East Coast History

Coal Mining In Atlantic Canada

Coal..black coal…or better known as “King Coal” dominated the energy industry for about three centuries. When coal and coal mining was at it’s height; it provided a great amount of employment in the eastern half of Nova Scotia and parts of New Brunswick. Although profitable it was a dangerous business that brought a lot of hardship to miners and their families.

Coal Mining

Coal mining; on the East Coast, began in Port Morien, Cape Breton in the early 1700’s. The French had just built Fortress Louisbourg and they needed a better source of energy. Coal became the answer to a more efficient high energy need. Cape Breton; on the Atlantic Coast; had an abundance of coal and thus a major industry developed over time. In the early days; coal was mainly surface mined and was used primarily for home use. By the mid-1800’s; during the Age of Industrialization, there was increased demand and coal mining soon went underground to keep up with supply. The high heat generated from burning coal was needed to manufacture steel, power the latest steam ships and fire the steam engines for the railroad. In short, “Coal was King.” In 1920, 65% of Canada’s energy output was in the form of coal and it dominated right up until the late 1940’s.

Coal Miners

Generations of families were brought up mining coal in mining towns all over the Coast. Men of all ages braved the depths of the underground mines to make a living and provide for their families.. A Miner’s job brought tremendous risk, was physically tasking, dangerous and a constant worry for the men and their families. In the early days; the company owned the town, the store and the miners. Wages were limited for the work at hand. Imagine working underground for six days a week and 10 long hours at a time. Never seeing the light of day! Black lung disease; from the coal dust, was no stranger to many. Back then there were limited safety measures in place and the danger was so real. Around 1880; miner’s unions were organized and gradually the working conditions and wages improved. It was still a risky place to work so far underground. It was a way of life for many in Eastern Nova Scotia and in the Minto area of New Brunswick.

Mining Disasters

Underground mining; for coal, was a high risk profession and to the Miner there was always the fear of a mine collapse; and rightly so. Coal gave off a very combustible coal dust that generated methane inside the mines. One spark could easily ignite a disaster. In Cape Breton; the Drummond Mine Collapse(1873), 60 miners perished. In New Glasgow; The Westray Mine Disaster(1992) 26 miners perished. The community hardest hit over time was Springhill, Nova Scotia. In 1891, 125 miners perished, in 1956, 39 perished and in 1958, a collapse killed 74 more.

Early Mining Shaft(photoPublic Domain Pictures)

These days, coal is not in much demand but some surface mines are still in operation. Do you remember the coal delivery, shoveling it into the basement and firing the furnace. Black smoke dotted the air from the chimneys everywhere. There are many books written about the Mining Days and many a song that has been sung. Cape Breton’s singers; “Men of the Deeps” keep the stories and the memories very much alive. Coal mining and the Miners are an integral part of our history. It’s history that we should all know about and carry forever in our hearts. We honour these brave men of the deep.

The NB Fenian Raid 1866

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EAST COAST HERITAGE VIGNETTE – THE NEW BRUNSWICK FENIAN RAID OF 1866 – The Fenians were an Irish Republican organization based in the United States. Their mission was to pressure the U.K. into withdrawing its stronghold back in Ireland. So in April of 1866; directly after the U.S. Civil War, a plot was hatched by the Fenians to capture New Brunswick. About 1000 armed Fenians arrived in the Eastport – Calais area of Maine intending to invade Campobello Island. The British, wanting to end the threat, immediately sent a half dozen Warships and about 700 British Regulars into the area. In short, the Fenians seeing this display of British military strength, skedaddled from the area ending the threat to New Brunswick. This whole event led to New Brunswick joining Confederation shortly thereafter. And now you know …..

Nova Scotia Privateering

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East Coast Slang Heritage

Published by Chris Holder · March 29 at 12:32 PM ·

EAST COAST HERITAGE VIGNETTE – NOVA SCOTIA PRIVATEERING DURING THE WAR OF 1812 – In June of 1812; the Americans had declared War on England. This period in history greatly affected the East Coast as it put all of our shipping ventures at risk. Let me tell you about a schooner known as the “Liverpool Packet”. It was purchased(in 1811) by a Mr. Enos Collins of Halifax to serve the Nova Scotia Coastal Trade. It had been in service as a former slave runner out of Baltimore Md. It would then sail out of Liverpool, Nova Scotia.

When war broke out; the astute Enos received a “Letter of Marque” from the British Admiralty. This document would make the schooner a legal Pirate Ship. He then heavily armed the boat, crewed it with about 45 sailors and hired Joseph Barrs as it’s Captain. Mr. Barrs came from a seafaring family in Liverpool NS and was already experienced in Privateering. The Packet would lie in wait in the waters off the Coast of Cape Cod to capture ships and cargo destined for Boston or New York. These ships would be sailed to the Halifax harbour where the cargo would then be auctioned off and profits split between the Crew and Enos. The Packet would capture 30 ships before it was finally seized by the Americans and Barrs would be jailed in New Hampshire. The ship was kept in service by the Americans for a short period and would be recaptured by the British. The Packet found its way back to Enos and was refitted with a new captain at it’s helm.(Captain Barrs was still incarcerated) The mighty schooner would go on to capture about 20 more ships; before the War ended in 1814. The old Packet then resumed service as a coastal trader on the East Coast.

Mr. Barrs retired from privateering and settled his family in Kentville NS; where he lived a genteel lif until his demise in1824. Enos invested his profits from his privateering days very wisely. One venture was in banking that would later become the CIBC Bank. He purchased a huge estate; in south end Halifax, that he called Gorsebrook. This property is now the Saint Mary’s University Campus. He died in 1871 and is buried in the Camp Hill Cemetery in Halifax NS. Upon his death; he was reputedly the richest man in Canada! Not too bad for an old Pirate from Liverpool, NS. And now you know …

Logging on the East Coast

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THE LOG DRIVES ON THE EAST COAST

When we think about the early settlers pioneering in the new lands on the East Coast; fishing and farming normally come to mind. This area was originally colonized for its fishing rights and the settlements here were developed all along the coastal areas. It was a good way to make a living. Settlers could sustain themselves and their families for about six months this way but what about the cold winter months? The answer lies within the lumber trade. Logging on the East Coast become a major way of life.

East Coast Forests

In the 1800’s; England was the world’s superpower and they had to maintain a vast navy and merchant marine . This was the era of the wooden ships and the problem was that they were running short on timber. Normally they would get their timber from Scandinavia but this was getting harder due to ongoing European wars. So they looked across the Atlantic to the East Coast. What a better place! The interiors of the East Coast colonies were one vast forest stocked full of the spruce and pine needed to construct their ships! A new industry was soon developed that could provide the much needed revenue for the settlers on the East Coast, over those harsh winter months.

Lumber Camps

Lumber camps were quickly set up deep in these forests on the East. The camps were very primitive, one story structures constructed from logs. Most often a large one room space. Just imagine the living quarters! Both ends were lined up with beds and mattresses fashioned from tree boughs. The centre space had a long table for meals. A fire pit in the middle of the room would provide the heat. It was a very crude and cramped living space indeed! Where did they wash! Not an easy life for the men at all! Oh yes; and I imagine the slang! Bet it was pretty colorful!

However; the settlers were in need of work. They would head into the woods in late fall and there they stayed until late spring. Six days of the week and from sun up to sun down these men were cutting and stripping trees in their assigned areas. The days were long and the work was hard. Trees were felled by the axe then until the crosscut saw was introduced around 1870. At the days end; they all trudged back to camp to eat, play cards, get some sleep and prepare to start the day all over again. Liquor, for obvious reasons would not be allowed in these camps. It is hard to imagine enduring life like that back then.

Logging

The next phase of the process was hauling these cut logs out to a a central depot known as a“ brow”. This gathering spot was located along the banks of a close by river or stream. The fresh cut logs were most often hauled out of the woods by horse and then manually loaded with pulley and chains onto sleds for transport. Surely back breaking work! But a good strong work horse was a big part of the team and certainly lightened the workload. This process was done by mid-winter because the snow was hard packed then and it was easier to transport the logs. Often time; as the winter wore on, the work crews grew smaller. Between the work, the unsanitary living conditions and the general remoteness of where they were, skedaddling for home was a common thing.

Log Driving

The final phase was the actual log drive. In the fall; dams would have been built upstream to hold back the water for when the spring freshet came. When the brows were ready and full of logs, these dams were opened up with dynamite and the backed up water could come rushing through. I tell ya; you had to be fast and you really had to know what you were doing. The water was flowing fast and you had to get the logs organized in it before the water level dropped back down. Log drivers rode the logs all along the river to keep the flow steady. Imagine this; these men jumped from log to log to managed the flow with a long graffling hook. Log jams down river were inevitable and would have to be broken up again with dynamite. The men who had these booms were a special breed and surely risked their lives in the process. All these logs were headed to the mouth of the river where the mill was set up. And the product was shipped abroad from there.

Logging Industry

These log drives continued to the middle of the last century (about 1950). By that time; mechanization was in place. The logs were still transported by horse but to a nearby rail siding for transport to the mills; by train. By the early 1940’s; log trucks were equipped to haul the heavy loads. People thought that when the age of wooden ships ended, that logging would slow down but with the advent of pulp mills to make paper for newspapers and magazines; it really didn’t. Loggin was a profitable business in the East Coast. It was not until recently in the computer age that it all changed.

I think back to those days and how hard it must have been to live that life! You worked hard all day at farmin’ or fishin’ and then head to the woods for six months for that backbreakin’ work! Its survival! It’s looking after your family! You really have to stop and think how good we have it; in this day and age. Be ever so thankful to our ancestors and our homeland!

Rum Running in Atlantic Canada

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Imagine life on the East Coast of Canada in the 1920’s. Now imagine the coastal coves and inlets scattered throughout the waterways in the region. Its no wonder fishing was a big industry. Living life as an East Coast Fisherman was a tough job with great risk! To make a decent living you had to catch a lot of fish and then sell it all at a reasonable price; to the local processor. It was the processor that controlled your income! He’s the guy that made all the money! If you walked away with $100 a month you were doing well. All in all, it was a hardscrabble life for all involved.

Prohibition

Now during these early years; legislation in the United States and Canada passed the law prohibiting the sale and consumption of all liquor. Societie’s members were divided in their faith to comply. Liquor was to become a very a hot commodity! It was all about supply and demand! A void to be filled by none other than the fishermen and the Black Market. Enter the Rum Runners of Atlantic Canada.

St. Pierre & Miquelon

So; now lets say you are a Canadian Distiller. During prohibition you can no longer export liquor to the United States but you can’t sell in Canada either. So to survive as a business; your only solution is to export your spirits to another country. In the North Atlantic region; there are two small islands just off the coast of Newfoundland, that were controlled by France. St Pierre and Miquelon. Now in St. Pierre; fishing was the only game in town and in the 1920’s the catches were way down. Fishing the area was usually profitable. France kept possession of this Island just for the fishing rights alone. One day; boats start showing up on the Island and they were wanting to buy liquor. Go figure! It was a sign of the times! Well a local guy; named Mr. Julien Moraze, soon figured it all out. Right away he built several warehouses portside and filled them with liquor bought mainly from Canadian Distilleries. Right then; there is a huge demand for liquor and St. Pierre is in the right place to satisfy it. All Julien had to do is figure out a way to transport it without getting caught by the American or Canadian authorities.

Fishing in Atlantic Canada

Now lets step back to the local fishermen in Atlantic Canada making a living fishing and owns his own boat. One day your buddy tells you about the underground market running liquor from the French Islands. He says he is going to St. Pierre to buy the liquor and plans to sell it locally. He ventures out, loads up his boat and sells all that he can handle. Word soon spreads of his progress and the money at hand. Bingo! All of a sudden it seems like all the fishing boats were in on this deal. By God; in St. Pierre, Julien is grinning from ear to ear. He no longer has a transportation problem and doesn’t have to worry about gettung caught by the authorities. He ends up with a very profitable business! Of what he exports; 90% ends up going to the American Markets, in New York and Boston. The other 10% seems to end up in Atlantic Canada. Soon enough though; like most dealings in the underground world, the Mob and Al Capone eventually take over distribution and sales in the American Market. By this time Julien had made all the money he would ever need!

Atlantic Canada

Let’s focus on Atlantic Canada. It would become prime smuggling territory. The peak years for Rum Running in Atlantic Canada were between 1923 and 1933. This became a way of life for many East Coasters. Is this part of your heritage? Are these your people! The laws prohibited the liquor but the provinces did not have the money nor the manpower to enforce the laws. Why not turn a blind eye, catch someone every now and then and levy fines. This became a whole new source of revenue for the provinces. The liquor market was so big that many of the local law enforcers were on the take themselves. Rum running was a booming business! It is said that at one time or another; 90% of the Lunenberg fishing fleet was involved in Rum Running. You can be assured that most ports had the same ratio. Most fisherman could make $500 a month running rum compared to about $100 fishing. Sure, you had to work a lot of nights but what the Hell, you had a family to feed. Many of the younger people got involved as Deckhands. The money was good but the sense of adventure was incredible.

As with anything; thinking changes and prohibition would come to and end. Many Atlantic Provinces repealed Prohibition by 1930. The United States repealed it by 1933. The governments soon took over the sales and distribution of all liquor because of the revenue it generated. Prince Edward Island did not repeal until 1948, It has been said that there were more Moonshiners per capita on the Island than anyplace else in the country.

Julien Moraze

You know; fortunes were made by a lot of people involved in Rum Running in Atlantic Canada. In my mind, the most money must have been made by good old Julien Moraze; back in St. Pierre. He was smart! He saw a great opportunity of the times and capitalized on that with minimal risks for himself!. Everything was done above board cause once he sold the liquor his hands were clean. No one seems to know what became of Julien who played a pivitol role in the start up years of Rum Running in Atlantic Canada. I like to think he sailed off to the Carribean and to a place called Margaritaville! I’m sure he lived out the rest of his life exactly the way he wanted to! And with fond memories of the small island in the Atlantic he called home!

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