Early Businesses / Businesses of 1897 / a 1916 Industrial & Business Perspective
A 1916 Industrial and Business Perspective of Westville
In 1916 the publication Nova
Scotia’s Industrial Center, presented detailed
information on the towns of New Glasgow, Stellarton,
Westville and Trenton.
Issued under the approval of the councils of the
four towns, the book delivered an extensive analysis of the
region with a detailed account of each town.
The introductory foreword, signed by the mayors
of the four municipalities, including Westville’s H.A.
McQuarrie, emphasized; “No section of Nova Scotia, and the
eastern provinces, has made such marvelous industrial
progress as the district of which the towns of New Glasgow,
Stellarton, Westville and Trenton are the civic centers.
Its large deposits of coal and other minerals, and the
location of one of the largest steel plants in America, with
its subsidiary industries, make it loom in the industrial
development of the province, and has given it a more that
national importance.
“It is set forth this progress, and to show the
factories and other businesses in existence, that these
pages have been written.”
References about Westville have been drawn from
this book to reveal a perspective of the town, not only from
the year 1915-16, but from an early-century business and
industrial viewpoint, including the town’s role and
contribution to the region of the County of Pictou.
The book also includes an excellent selection of
pictures of Westville’s streets, buildings, churches, and
homes.
No section of Nova Scotia, or for that matter of the eastern provinces, is so distinctively industrial as that part of the province the center of which are New Glasgow, Stellarton, Westville and Trenton towns which stand as symbols of an industrial development and expansion, during the past forty years as great as that of any section of the Dominion.
Westville
The business of the Town of Westville is ably administrated by a mayor and six councilmen. The total valuation of real and personal property, with incomes in 1915 of $1,029,900, while exemptions amounted to $32,300.
The rate of taxation for 1915 was $1.50 per $100 for general and school purposes. The receipts of the town from all sources during 1915 were $97,041.84, out of which all expenses have been met, with a small amount to its credit.
The town’s total assets in 1915 were valued in 1915 at $125,460.45, against which it had a bonded debt of $88,500.
Westville’s water supply comes from the Middle River, one and one-quarter miles distant. It is filtered and pumped by a direct pressure system through the mains to stores and dwellings, the residue going to a reservoir having a capacity of 2,750,000 gallons. The water pressure exceeds 100 pounds to the square inch, whether from the pumps direct or from the reservoir in return. The town has about 14 miles of water main. The fire brigade controls three reels and 1,000 feet of hose is composed of 25 men. The Streets are being gradually graded and sidewalks are being laid. Part of the business section has concrete walks, and electric light has been brought in, while other improvements are being carried out by an efficient and progressive town government.
The schools of Westville are well attended, the total enrolment for 1914-15 being 1,039 pupils. It has three school buildings, the central one being constructed of brick and modernly equipped. The schools have 16 teachers and are divided in 11 grades, extending to the high school, graduates from which may enter the freshman year of any provincial colleges, without further examination. Connected with the school is a domestic science department attended by girls pupils from the sixth to the 11th grade inclusive.
This 1919 photo reveals a
thriving business district. The first building on the
right is Atwood Jewelers,
next to the YMCA. Across the street is the bowling
alley. The building with the balcony is the Westville
House.
The Intercolonial Coal Company, the only other coal company operating in Pictou County, was organized in 1868.the property had four seams of coal, the two upper seams of which are being worked, and they produced, in 1914, 220,929 tons of coal giving employment to 760 men and boys, and distributing in wages more than $480.000 yearly.
A weekly paper, The Free Lance, published in Westville was established in 1896, and has a circulation of nearly 4,000 copies throughout northern and eastern Nova Scotia, primarily in particular, and the province in general.
As a result of its many natural resources, the district has become one of the largest industrial centers of the province. Nor has it reached the limits of its expansion. The deepening of the East River to Trenton and the Completion of the locks will give it exceptionally fine water transportation, and connect it by deep-sea navigation with all parts of the world. The steel, iron, clay products and wood-working industries are the direct outgrowth of its inexhaustible natural resources, which are capable of supplying many more factories. Cutler, soap, fish glue, piano and wood-working factories, woolen and cloth mills, could be established in any of the four towns with advantage and profit. Industries such as these and others would receive every encouragement. And while the towns have no fixed policy as to the treatment of industries seeking location, they are willing to consider any industrial proposition on its merits and if found worthy to encourage it so as to make its coming advantageous and profitable.
The four towns have a varied industrial population and employ in the coal mines, railway and factories at present from 5,000 to 6,000 persons, of whom 3,000 belong to labor organizations. Of this number, about 2,300 are members of the Federation of Labor, while the balance have membership in such unions as the United Mine Workers, Brotherhoods of Carpenters and Joiners, Painters and Decorators, Electric Workers, Bricklayers and Machinists unions, and other organizations. The wages are good and in many cases high, especially among the war munitions workers. With such a large industrial population, labor difficulties arise from time to time, but they are as a rule amicably adjusted and strikes are rare.
Rents are higher than last year on account of the scarcity of dwelling houses, and the great demand for them due to the constant influx of industrial workers. This is especially true of New Glasgow and Trenton. In Stellarton and Westville, housing conditions are better.
This busy intersection, at the
corner of South Main and Drummond, was well-known
as McQuarrie's Corner. H.A. McQuarrie, undertaker, Mayor and MLA,
ran a furniture
store in the front and an undertaking business in the back. The next
building up Drummond
at the time was Cummings, Westville's One-Price Cash Store.
On the right of McQuarrie's
on South Main was Ja"s Sutherland, retailer of boots and shoes, rubbers,
leather and shoe
findings. The tram car tracks ran by the
front corner of McQuarrie's.