Chapter V

I.J. Behie Lumber Co. and

Miscellaneous Information

In early 1920 Mr. Ralph Hall and Mr. I.J. Behie formed an incorporated company which was known as the Behie and Hall Lumber Company. In 1923 they hired a portable steam sawmill from Mr. Samuel Creelman. This mill was then stationed on the Mushaboom Stream just south of Provincial Highway No. 7. The logs, sawn at this mill, were cut in the vicinity of Mushaboom Big Lake by Mr. Jack Spears of Moser River. In turn, the stream drove these logs to the mill location. The Creelman mill was transported by horse team from one location to another. The lumber from this portable mill was taken by horse team to Sheet Harbour for shipment by vessel to Mr. George Lordely of Halifax. The next location for Creelman's mill was at Knowlens Hill, west of the village of Marinette. The B&H Company became a hardwood operation in 1925. This change to hardwood from softwood came about because Mr. Behie had made an agreement with the pulp company to sell them his timber land, mainly softwood, in exchange for the right to buy hardwood stumpage from the pulp company. This hardwood lumber was shipped by horse team to the Bob Dean pasture at West River. There it was graded and shipped from the Government Wharf at West River. The original Old Orchard Road, between Little River and Marinette was used to transport the lumber. The present road, No. 224, mainly follows the river after crossing the Little River bridge.

The next location of the Creelman portable sawmill was in the Kent Lake area in 1927. It was during this winter that Mr. Behie and Mr. Hall dissolved partnership. Apparently the pulp company felt that there was too much softwood waste which could have been processed into pulp. Mr. Hall let this operation and formed a new company with a man named Walker. The company was call Hall and Walker Construction, specializing mainly in construction. This company increased the size of the Power Corporation's hydro plant at East River and also built the large power water storage dam at Big Como Lake.

Mr. George Westhave became the new Woods Foreman of the company, Behie and Westhaver. This company discontinued saw milling. They became contractors for the pulp company.

The lumber produced at the Kent Lake sawmill was the first lumber I saw, which was transported from the mill site to the Musquodoboit railway station, by truck. The truck, driven by Reginald Cleveland and Stanley Farnell, was a Reo Speedwagon, owned by the company.

According to Mr. Behie neither he, nor the contractor received any money for their logs or their labor until such time as the logs had been stream driven to the mill, sawn and put aboard a vessel for transportation to the market. My father, John Coady, was one of these contractors. During the winter months our family lived on staples purchased on credit from Mr. Behie's warehouse. Such staples as flour, sugar, molasses, and livestock feed were purchased. Some of these staples would be brought home on my handsled because my father was at work in the bush. Mr. Behie also said that he would be supplied the necessities of life during the winter and spring seasons, yet he would not receive any payment until the lumber had been delivered on the boat.

Another story which Mr. Behie related was that in the

Ralph Hall in his air-colled Franklin car. Henry Eisan with the Behie and Hall Lumber Company team of horses. Also, construction getting ready for the new pulp mill, 1923.

Behie and Hall Lumber Company days, they knew of land, owned by the Nova Scotia Steel Company, of 1700 acres of timberland, located in Guysborough County, east of the village of Newchester. The company knew that this land could be purchased. When preparations were made to cruise the land, Mr. Joseph McCarthy of Locharber Mines, accompanied them. There was a vacant pulp camp approximately one half mile east of Newchester. This camp was to house the men. During the course of land cruising, Mr. Hall shot a nice moose, which they dressed and carried to their camp.

An amusing sidelight of the "moose episode," involved the consumption of a considerable amount of whiskey, given to various participants in the drama. Mr. Hall and Mr. McCarthy were having a social drink when Mr. John Bezanson arrived on the scene with a moose carcass which had been given by Dr. Cooper, who had a camp at West River Lake. This moose meat was destined for the people of Newchester. Mr. Bezanson was offered a drink and then was asked if he would trade the two hind quarters of his moose for

Mill crew of I.J. Behie and Ralph Hall Lumber Company at Sam Creelman mill, knowlens Hill, west of Marinette. (1) Sidney V. Behie; (2) I.J. Behie; (3) Nicholas MacDonald; (4) Ralph Hall; (5) Henry Eisan; (6) Archibald Pye (sawyer); (7) Jim Connors; (8) Reginald Cleveland; (9) Melvin Wambolt; (10) Stanley Farnell; (11) Samuel Creelman.

Some of the small sawmills in the Sheet Harbour area were: Wm. A. Lowe, Roy Kenney, Hanson Lively, Robert Marshall, and Aaron Road.

Stationary mill of I.J. Behie at outlet of Coombs Lake Brook, below St. Peter's Church. Melvin Wambolt in mill yard; (1) Skipper Lindsey's house; (2) Allen MacMaster's house; (3) St. Peter's glebe.

During the First World War Robert Rutledge cut mine props, nine feet long for overseas shipment.

Another portable mill on the West River Water Shed I would like to mention was owned by Mr. Hadley Creelman, the logging operation carried on by Mr. Elbridge Lowe (Dune), mill location was near the north end of John Gault Field on the Musquodoboit-Sheet Harbour highway, also near the school house. This is also worthy of mention as up until the early 1900s the pupils from Frank Pauls, George Deans, John W. Deans and John Gault's south attended this school. Also there would be two Fisher families and William Moors attend from the Musquodoboit side.

It would be about 1922 or 1923 when Albert Gault moved his family from his father's homestead to Sheet Harbour.

There was an accident at this mill in 1920. Mr. Daniel Currie, when working at the logs on the mill brow, fell on the

William A. Lowe's portable mill near Governor Lake on the Twelve-Mile Stream, East River, Sheet Harbour. Murdock McKinnon as sawyer.

logs and as a result had the misfortune of breaking his back, paralyzed from the shoulders down. He spent the next seven years in bed and with part-time help in a wheelchair, died in December 1927, aged 74 years. There were no radios in those days so no doubt he had a good many lonely hours.

Another bit of history I believe is worthy of mention would be the watering troughs in different locations along the highway across from Mr. Ronald Eisans' residence, last but not least the one always referred to as the trough near Ausies' cottage on the long hill south of Marinette.

While I was scaling logs for the Miramichi Lumber Company in 1944 at Big Rocky Lake, on February 22 of that year, we had a snow fall of 22 inches. This was in addition to the 30 inches which had already fallen.

On that morning I was visited by Charles MacDonald and Perley Giverson of the company. It was necessary for them to them to return that day to the mill, however it was impossible for Giverson to reach the mill, consequently he crawled into the back of my half ton truck which was parked at the highway, as was my custom. He remained with the truck while Charles MacDonald went on foot the mile to the mill, where he picked up a tractor driver with a sled and came back to the truck for Mr. Giverson.

It was two weeks before any supplies could reach the camps and during the last few days of that period we existed on codfish and potatoes.

A.T. Logan, the mill owner, failed to reach the depot by car. He returned to New Glasgow, purchased snow shoes and snow-shoed the 25 miles back to the depot. This was quite an undertaking under these conditions. Robert Marshall, line foreman for the Power Corporation, was marooned at the depot for two weeks. At that tune the Power Corporation succeeded in opening the road to the depot, making it possible for supplies to reach us.

Mr. George Dean lived and owned property at Rocky Brook, so called, on Highway No. 224 about half way between Sheet Harbour and Upper Musquodoboit. Below the highway he had a mill pond and a shingle mill, operated for many years by water power.

A.T. Logan, and later his partner in business P.R. Giberson, operated two saw mills - one at Cruickshank Lake the other at Grassy Lake on the Fifteen-Mile Stream at East River, Sheet Harbour. There were stationary mills powered by steam. Logging the Cruickshank mill was done by motor truck and tractor. Horses were used in the winter to sled the logs. The Grassy Lake mill logs were most all stream driven from Rocky Lakes and the river below.

Some of the woods foremen or contractors for Logan and Giberson were as follows: Mr. Hoyse Cameron, Mr. John A. MacDonald, Mr. George Westhaver Sr., Mr. Lonas George, Mr. Bay Rutledge, Mr. Alex G. Fraser, Turner Brothers (Carl and George), Mr. Carl Hebb, Mr. Elwin Day and Mr. Edgar Cameron. Mr. Clyde Lowe also did summer logging for the company. His saw logs were delivered to the Grassy Lake mill, first by using a small motor truck on the Little Fifteen-Mile Stream or river bed for some distance until

Winter of 1952. YOurs truly and Mr. R.V. Rutledge arriving at camp after scaling saw logs near Rocky Lake on the Twenty-Mile Stream, East River, Sheet Harbour, for Mr. Rutledge.

contact was made with the main truck road.

The road or highway from Logan's Depot to Sheet Harbour was built in 1939 and 1940 in order for this lumber to be trucker to Sheet Harbour for shipment overseas.

MARCH 13, 1933:

Sheet Harbour bids Farewell

to an Amiable Citizen

A farewell gathering of the citizens of Sheet Harbour met at the Parish Hall last evening. Mr. and Mrs. Connors entered the hall with the pastor, Rev. Father Johnson, and were warmly surprised to find the hall packed with the citizens of the town. Miss Mary MacDonald then read the address from the Sheet Harbour sub-division of the Catholic Womens League: "Mrs. Connors, we the ladies of the Catholic Womens League, wishing to show in some way our appreciation of your work and interest in all our endeavours, ask you to please accept this little gift. Needless to say we will miss you greatly, but it will be a wonderful change for you and your lovely children, and it would be selfish on our part to wish you to remain. We wish you happiness in your new home and prosperity as the years roll on."

Miss MacDonald then presented Mrs. Connors with a lovely lady's purse. Mrs. Dr. MacMillan, representing the Women's Institute, was next: "To Mr. Connors - we have learned, with a great deal of surprise and regret, that you are about to leave Sheet Harbour and to return to your old home in Maine. The members of the Sheet Harbour Institute would like to take this opportunity, along with the other citizens of the district, to wish you the very best as you leave the place where for a number of years you have made your home. We are especially grateful to you for you interest in community affairs, for your willingness to aid in every worthy cause, for contributions towards the relieving of distress caused by the common experience of mankind that friends must part because of the contingencies of life. We are glad to say that you may be separated from us by time and space, but your friends in Sheet Harbour shall ever cherish bright memories and happy recollections of former friendship. The Women's Institute desires to record their great regret at your departure, and to wish both Mrs. Connors and yourself the choicest blessings in your future life."

Father Johnson for St. Peters Parish read the next address: "Many times have we gathered here in this hall for entertainments of one kind or another, and almost every occasion found you with us to assist financially or otherwise. But tonight we have come on the eve of your departure, to say goodbye.

"During the nice years you have spent in out midst, your keen interest in all church, as well as civic work, has been greatly appreciated. Your advice, which was readily sought, was at all times gladly given and your removal from here is a distinct loss to the place. There is none left that can fill your place either in our parish or in the community. However, what is Sheet Harbour's loss with be Old Town's gain, and may many many blessings attend you and ever will the good wishes of the Catholic people of Sheet Harbour be with you in all your undertakings in the future. We ask you, Mr. Connors, to kindly accept the accompanying gift which is only a small token of the esteem in which you are held by us."

Mr. Connors was then presented with a club bag by Mr. W.J. Chisholm on behalf of the parish.

Rev. Mr. Hattie of the United Church here spoke and made reference to the fine Christian citizenship and example shown by Mr. and Mrs. Connors.

Mr. Hollis Anderson read a short address, which was followed by a word from our Councillor, Mr. Henry Hall, expressing his regrets and best wishes for the future.

The crowd then sand "He is a Jolly Good Fellow" and after many goodbyes, the gathering broke up.

One final portable saw mill worthy of mention in the 1950s and 60s was located near the Seven Mile Lake on the East River Sheet Harbour Waters on American Realty Lands. This mill was owned and operated by David A. Heuston.

Each winter Mr. Hueston's woods foreman was Foster Cruickshanks, who was on leave of absence from the Department of Lands & Forests. He held the position of Chief Forest Ranger for the northern part of Halifax County. The mill sawyer was Edward Matthews.

The lumber from this mill was trucked to Upper Musquodoboit by Ab Ellis and Herb Creelman and others. It was then shipped by railroad to Halifax for boat shipment to England and the European Market.

Each year in March, when frost conditions made the logs easier to saw, Mr. Heuston would have saved out certain logs to be sawn at this time. In this way he could determine the capability of his portable mill. Several years a yield of 45 to 50 thousand board feet was realized.

[Index] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 6]