1881-90

The early history of Eureka is largely the history of the Eureka Woolen Mill Company and dates back to the year 1881. This Company after being organized commenced erecting their mill. The site chosen was along the West Branch of the East River and pleasantly situated in a hollow, sheltered from the stormy blasts of winter and delightfully cool in the hottest days of summer. In December 1881, construction of the buildings was well along and machinery was being purchased in the United States. The buildings were, first, the main one, 150 ft. by 40 ft., containing three floors, to be used for the processing of wool in all its stages, next at right angles were the boiler house, blacksmith shop, dry shed, finishing stock room and offices. The power to operate the mill was to be water, a dam with a head of 19 feet and a width of 130 feet, containing a plentiful supply of water to run a 48 inch Laffol Turbine Water Wheel. It was expected that the factory would be ready for work about April 1, 1882.

1882

At the end of March 1882, the mill was fast approaching completion, but was not, yet, in operation. The Company was established with a Capital of $30,000. The stock was mostly all owned in Pictou County. H. S. Poole, Esq., Manager of the Acadia Coal Company, was the President of the Eureka Company, and H.B. Kendrick, Esq., was Secretary-Treasurer, and also the largest stockholder. Mr. Kendrick was an Englishman with many years experience in the manufacture and sale of fine cloths in London, Leeds and Maccleafield. He was a young man of great energy and much force of character and full confidence in his knowledge and experience predicted and immediate success for the Company. The Manager of the Mill was, Mr. Isaac MacNaughton, who was classified as a sort of mechanical genius, born to master pulleys and machinery, and the results of his care and attention were already noticeable in the easy play of the heavy machinery and the noiseless motion of the ponderous motor driving all the array of belts, shafts, pulleys and clanging cards and looms. In October 1882, the Mill was only in partial operation.

1883 In January 1883, the Eureka Woolen Mills were in full operation. The buildings were all heated with steam which made it exceedingly comfortable for the employees, better for the manipulation of wool and far less risk of fire, against which careful regulations were enforced. Domestic wools were not used. The wool used came from the Cape of Good Hope and Australia, a short, silky and beautifully fine fleece. The result was production of the best quality of goods that had ever been manufactured in the Dominion, and was considered equal to any English goods. In August 1883, the Eureka Woolen Mills were progressing under a new Manager, Mr. Forbes, a steady improvement was being made in the quality of the goods. The products were being received with universal favor. The tweeds were described as being of unsurpassed quality and a great variety of patterns, while their blankets and yarns were pronounced by competent judges as the best made in Canada. The company entered a large exhibit of their goods at the St. John Centennial Exhibition. About 40 hands were employed at the Mill. The first accident at the Eureka Woolen Mills occurred on Oct. 31, 1883, when Henry David Munro, aged 12 years, son of the late Henry Munro, Foxbrook, was caught in the belting and carried up through a hole in the floor, cutting and bruising him terribly. He only lived for three hours after the accident. In December, 1883, the Eureka Woolen Mill Company, secured the services of an experienced man from England to take charge of their Mill.

1884

Mr. James B. Platt, the new Manager at the Eureka Woolen Mills, almost immediately got himself into hot water with the good people of Hopewell. Early in January 1884, the Mill was running short of fuel and the coal ordered did not arrive at Hopewell Station until late on a Saturday evening. Coal was hauled on the next day, Sunday, to the Mill and possibly to a dwelling house. A resident of Hopewell, who would not condone the breaking to the Sabbath day, wrote a strong letter of indignation and protest to the Eastern Chronicle. Mr. H. Buckley, an employee of the Hopewell Woolen Mill, sought to defend his friend, Mr. Platt, and thereby incurred the wrath of said resident. Both sides expressed their views quite freely during the month of January, before it finally subsided. In April 1884, some small repairs had to be effected to the old Island Bridge, which was situated between the falls and the Mill. Mr. J. H. Hattie was appointed Secretary-Treasurer of the Eureka Woolen Mills in place of Mr. H. B. Kendrick, who had left the district.

1885

The annual General Meeting of the shareholders of the Eureka Woolen Mills, was called for October 20, 1885. Mr. J. H. Hattie was still acting in the capacity of Secretary. During the month of October the Halifax Chronicle reported a magnificent show of Australian, Irish and Canadian tweeds, by the manufacturers, The Eureka Woolen Mills.

In December 1885, the long talked about hopes of having Blast Furnaces established along the East River, began to look as though they might bear fruit, and the prospects of having them located in the immediate district aroused considerable speculation.

1886

In August 1886, the condition of the old Island Bridge, which was situated between the dam and the Eureka Mills, was rapidly deteriorating and required frequent repairs. It was pronounced positively dangerous to life and limb to drive a nervous horse across it, because of the roar of the falls and the clang and clash from the Mill. A great deal of controversy took place about a location for a new bridge, some favoring the present site and others a spot farther down the river. Petitions were circulated by both parties, which were signed by persons favoring the location of their choice, with a number signing both petitions. (as there were very few people living in Eureka at this time, the interested parties were mostly from up along the East River). The Eureka Woolen Mills favored the lower location, as it would give them better access to the roadway, and eventually that location won out. The new bridge was started, early in the fall of 1886. Mr. L. T. O’toole was the contractor for the abutments, with John Steward, of New Glasgow having the contract for the iron work. In November 1886, Mr. O’toole was ordered to raise the abutments four feet higher. At the last of December 1886, the bridge was still not finished and a protest was lodged concerning the procrastination of the work, with no effort being made to complete the approaches to the bridge.

1887

Repairs had to be made to the old bridge in January 1887. In June 1887, the contract of building Hugh Grant’s new home was awarded to MacDonald & Falconer, of Hopewell. The new bridge was completed during the year but not without severe criticisms.

The residents of Hopewell were making a determined effort to attract the building of the Blast Furnaces to their village.

The Nova Scotia Electric Light Company were busily engaged in making their installations, and it was expected to have the stores and streets of New Glasgow, Stellarton and Westville lighted with electricity by the middle of December.

1888

In January 1888, telephone connections were established with New Glasgow, Pictou, Upper Stewiake, Truro, Shubenacadie, Folly Village, Great Village and Halifax, and other towns being connected were: Westville, Stellarton, Hopewell and Londonderry.

In May, 1888, the Eureka Woolen Mills announced the installation of new Roll Cards, of best make, which were set up by Mr. R. Brown, of Merigomish, and would be run by an experienced man. They had a large stock of Tweeds and Homespuns made specially for the country trade. They advertised for good wool offering good cloth in exchange.

In August, 1888, announcement was made by the Eureka Woolen Co., that, Capt. Peter Graham was now the Manager. Employees at the Mills numbered 44 persons. $1,000 per month was paid in wages. There were 13 looms running and 4 self-operating jacks, using 6,000 lbs of domestic and 2,500 lbs of Australian wool monthly. Cloth made was the very best. Their exhibits had won first class prizes at all the exhibitions. The demand was lively and the plant was prospering. During the year 1888, the village of Eureka started to grow, as a result of the prosperity at the Mill.

With the completion of the Eureka Bridge, new sections of roadway had to be cut to make connections with the old road. On the west side this only involved a short strip up the hill, but on the East side it was much longer, requiring trees to be cut and the roadway made.

1889

In January, 1889, Engineers completed a survey for a tentative railroad bed between Sunny Brae and the forks of the East River and were now working on the route between Springville and New Glasgow.

During the year, 1889, The Eureka Woolen Mills did considerable advertising, such as: “We want – 20,000 lbs Wool – For which we will pay Cash.” “Ask your tailor for – Eureka Tweeds – Better than Canadian and – Equal to Scotch.”

Capt. Peter Graham severed his connection as Manager of the Eureka Woolen Mills. The president, John Ross, Esq., took charge for the time being.

1890

In February, 1890, Isaac MacNaughton advertised: Walking plows, and Sulky plows made to order. Also the services of a Portable Hay Press – Capacity – ten to fifteen hundred lbs per hour, with a competent man to run it. At reasonable rates.

June, 1890, saw the probability of setting up a smelting works in Pictou County, very evident, with a possibility at Eureka. In July, 1890, the Merits of different Furnace locations were considered, at Eureka, the Iron Bridge at New Glasgow, and at Trenton, with the site at Eureka finally winning out. The New Glasgow, Iron, Coal and Railway Company purchased about 100 acres of land from Frederick Falconer. This land had been owned at different periods by Duncan Falconer, who sold it to Donald Cameron (Penny), and it became known as the Penny property. It next passed into the hands of Hugh Fraser, who had married the daughter of Donald Cameron. Similarly Frederick Falconer married Hugh Fraser’s daughter and thus acquired the farm.

In 1890, there were six housed in the village of Eureka. The Mill house, used as an office by the Eureka Woolen Mills, and in which the first Post Office was opened in 1884, with Mr. Hugh Grant as Post Master. This old Mill house is now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Black and by Mr. George MacDonald. The Post Office was moved up to the store, which was build in 1890 by Mr. D. M. Grant, and is now occupied by Mr. Robert Ellis. The present home of Mr. Fraser MacDonald was built by Frederick Falconer, prior to 1890. The other homes were: the residence now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Holley; the home of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Bezanson; the home, directly across the railroad, owned by the late Mr. Arthur Fraser; the residence of the late Mr. D. M. Grant, which was built for his father, Hugh Grant, in 1887; and the home known as the “Hastie House”.

On October 16, 1890, Tenders were called by the New Glasgow, Iron, Coal and Railway Company, for the grading and building of about one mile of Railway to connect the Intercolonial Railway with the site of the proposed Smelting Works. In November, 1890, work was progressing at the site of the Blast Furnaces. Pits were dug to determine the depth of the surface soil. Tenders were called for the clearing of the site and the erection of the flue, and as soon as these were closed, work would be started immediately.

1891-1900