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Collins Centennial Memoir

By W.R. Collins
Retired Minister

Little is known about W.R. Collins. After his retirement he wrote this chronicle on the recollections of his early days of growing up in the town.  He lived on Drummond Road for a time, but preached little, if any, in the town.  He later moved away.

             Centennial Year has been a wonderful year.  We have been made aware of our heritage in many ways and have delved into the past to find our roots.  We think of other lands with the famine and earthquakes.  Shall we remember the farmer who had good crops and full barns.  He said, “God has been in this place and I knew it not. Footprints tell who passed this way.”

            So we have passed a Century of Adventure, Challenge, and Change.  Of the latter I wish to dwell as a boy, born in 1896, two years after Westville town was incorporated.

            Growing up in Westville, first I remember Drummond Road, which from a cow path has grown to be a fine residential section.  Each home had a well; previous to that the late Thomas Craig sold water for one cent a bucket; homes today have the faucet.  No perfume of burning wood pervades the quiet air of early morning as electricity has replaced the oil lamp.

            Well do I recall my homecoming.  Those days would have been by train; today would be by automobile on paved roads.  At the end of our street the late James McLaren had an undertakers business, later taken over by  the late Allie McQuarrie now Carrigan’s store.  Things that stand out about McQuarrie’s corner were the old watering trough where cattle were watered – a place where people gathered to talk events of the day.

            On Dominion Day people met there with food baskets to go on a picnic with the late Danny Robertson (livery stable man) with a nice team of horses.  In his carriage 16 people went their way to lot 44 Little Harbour.

            I remember the late Hiram Cummings building his store, now occupied by William Skinner; also the building of the homes of the late H.E. Langille, late R.P. McKenzie, late A.G. Trites now occupied by Michael Wadden and the home of the late James Workman, now Charles Mahoney’s home.  At the brook the late Peter Reid, my granduncle, had a blacksmith shop; in the front of the building the late Alex McLellan of Thorburn had a small confectionary store.  Further down the road my grandfather, the late James Cassidy, had a grocery store, and my aunt, Mrs. Thomas Taylor (nee Annie Cassidy), 26 Aberdeen Ave., New Glasgow, was his clerk.  Then at the other end of the road stood the old Victoria Park to be used for a club house and still later destroyed by fire.

            Families living on Drummond Road were Cummings, James Matheson, Grants, Falkners, Wilkes, Maxwells, Fraser’s, Russells, Marshalls, Malcolm Blue, Dr. Alex Ross, Dr. Clyde McDonald, Reids, John Hamilton, Workmans, Tom Ross, Dooleys, and Belle Dryden.  Mrs. Hiram Langille is the oldest resident; next to her is Mrs. Henry Workman and Mrs. Jack Rice.

Water Boy

            I think today of the new mill at Abercrombie.  Fifty-seven years ago I was the water boy on part of the railway which they have reconstructed.  The Intercolonial Coal Mining Co., which operated the Drummond Mine, built a pier at Granton some 60 years ago, built a railway from the mines to join the old Black Diamond Road a little beyond the Mount William Cemetery.

This house, which is still standing on Office Street, was the head office of the Black Diamond Coal Company.  The structure was built between 1860-1865; the photo was taken about 1930.  The Black Diamond ceased operations in 1875.

            There are two living who worked there that summer: Harvey Marshall and myself; the other two, Walter Ross and Fred O’Connell from Newfoundland, are deceased; the boss was the late Hugh Matheson, grandfather of Joe Braine, North Street.

            One day when one man was absent, Mr. Matheson sent me to pack ties.  I worked hard during the morning but in the afternoon I took it easy.  Mr. Matheson said to me, “Collins, you may be able to catch trout but I be damned you can’t pack ties.”

            The men on the pier were Sam and Alex Taylor, John Carter, Rivers, Grays, Locheads, Bill and Dave, all deceased.  The engineers were James Goode, later postmaster and father of Muriel and Ira Goode.  Guthrie McKelvie, James Dalling, Tim’s son, Robert Dunbar, were the firemen.

            The manager of the Drummond Mine was James Floyd and his brother Thomas was surface boss.  James Henderson was the assistant under-ground manager and William Dalling, Sr. was bankhead boss; Donald McNeil was manager of No. 4, John Alex Fraser, boss of blacksmith shop and under him, John Willie, his son; Bill Morrison, Hector McKenzie and James Cunningham worked in the compressor house; Murdock Gray was car checker; David Holland Sr. weighed the coal that was shipped; Stewart McLeod was CNR shipper.  In the engine house were John Dan McKenzie and John Hayman at No. 4 engine; Jack Rice, Jack Murray and Sam Quigley, Sr. had charge of the lamp cabin and his son, Joe, Andy Ross, Harry Harris worked there and George Cross was time keeper.

            Calder Russell and Sandy Balfour were the stablemen; James Saunders was the mechanical boss; Alex Matheson, assistant yard boss; Angus (Ashes) McDonald had charge of the fire doors (boilers); James Dunn was boss of the brick yard.  All these men are now deceased, except Stewart McLeod.  There are only two living who worked on the bank head 57 years ago, Roddie Stewart, West Street, and Timothy Dalling (Bill’s son), Drummond Road.  Thomas Taylor, New Glasgow, worked on the screens; Dan McMillan, New Glasgow, shifted the cars, under the screens, and both are living.

            In the main office were Rod McDougall, James Matheson, J.W.H. Sutherland, later of “The Evening News”, Frank Condon, John Steele, John A. MacGregor, Eddie Crockett, all deceased except Stewart McLeod.

Dressed to the hilt, residents head to a July 1, 1912, celebration.  The lady peering out the second-floor window near Crockett's Corner has almost a good a view as the photographer.  The first building on the left is Brown's Barber Shop; next, Cecil MacCroull; then L.G. Ferguson's. In the background is the former YMCA.

            At the Acadia mines the underground manger was James Maxwell (William’s father).  The late Mr. Blenkensope was superintendent; William Gray, overman, Purvis Av.; Peter Christie, carpenter; Percy Mullins, Pictou Landing, in charge of bank head; Joe Darby, New Glasgow; was paymaster and Robert Steele was clerk

            These men are all deceased.  Alex Skinner was on the hoist engine and Charles MacDonald, North Street, in the fan house.

            When the Acadia closed some 20 years ago, William Wadden, North Street, was superintendent.

 Mining Career

            There are a few living with half a century in mining, namely Robert and Harry Henderson, David McPherson, William Hale, Jim Leadbeater, Hector Thompson and Donald Hayman, Hoyt Street.

            I have always felt Westville owes so much to her sons who made up the draegermen of Pictou County, heroes of the deep risking death to save a buddy.

            The old Post Office was where the Roxy Theatre now stands and Duncan Balfour was the postmaster.   The town had a printing press office, “The Free Lance”, managed by J.W.H. Sutherland, assisted by Fred McPherson and Mrs. John Campbell (nee Emma Munroe), all deceased.

Acadia Colliery, Westville, NS

            There were three hotels: Big Billie McDonald’s across from Orange Hall, The Williamson House and the Westville House under the management of James Johnson.

            Three livery stables were operated by Dan Robertson, John Dan Fraser and Robert Muirhead, all deceased.

            The following were business establishments: James Roy (Andrew’s father), James Johnson, William Reid, William Ryan, Thomas Grey, James McLeod, George E. Munro, Crockett’s, McDonalds’s China Shop, and J.W. H. Sutherland’s Dry Goods.  The last two were destroyed by fire.  H.E. Munroe and R. H. McKay were taken over by the late L.G. Ferguson, now run by Mrs. Ferguson; William Watters’ Restaurant, William Munsie’s Bakery; Duncan McGregor ran the store later taken over by Michael Muir’s feed store; Alex McKenzie, Dan Grey, Robert McDonald, Andy McDoull now owned by son Cecil; Cameron’s, John Willie Murray, Andrew Murray, Victor Sutherland and Major Jack McKenzie, Michael Campbell, Black Diamond, John Barnes across from new Drummond office.  Meat markets included Pope’s, later Hayman Bros., R.C. Munroe, J.T. McQuarrie, Rory MacKenzie; three tailor shops, J.D. McKean, J.W. Murray, Alex Matheson; four shoe stores, Murdock McKay, James Sutherland, John McKay, John Walter McLeod.  The druggists were George Morris and Rod Fraser.

            Later James Murdoch opened a drugstore at the railway crossing and eventually the store was taken over by his brother, Stewart; Henry McKay’s mother had a millinery shop where the ladies bought their Easter bonnets.

            Henry S. McKay was the town solicitor; Alex McBean was for many years town clerk; and Mrs. Henry McDonald, Church Street was his secretary.

            The barber shops were owned by Andrew Brown, J.L. Johnson (Lauchie’s father), Colin Page, Thomas Chisholm.  The saw mill was owned by Fraser and Cameron, later by P.A. Doyle, D.C. Fraser, Halifax, was also connected with the mill; Stewart Murdock, Joe Wright and Fraser are the only ones living.

            Fifty years ago Mrs. H.E. Munroe (nee Bertha Fraser) worked for the late J.W. Murray, a tailor; Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Matheson worked for the late Alex Robertson and John Alex MacKenzie on Church Street.

Killed at Crossing

            At the gates of the railway crossing the late Duncan MacGregor was in charge and his son, a school lad, was killed at that crossing.  James Andy Marshall was the truckman from the CNR Station.  Mr. O’Neil worked at the freight shed; John Grey was station agent; Alex Danoon was wire operator; Nat Barrett and Tom Fraser trained there; Robert Smith was section boss.  All have passed on but Barrett who resides in Truro.  Those connected with the police force were Nicholson, James Watters, Jim Duncan McDonald, Angus “Birch” McDonald, and John Salter (those are deceased) and Bill Roy.

            Those active in Temperance were the late Guthrie McKelvie, late Mr. Patterson, Sr., Rifle Range, late Mr. Saunders (Jim and Dick’s father).

            The Salvation Army was an active movement in the town many years ago and it was common to see 60 to 75 in their parades; they had a good band under Bandmaster Davis.  Those active were the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McEwan, the late William Henderson and the late Tim Dalling.

            Two things stand out in the history of the town: the Drummond Mine Explosion, May 13, 1873, and the boiler explosion.  Death and tears were the stories of these disasters but mining people are noted for stout hearts.

            In the famous 85^th Band that went overseas in 1914-18, five belonged to Westville: the late Angus D. MacDougall, D.W. Cameron, Robert H. Roy, Thomas Roy, and James Roy. There has been some great musical talent, the late James Goode and Muriel, Mrs. A.V. Sutherland, Agnes Quigley; Everett and Bill Thompson, often heard in duets; and The Sing Well Quartet, Harry Steele, Don Taylor, Eddie Tonks and Joe Braine.  Some soloists were the late Mrs. William Graham, Mona Murray, and James McGregor, and pianists, the late Lillian Gunn, the late George Taylor, Mrs. Bella Oliver, Mrs. William Partington, Miss Isabel Grant and Miss Muriel Goode.

            The YMCA was a place of many memories and behind the movement was Rev. John Britton.  The Westville Band was under Bandmaster David Wilson and played in front of the Acadia pay office on Saturday evenings.  Three Wilsons were bandmasters, three Roys and two Wright brothers were in this band.

            How we enjoyed going to the skating rink on Saturdays.  Mr. Murray from Pictou Landing ran it and it was taken over later by Matthew Archibald from Alma.  It was later destroyed by fire.  I think of some of the great skaters and racers: Billie MacDonald, Thomas Steele (deceased), Leonard Leadbeater, Joe Wright.

            The first tram car went through in 1904, perhaps the golden days of Westville.

            Three citizens were elected to the local legislature in Halifax: the late R.H. MacKay, the late H.A. McQuarrie, Joe MacQuarrie and now Russell McEwan, MP in Halifax.

            George E. Munro was the first mayor and others who served well were John A. MacGregor, Allie McQuarrie, Pat Doyle, Hugh Muir, James Saunders.  All have passed on.

  Sports Town

            As I review sports, Westville had a great cricket team with David Roy as captain.  Others were Jack Hamilton, Roddie Johnson, Harry Saunders, K. Nicholson, Sam Wilson, Jim McNeil, M. Muir, and George Dawson.

            The late Fred Crockett said baseball came to Westville in 1903.  In that group were the late Murdoch Gray, Frank Condon, Alfred Sullivan, Jim and Jack Hamilton and Fred Crockett.

            Going back to 1910, the Westville baseball team was as follows: John Duncan Fraser, first base; Frank Condon, second base; Murdoch Gray, third; Alex Muirhead, left field; Charles Lockhart, right field; George Dawson, centerfield; Bob McGillivray, s.s.; Harry Saunders, pitcher; Jim Saunders, pitcher; Jack Campbell, catcher; Simon Higgins and James C. Emery, spares.

            Some of the great curlers were the late Thomas Blackwood, David Porter, Dan and Fred Crockett, Albert Westerburg, Mert MacKenzie, Ira Goode, and John George MacKenzie, still living.

            In quoits (1) were Wellington MacLeod, Hughie Malcolm, John Rob Roy, D. Hayman; in later years Tom Ross, Joe Quigley, Victor Sutherland, Gus Roy, Alex Marshall, Eddie Matheson, Arthur Clarke.

            In the Sports Hall of Fame in Halifax you will find the names of Westville boys: George Dawson, Simon Higgins, Billie Richardson, Burns Dunbar, James Hawboldt, and J. Edward Collins.

            (1)Quoits is a game played with a flat ring thrown to encircle a peg stuck in the ground or to come as close as possible.

Teachers Credit

            Westville owes a lot to its teachers of long service, namely, Mrs. Dan Crockett, Mrs. L.G. Ferguson, Mrs. Estelle Leadbeater, Mrs. Edna Wadden, Mrs. Rena Roy, Mrs. Reta Chisholm, Miss Mary MacBean, Miss Dorothy Keddy, the MacKenzie Sisters, Spring Garden Road, Miss Nan Muir, Miss Bessie Maxwell, Mrs. Joe Carter and the late F.I. Lent.

            Some of the pillars of the church were: in Carmel, the late Danile Hayman, Duncan MacRae and John Brown; in St. Philip’s, the late Alex MacKenzie, James MacLeod, Rod MacDougall; in St. Bees’, William Hale, the late Robert Smith, George C. Wright; in Holy Name Roman Catholic, Malcolm MacNeil, J.J. Campbell and David Porter, Jr.

            Those who went into the ministry were the Hamilton brothers, John Kingham, Linton Dwyer, Garfield Bruce, Andrew MacKenzie, John Britton, John Skinner, James Leadbeater, the late Theodore Cummings, Murray Favier, William Porter, Wendall MacNeil, Donald MacKay (Jack’s son) and Louis White.

            The late Rev. Robert Cummings served Carmel Church for 45 years.

            In medicine there were the late Dr. Hector MacKenzie (Major Jack’s son); Dr. Condon, Truro; Dr. Vernon Rideout, Yarmouth; Dr. Bud MacKenzie, Truro; Dr. Harry Britton; Dr. Andrew Richardson.

            In law, the late James W. (Jim) Madden, who worked in the machine shops at Drummond Mine, had a record of success in defenses around the world.  His fame as a lawyer accompanied him overseas where he defended hundreds in courts martial.  Once he said, “The only people who don’t make mistakes are in the cemetery, in heaven, in purgatory or where there is no Irish.” (He was of Irish decent).  Also there were Josiah MacQuarrie, who became a Supreme Court judge; his brother, Jack, entered law in Halifax; local Judge William Richardson and the late Henry MacKay, barrister; and Thomas Hayden, barrister, New Glasgow.

Made Good

George MacKenzie made good in the department of education; also George Lent; George Saunders (Jim’s son) on the Power Board; A.H. Crockett (Fred’s son), chief general manager of the Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto; Harry Sutherland, journalist, who followed in the footsteps of his father, the late J.W.H. Sutherland; Waldo Munro, pianist on Don Messer’s TV Show; Harold Sutherland, well-known pipe major; John George MacKenzie, soloist; James Reid, (George’s son), Roy Fraser, RCMP; also Junior Williamson, RCMP; James Hawboldt, long-distance runner; Burns Dunbar and Billy Richardson excelled in baseball; pharmacy: the late Norman Grant and Raymond Fraser; Miss Mary Ross, superintendent of nurses, Aberdeen Hospital; Miss Bertha Robertson, 50 years in CGIT work; Prof. Maxwell, Dalhousie; the late Charles B. Wilson, bandmaster of Barnum and Baillie Circus Band.

            Others who made good were the late Leonard Russell, the late George Floyd, the late Earling Saunders (Jim’s son), the late James MacGregor, Ottawa, the late Ira and Arthur Goode; the late William MacRae, and Max MacRae.

            I think of the dark clouds that have hung over Westville both in mine fatalities and in the sacrifice of her sons in two World Wars, but behind the dark clouds there is a silver lining: the friendships, the helpfulness and the hearts of sympathy which are so characteristic of the people – these are the memories I cherish.

            Westville is not the most prosperous part of Canada, but it is still, I hope and always will be, I trust, a place where the higher things in life are preserved inviolate, where religion is venerated, where education is cherished, where justice is fairly administered, and law is duly obeyed and where time-honored hospitality is not forgotten.
(Courtesy “The Evening News”)

Jim MacNeil, fire chief during the '20s and manager of the Crescent Theater

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