1921 - 1930

1921

About the year, 1921, the young people started to become interested in the game of Tennis, and the use of a lot of land, situated between the coffin house and the property, now, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Spurr, but at that time owned by Mr. Samuel Brown, was acquired. The land was leveled off and posts with wire netting were put up around the lot. I am not altogether sure whether a Tennis Club was formally organized at that time or whether it was just established on a co-operative basis, at any rate, many pleasant hours were enjoyed there during the next few years. At least two members of the first Tennis Club, played at this time; Mr. George Kerr and Mr. Joseph N. Fraser.

1922

For some time previous to the year, 1922, the increasing cost of fuel, and a somewhat more strained economic situation, made the people of the village aware that they had in their boundaries a source of fuel that was theirs for the taking. In 1894, when the protest was made about the Ferrona Iron Works polluting the East River, a dam had been erected parallel to the river, where the coal washings would have a chance to settle before the water filtered through. This resulted in quite a depth of the coal wash accumulating, and when this was dug up and mixed with water, it was found to make quite an efficient fuel. It continued to be used in ever increasing quantities, and there were few families, if any, that did not stock up a supply for the winter. Some of it was trucked away to Hopewell, Foxbrook, Riverton and even more distant points. The supply lasted for quite a number of years. There were also pockets of coke that were found and put to good use. Eventually this legacy from by-gone years was all used up.

1923

On January 7, 1923, the Church Bell, which had been donated as a gift from Miss Sadie Muir, of the United States, to Zion Congregation, was dedicated in memory of members of the Muir family. In Memory of Father, Robert Muir, 1826-1911; Mother, Margaret Keith Muir, 1832 – 1907; Sister, Margaret Muir Hastings, 1854 – 10-3; Brother, Sylvanus Keith Muir, 1866 – 1918.

In March, 1923, a Bill was introduced into the Legislature, to change the “Rule of the Road” of “The Motor Vehicle Act, 1918” up to this time the Rule of the Road was to keep to the “left” when passing another vehicle. The Amendment was to make the change to “Keep to the Right”. It was passed and went into force on April 2, 1923.

On June 16, 1923, George Wood Sinnis married Mrs. Elsie McGrath, of New Glasgow.

On August 28, 1923, Silas H. Muir, of New Glasgow, married Estella M. Brown, of Eureka.

1924

Following the first World War it became apparent that cheaper power was a necessity in Pictou County. This eventually resulted in the formation of an organization known as the Progressive Club. This Club then decided to apply to the Legislature for an Act to incorporate the Pictou County Power Board. The Act was passed and became law on May 22, 1920. The first meeting of the Board was held in Stellarton on June 16, 1922. On September 5, 1922, the Officers of the Board were authorized to sign a contract with the Nova Scotia Power Commission for the initial development of Malay Falls. The Pictou County Electric Co., Ltd. which had been started in 1904, was purchased. Power was turned on from Sheet Harbor in May, 1924. (April 14, 1924)

On June 19, 1924, a delegation consisting of Mr. Andrew Lynch, J. Ed. McLean, J. Harlan McLean, Donald Dunbar, Dr. W. A. McLeod, Gray Fraser, D.M. Grant, George H. McKay and Mr. Campbell from Eureka and Hopewell, waited upon the Executive of the Pictou County Power Board and discussed the matter of an electric light supply for these two villages. It was estimated that there would be 30 household users in Eureka and 40 in Hopewell. The firm of Kerr and Lynch asked for a 25 H.P. , load for their plant.

1925

In 1925, Church Union took place. The property of Zion Church was retained by the Presbyterian Congregation. The people of the village were divided on the question of Church Union, but because of economic conditions it was agreed that they would all work together for the common cause. In the village were also a number of families that had belonged to the Methodist Church. Rev. J. A. Forbes, was the pastor of Zion Church, from 1923 – 1927, and all the people continued to worship, quite harmoniously, in the Presbyterian Church, during this period and for a number of years afterwards when the Church was mostly supplied by Student Ministers. The various Church Organizations continued at a fairly even pace, even if they did not seem to thrive, however there was one exception, the Young People’s Group started to flourish at this period, and generally took command of the activity in the Community, this organization was largely responsible for the organizing and support of a number of Clubs started in this period, and for the vitality of the village enjoyed during the years of depression.

1926

In July, 1926, arrangements were completed in Halifax, by President Alfred Logan and Engineer Preston, of the Pictou County Power Board, whereby, the Hydro Lines were to be extended to Eureka and Hopewell.

The villages of Eureka and Hopewell were supplied with electric light in December, 1926, and the residents were looking ahead to having Street Lights installed.

 

During the month of December, two old residents of the village of Ferrona died: John Robert McLeod, on December 23, 1926, in his 80th year, and John J. MacKinnon, a native of Ohio, Antigonish County, aged 72 years.

1927

In 1927, the Young People became dissatisfied with the location of their Tennis Court, by the coffin house, largely because of the lack of space, inside the wire netting and also because of the difficulty of retrieving lost tennis balls from Mr. Brown’s hay field when lost there. Mr. Brown was totally un-co-operative with the boys on such occasions, but would inevitably succumb to the charms of the young ladies when approached. Permission was obtained from the Nova Scotia Textile Company, at Windsor, through their representative at Eureka, Mr. George H. McKay, to establish a Tennis Court on the Old Mill Site. A lot of work was performed by the Young People at this time, preparing the ground for the Court, digging holes for the posts and stringing wire netting. The Eureka Tennis Club was organized at this time and continued extremely active through the most of the 1930’s. It was a self-supporting organization, with the expenses being met, by the young ladies holding teas, the presentation of plays during the winter and spring months, and by the payment of Club fees.

On May 16, 1927, Miss Winnifred Livingston, died at Ferrona Junction, in the twenty-fifth year of her age. Mrs. Elizabeth Hingley died on August 5, 1927, aged 87 years. Mr. William Pye died on September 19, 1927, aged 48 years.

Ross Swinamer, of Ferrona, married Annabella Robertson, of Churchville, on September 28, 1927. Donald Malcolm Fraser married Annie Isabel Munro, of Eureka, on September 28, 1927. J. Wallace McLean married Elizabeth Margaret McDonald, of Lorne, on November 2, 1927.

1928

On February 15, 1928, Mr. James H. Reid, of Eureka, died, aged 78 years. He had worked at the Old Black Diamond Mine, at Westville. Later he came to Ferrona to work on the Office Staff at the Iron Works, until they were removed to Sydney. In 1913, he purchased the business of William Urquhart & Son, which he carried on, until a year or two before his death. He was a quiet man, retiring, genial; for years during the Spring months, he could be seen at the break of day, casting a fishing line into the waters below the Mill Falls. He was a Member of Zion Church, and of Western Star Lodge, Westville.

A group of Boy Scouts, had been organized in the village of Eureka, by Rev. A. W. Robertson, in the year 1917, with Mr. Emery as Scoutmaster. At that time the boys had met and held their meetings, mostly at the Manse; there, they were instructed in the fundamental principles of Scouting. This group carried on for a brief period but was finally discontinued.

In 1928, the Boy Scout Movement was again revived, and organized under the leadership of Mr. Frederick Falconer, as Scoutmaster. Mr. Falconer, immediately, took a keen interest in the work of the Boy Scouts and devoted a large portion of his time to the study of Scouting, instructing the boys in the art, and generally promoting the craft, not only in Eureka, but also in the County as well. He took the boys away on frequent hikes, did much towards the establishment of Camp Roderick, at Sunny Brae, attended Jamborees on different occasions. He became a member of the Pictou County Scout Executive and helped to promote and conduct many Scout Meets. Fred carried on this work for a great many years until the pressure of his work and other interests forced him to relinquish it. The people of Eureka and also the County, owe a debt to Mr. Falconer, perhaps unknowingly, for his work in this respect. In 1928, Mr. Frederick William Falconer, also, entered into the sea of matrimony by taking as his bride, Isabel Cynthia Gillespie, on September, 1928.

On December 24, 1928, Mary Anna Grant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D.M. Grant, of Eureka, was married at Calgary, Alberta, to Mr. Lawrence Sinclair Nicholson, of Edmonton, Alberta, and formerly of Edinburgh, Scotland.

1929

The year, 1929, was a comparatively prosperous one for the village of Eureka, many of the men were employed at the Eastern Car Plant, which had a busy year, requiring the employment of a night shift during the summer months. The first half of the year, saw a number of the pioneers of the village pass away. Early in January, 1929, Mr. Kenneth McMillan, who had been the Station Agent, at Eureka, for many years, died. On January 26, 1929, Mrs. James Kerr passed away, and she was closely followed by her husband, James Oliver Kerr, On April 26, 1929. Mr. J. Preston McLean died on June 17, 1929, he was not a pioneer of the village.

1930

Up to this point, the History of Eureka, has been written chronologically, with some reference made to happenings in each year. Possibly I could continue as I have been doing, but as it would be largely the history of village organizations and individuals, it would run into much repetition, because of which I will only make reference to events that generally affect the village. Before proceeding I will refer back to a few matters that I inadvertently missed as I passed along. The Swinging Bridge, crossing over the East Branch of the East River, was erected when the Iron Works were in operation, and gave many a thrill to persons passing over it for the first time, it is still kept in repair and used as a foot bridge. For many years previous to 1930, and for a few years afterwards, a number of the residents of the village kept cows for their convenience and for the supplying of milk. Many of these cows were driven, during the summer months, to Grant’s pasture, a large area leased from the Nova Scotia Steel Company, by Mr. D.M. Grant. The cows passed over the main road to the pasture in the mornings and returned by the same route in the evenings, the result was that pedestrians had to carefully pick their footsteps by daylight, and involuntary imprecations were often rendered from them at night.

The outburst that had taken place against motor vehicles, from 1907 to 1912, had gradually subsided. Cars had become more numerous and the diminishing ranks of the horses used on the roads had become totally unconcerned about the motor vehicles. In Eureka, a garage had been opened up and was operated by Mr. Fraser MacDonald, caring for and servicing the wants of the driving public. Up to this time and for sometime afterwards the roads were not plowed in the winter. If they were opened up for car travel it was accomplished by manpower or as on a few occasions by a local subscription assisted by the town merchants, by which a snowplow was hired to do the job.

The year, 1930, was the start of the depression years. Work and money were scarce and idleness was the general vogue, but somehow the organizations, already mentioned in Eureka seemed to prosper, The Young People’s Society, the Tennis Club and the Boy Scouts, and to these were added during the 1930’s, the Softball Club, which joined in a County Rural League, the operating and traveling expenses of this Club was often run on a shoestring, and sometimes only by the voluntary support of the fans in the village who owned cars. The playing of games drew large crowds throughout the County. A Rink was also established in the village on two different locations, first, in the field, or swamp, to the south of the Eureka Station, and next on the Tennis Court on the Old Mill Site. This contributed much to winter leisure and enjoyment. Many amateur plays were presented by the Young People during this period, both locally, and in various other places, and these always drew full houses. When a sum of money was needed in a hurry, the young ladies were always ready to co-operate by holding a tea or supper, to raise the necessary amount. Many successful dances were also held in Muir’s Hall, all of these projects were well patronized by the general public.

1931-1940