarton. He attended the town schools and also St. Bridget's School. In 1932, he went to work as an engine driver in the Allan Shaft and later worked on the ventilation system. He obtained his coal miners certificate and worked as a contract miner. He managed three Jr. boy's softball teams and also a girl's team. In 1940 he volunteered for active service and served with the Pictou Highlan­ ders. In 1971 he founded the Order of Stellarite which is composed of sixty prominent citizens. He is married to the former Mildred Sangster and has two daughters, Janet, Mrs Jack Munsie, Carolyn, Mrs Walter Wallace. They have ten grandchildren. Stellarton s Pioneer Settlers The history of Stellarton's pioneer settlers began with the sailing from Scotland of the Ship Hector. She set sail from Loch Broom, Scotland on July 1st, 1773, with one hundred and eighty-nine passengers, thirty-three families and twenty-five unmarried men, for Pictou, Nova Scotia, under command of Captain John Spears. After a trying passage of six weeks, in which nineteen of the children died, the ship reached Pictou on Sept. 15th. Most of the new settlers, when they found that their grants were three miles back in the woods behind Pictou, left, and settled in other parts of the province. The rest remained and settled on the three rivers of the county. It being too late in the fall to plant crops they built crude huts and remained in Pictou the first winter, during this time they suffered great hardships, their provisions having run low. The following spring (1774) five of the 'Hector' passengers and their families, Colin MacKay, William MacKay, (Squire), Donald Cameron, Roderick MacKay and Donald MacKay, (Elder), all natives of Invernesshire, took up grants of land (on the strength of their army service) on the East River at what is now Stellarton. (The river was then known by the Micmac name Apchechkumoachwaakade, Duckland). The large expanse of intervale appealed to them, it lent itself to easy cultivation and was very fertile, while the land along the margins of the river was covered with thick forest. Clearing their land of the large trees entailed much time and labor. This group of pioneers were the first to settle in the East River Valley. Their first homes, built on the highground on the banks of the river, were log cabins and usually consisted of two rooms known as the 'Butt' and the 'Ben, the 'Butt' was the kitchen with its huge fireplace, chairs and tables, the 'Ben' contained the beds and was curtained. Colin MacKay settled on a lot of 400 acres at Lourdes, William MacKay, (Squire), 550 acres and Donald Cameron 450 acres, settled on lands that now comprise the district of Red Row. Roderick MacKay 450 acres, settled on the bank of the river south of Bridge Street, his brother Donald (Elder) 450 acres settled further south about River Street. Donald Cameron was the first of this group to receive a grant for his land, obtaining it February 8, 1775, the others did not receive their grants until August 26,1783. ( Stellarton is the only town in the county which was settled by Hector passengers). Colin MacKay was born at Invernesshire Scotland. He served with the 78th Highlanders at the taking of Louisbourg and Quebec. His grandsons founded the firm of MacKay Bros, in Liverpool England. His property adjoined the old Duff Cemetery on the border of Stellarton. He died in 1804, aged 74. William MacKay (Squire), was born in Kilmorak, Scotland. He had four children with him on the 'Hector', Donald, who was the first settler on Fraser's .Mountain; Alexander, who owned the land where the business district of New Glasgow is now situated (it was mostly swamp land). John MacKenzie, the original owner, sold it to MacKay for twenty pounds, it consisted of 500 acres. Alexander employed William Fraser, surveyor, to divide the river frontage in acre and a half lots which he later sold. He settled in New Glasgow and built a stone house on Almont Ave. which is still standing. He became one of its leading citizens. James settled opposite the loading ground on the East River. Sarah married William (Moose) Fraser, surveyor. Two sons and one daughter were born in Stellarton. John (usually known as Collier), was the first to dig for coal commercially in the county, and William, who inherited his father's property and later moved to the old stone house at MacLellan's Brook. One daughter married John MacKay, New Glasgow. William MacKay Jr., was a surveyor, and the author of a map of Nova Scotia published in London, which has supplied information to all the map makers since. Squire MacKay Sr. was a leading man among his Page 2 countryman, and for many years held the office of magistrate. His wife Janet, died in 1814 aged 78 years. He died on March 2nd, 1828 at the great age of 97 years. He left 19 children, 98 grand and 14 great-grandchildren. Donald Cameron was the only Roman Catholic aboard the ship 'Hector'. He was the first person in the East River Valley to receive a grant for his land. His land stretched from the river bank back to the Cage Pit gully. Later coal was discovered on his land by the pioneer Minister Rev. James MacGregor. Donald was later drowned in the East River and his family moved to Antigonish after selling the farm to Rev. James MacGregor. Roderick MacKay was a native of Beauly, Invernesshire, Scotland. He had one daughter Ann, with him on the 'Hector', (She was later married to the pioneer Minister Rev. James MacGregor) and two children born in Stellarton. He was a blacksmith by trade and owned and operated the first forge in the East River Valley. He obtained a job as head of the blacksmith's work at H M Dockyard in Halifax. He and his wife travelled to Halifax through the woods on foot, each carrying a child. Under his direction the chain was made, which during the war was stretched across the North West Arm to prevent the entrance of hostile vessels. He was a man of middle height, but thick set and strongly built. He remained for twenty years in Halifax, fifteen as foreman blacksmith of H M Dockyard. He returned to his farm in Stellarton in 1796 and died there Nov. 22, 1829 at the age of 84 years. Roderick's daughter Ann, previously mentioned, was the grandmother of James D. MacGregor, former Lieut. Gov. of Nova Scotia from 1910 to 1915 (He attended a private school at Stellarton in 1855). Another daughter was the mother of J.D.B. Fraser, Pictou, who besides being prominent in business, was a distinguished leader in the early temperance movement. R.P. Fraser, former collector of customs of Pictou, was his son. Another son, the late Robert MacKay was keeper of the rolls of the county.