Mining: The Heart of Westville / The Coal Mining Legacy / The Drummond Colliery Disaster / Boiler Explosion / The Moose River Gold Mine Rescue / Highlights of the Coal Legacy / The Miners Monument
The coal mining industry
produced hardy men who worked together to harvest the coal.
The mines have left, but the legacy lives on. This is
Miner Henry Lloyd who had a career of over half a century
mining coal in Westville. This picture was taken
during the air-shaft rescue of 1973.
Built from Coal
Out of the dirt and the dust and the
grime,
They squint as the bright sun blesses their skin,
And thank the Lord for a second chance.
They anxiously wait for a sound or a
signal;
Will this be the day?
Fear is a constant companion when your
husband works in the great coal mines of
Westville.
Mining is life.
Without mining there would be no town,
No yesterday, no today,
No memories of the booming businesses, bustling streets,
busy tram-way cars and beautiful people;
People gave it life.
Life has changed many ways in this
town.
Some things remain the same.
Love, loyalty and pride for our town,
Are things that time cannot change.
Anne Marie Boudreau
Mining: The Heart of Westville
Coal miners about to descend
into the shaft at the Drummond Mine,
sit in boxed cars called a "riding rake".