1941 - 1950
1941
Although the outbreak of the second World War occurred in the fall
of 1939, it caused little change in the County of Pictou, except for
a few enlistments and some signs of military preparations. During
the rest of 1939 and all of 1940, the economic situation continued
much as it had been all through the 1930’s. During the fall of 1940,
quite a number of the men from Eureka, went over to Debert and were
employed in the building up of the Debert Military Camp, they
continued there for the rest of the year and for several months in
1941. By this time the Pictou County plants were beginning to get
under way for war production, and work became more plentiful for the
duration of the war. Conversely a shortage of many articles began to
appear, to mention a few, sugar, tires, gasoline, cars, and bananas
disappeared of the market entirely. Red Cross Work and the promotion
of the sales of War Saving Certificates and Victory Bonds became the
order of the day.
Cecil Stewart Brown, of New Glasgow, married Katheryn Vernette
Wilson (Grant), daughter of Pipe Major & Mrs. Wilson, in July 1941.
Harold Clark Leigh married Pearl Jeanette Fraser, in July 1941.
Edgar Jardine married Florence Were, on September 17, 1941. Everett
MacKay Holley married Miss Ellen Ethola MacLean, on November 18,
1941.
1943
The United Church people of Eureka withdrew from Zion Church at the
end of the year 1935. On January 7, 1936, a meeting was held in the
former Methodist Church Hall to discuss formation of a congregation
of the United Church of Canada. It was unanimously agreed to
organize and a committee of stewards, consisting of J. T. MacGregor,
Joseph Saunders, R. H. Ward, Fred. W. Falconer and J. W. Gillespie,
was appointed. R. H. Ward was appointed secretary and Fred W.
Falconer, treasurer. Evan R. Fraser and D. M. Grant who had been
elders in Zion Church for over 30 years, formed the session of the
newly organized congregation. Services were to he held in the Old
Methodist Church. Briefly, the history of this Church is: In 1891, a
Methodist congregation was formed by the Methodist Church of
Stellarton and was included in the Stellarton circuit. The Eureka
Methodist Church was built in the year, 1893, and was dedicated on
November 28, 1893. In 1895, Eureka was separated from this circuit
and united with Bridgeville to become a separate mission. This union
lasted seven years. In 1902, Eureka was again connected with
Stellarton. This arrangement continued until 1919. For a short
period after this, Eureka received Sunday service from the
Stellarton church, but in September, 1920, it was decided to
discontinue the Sunday services and to hold a week night service in
Eureka. The Methodist people began to worship in Zion Church and
continued to do so until the end of 1935. In January, 1936, the
United Church congregation was formed, and the first service of
worship was conducted by Rev. A. T. MacDonald, on January 19, 1936.
On March 10, 1936, the Pictou Presbytery of the United Church of
Canada met in Eureka and sanctioned what had already been done and
officially organized the Eureka United Church congregation. A
committee appointed to select a name for the Church, submitted five
names to a meeting of the congregation on March 23, 1943. Mr. Evan
R. Fraser moved the adoption of the name Wesley, the motion was
seconded by Mr. D. M. Grant, and approved by the meeting. The church
then became known as the Wesley United Church of Canada.
Mrs. Simon D. Fraser, of Eureka, died in March, 1943, in her 81st
year. On June 26, 1943, Perle Smith and his son, Stanley, were
killed in an accident at the Eureka Crossing, while on their way to
work at the Eastern Car Plant. Mrs. Anna MacNeil, of Eureka, sister
of Melvin Falconer, died at her home on March 2, 1943. Mrs. Emily
Grant, of Eureka, died on January 25, 1943.
1944
Mrs. D. Gray Fraser, died at her home in New Glasgow, In November,
1944. George Cameron, of Eureka, died on December 17, 1944.
1945
Mrs. Norman MacLeod, who had lived for many years in the home,
across the road from the present home of Chester Jardine, died in
Marlboro, Massachusetts, on January 21, 1945. Jacob Swinamer, an old
resident of Ferrona, died on December 31, 1946. Mrs. Alexander
Jardine, of Eureka, died in December 1945.
Legion Branch No. 75, was organized during the year with 67 members,
they received their Charter on August 20, 1945.
James Harlan MacLean retired from the Stellarton Roundhouse, at the
end of the year, 1945. He had entered the employ of the Railway in
1907. He was appointed Assistant Day Foreman in 1936.
1946
James Henry Lyons, of Eureka, died in February, 1946, he had been
born in England. Hugh D. Fraser, of Eureka, died in March, 1946,
aged 69 years. Hugh Robert Grant, born in Eureka, but for years a
resident of Sudbury, Ontario, died on April 28, 1946. Jacob Swinamer
dies Dec. 31, 1946.
Dr. James A. Muir, formerly of Eureka, establishes a medical
practice in Truro.
1947
Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Grant celebrate their Golden Wedding
Anniversary on September 22, 1947. Mr. Douglas Conway marries Miss
Harriet Gillespie on December 17, 1947.
Williard MacDonald, formerly of Springville, died on January 17,
1947. Mrs. John L. Robertson, born at Churchville, died at Sydney,
on February 1, 1947. Mrs. Andrew Lynch died on April 20, 1947. Mrs.
John MacKay died on Oct. 6, 1947. Miss Lexie MacLeod died on
December 11, 1947.
After the Blast Furnaces were taken away from Ferrona, the boom in
home building subsided, and did not again reach any proportions
until the 1940’s. I will attempt to enumerate the homes that were
built since that period, but will not guarantee its accuracy or the
proper order of building. Possibly the first home built was the
Bungalow (opposite the home of Mrs. Harlan MacLean’s). The homes of
: Wilfred Ward; William Magee; Alver MacLean; Mrs. Trueman Holley;
Douglas Conway; William Conway; Whitfield Gillespie; Elbridge
Cameron; George Wallace; Murray Holley; Louis MacIntyre; Earl
Farnell; John Brown. A home was also built by Mr. James Murray and
later burned. The home of Edgar Jardine was also built in the period
following the year 1904. The home of Alver MacLean was built before
the Magee home. A home built by Norman Ibbitson is also included.
1948
On January 7, 1948, Mr. Charles Smith, of New Glasgow, married Miss
Adeline Dunbar, of Eureka. Mr. James Roper, of New Glasgow, married
Miss Iva Magee, of Eureka, on November 20, 1948.
Mrs. Minnie Fraser, of Island, E. R., died on April 4, 1948. Mr.
R.H. Ward, died on May 1, 1948, at the age of 84 years, he had been
born in Croxon, Lincolnshire, England. Mrs. John J. Fraser, formerly
of Eureka, died in New Glasgow, on April 29, 1948. Fred D. Fraser,
born in the Island, died at Churchville, on June 11, 1948. Melvin
MacKay Falconer, died on July 5, 1948, aged 28 years, his death
caused by an accident.
1949
Mr. George Kerr, formerly of Eureka, died in Halifax, on January 3,
1949. Mr. Stanley Fraser, born in Halifax, but a resident of Eureka
for many years, died in July, 1949, aged 77 years.
Mr. Welsford Lewis Hooper, married Miss Angelina Hazel Jardine, of
Eureka, on March 31, 1949.
Mr. And Mrs. John William Brown celebrated their Golden Wedding
Anniversary in September, 1949.
The Eureka Fire Department was organized in 1949. No fire department
of any sort had existed in the village following the fire and
subsequent removal of the Eureka Woolen Mills in 1915. At least one
attempt had been made to organize and purchase some equipment, in
the period in between, but the great majority of the people proved
to be indifferent, and the lack of interest and support resulted in
the dropping of the attempt to organize. In 1949, the citizens were
more receptive to the idea, and The Eureka Fire Department was born
and went on to develop into an organization that the village can
justly be proud of. Homes that were burned in the unprotected period
included: a house, a short distance south-west of Thomas D.
Falconer’s home; home occupied by Mr. Sanford Hopkins; the home of
Mrs. J.J. Fraser; the Perle Smith home; home of Mr. James Murray;
and the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Fraser, in 1949. All of these
homes were totally destroyed by fire. There were other fires that
were controlled before a great amount of damage was suffered.
1950
William Roderick Robertson, a long time resident of Churchville,
Westville and Eureka, died on May 1, 1950, in his 90th year.
Fraser Jardine Dunbar, ordained in the Presbyterian Church on May
16, 1950, accepted a charge in the Miramichi Presbytery, N.B.
Mr. and Mrs. Evan R. Fraser celebrated their Golden Wedding
Anniversary, on October 10, 1950.
1951-1960
|
