Photographs courtesy of Norman Munroe
Abercrombie
/ Alma / Ardness
/ Avondale Station
This settlement is located about two miles upstream from the mouth of the East River on the south side in north central Nova Scotia. It was probably named after General James Abercrombie, a British General connected with the first battalion of Royal Highlanders who was with several campaigns in Canada and was killed at Bunker Hill in 1775. Robert Dunbar, a sergeant in the 73rd Highland Regiment settled here in 1784. It was on his farm that the wharf for the General Mining Association Railway was finished in 1828. From 1838 to 1888 there was a community in the vicinity known as the Loading Ground, with a Presbyterian Church known as The Bethel or the Sailor's Bethel, and a temperance hall.
There was also a school-house here in 1860's. A new school was built at the Loading Ground in 1882. A new three room school was completed in 1956.
A post office was established in 1882.
Scott Paper Company's plant was built in 1965-1967.
Population in 1956 was 269.
This rural area is located at the head of the Middle River south of Pictou Harbour. Soon after the Crimean War the place was named in commemoration of the location of a victory over the Russians by the French and British in 1854.
Alexander Fraser, Sr., settled here in 1773, and received a grant in 1783. Alexander Ross, Jr., received a grant in 1783 and settled here by 1792. The area was part of a 5000 acre grant made to Richard Williams in 1775.
Rev. James D. MacGregor, Presbyterian Pioneer Missionary to Pictou County held open air communion services near Alma. Rev. Norman MacLeod and his associates settled here and at nearby Loch Broom before departing in the Ark in 1820 for St. Ann's.
Angus McPhee opened a school at Middle River settlement, November 1, 1811, and a school was built or provided for by 1813. A new school was built about 1953.
A postal way office was established in 1855. A building was bought, moved and furnished for a public hall about 1880.
The railway between Stellarton and Pictou was opened November 28, 1887, and a railway station was built in the early 20th century. An iron bridge over the Middle River was completed in November, 1884.
Population in 1956 was 152.
This rural area is located about two miles south of the Northumberland Strait near the boundary between Antigonish and Pictou Counties. It was named after a village in Scotland. The settlers included John McGilvray, from Andrnamurchan Inverness-shire, in August, 1790, who settled in 1792; Alexander McGilvray from Arisaig in September, 1791, who settled here the same year; John McGilvray (number 2) from Arisaig in September, 1791, who settled here soon afterwards; Evan who settled here at the same time and John McGilvray (number 3) who came from Andrnamurchan in August, 1790 and settled here in 1792. Rory, Ronald, John Lachlan McDonald came from Arisaig, Inverness-shire in September, 1791, and settled here in 1793, Angus McDonald from Mudard and Evan from Arisaig came at the same time. Grants of land were given to all these people in November, 1810.
A new school was opened February 5, 1920.
Farming is the main industry.
Population in 1956 was 70.
AVONDALE STATION, Pictou County
This rural area is located about four miles upstream from the mouth of Barneys River. It was known as Central Barneys River until the name was changed to Avondale at a public meeting held July 2, 1869. The beauty of the surroundings may have prompted the inhabitants to name the village after the Avon River in England.
Settlement was probably begun here in the late 1780's by Samuel Holmes, Robert McDonald, Gregor McGregor and Robert Stewart. William Hattie received a grant here in 1816, and built one of the first mills in Merigomish. Archibald Walker reputedly was one of the first settlers.
A school-house was built near the banks of the river in 1802. Later another school was built where the railway yard came to be in 1879. James Crerar and Daniel Anderson were early teachers. Avondale school burned down on June 5, 1944, and was replaced by a new building in 1945.
A postal way office was established July 1, 1873, with Robert MacDonald as Postmaster. A post office was established August 1, 1883. In January, 1886, a new public hall opened.
The Eastern Extension Railway was constructed through this section about June, 1879. Farming is the main industry.
Population in 1956 was 56.