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Parrsboro
Parrsboro reaches civic jubilee
Parrsboro, July 14 Saturday, July 15th will mark the fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of Parrsboro as a Town, Parrsboro having been officially incorporated July 15, 1889. Election of Mayor and Councillors followed the latter part of August in the same year. The first town council met in the Town Hall, on Sept. 7, 1889 and included W.F. Jones, Mayor; D.D. Layton, W.J. Gibson, A.W. Jackson, R.T. Harrison, H.F. Price, R.T. Smith, Councillors. It is interesting to note that on this, the fiftieth anniversary of the Town to find a grandson of the last named member, Councillor Allison T. Smith a member of the present town council. The oath of allegiance and the oath of office was administered to the Mayor and councillors by Charles McCabe and John G. Holmes, Justice of the Peace. G.W. Cole was appointed Town Clerk at a salary of $400 per annum, and was also appointed Town Treasurer pro tem, and the two offices vested in one having apparently proved so satisfactory, have been continued to the present day. Mr. Cole married a Miss MacAloney of this Town and is at present residing in Amherst, N.S. as manager of the Robb Engineering Co. Charles McCabe was appointed by the Town as Stipendiary Magistrate, this appointment apparently not being a Provincial one at that time. Councillors A.W. Jackson, R. T. Smith and W.J. Gibson comprised the Police Committee and at a later meeting held Sept. 10th. George Verge was appointed the first town’s police officer, receiving $30.00 per month.
In October, 1889, George Cole resigned his post as Town Clerk and was succeeded by D.J. Taylor, who was also a Government surveyor and surveyed the town lots and laid out the streets of the Town.
February 3, 1891 W.F. Jones was elected Mayor for a second term defeating J. Gresham Aikman, Mr. Jones polling 180 votes, Mr. Aikman 100. Councillors D. Gillespie, D.A. Huntley, W.J. Gibson, A.W. Jackson, J.G. Holmes, G.F. Pugsley.
Feb. 2, 1892 W.F. Jones elected Mayor for a third term defeating D.K. Holmes, 159 to 48 votes. Councillors: Andrew Nichols, J.S. Henderson, Wells Cole, D. Gillespie, W.J. Gibson, D.A. Huntley. In March 1892, N.H. Upham was appointed Town Clerk to succeed D.F. Taylor.
Councillors – C.A.E. Kelly, Andrew Wheaton, H.S. McConnell, A.H. Dyas, R.A. Howard, V.B. Fullerton; Stipendiary Magistrate C.S. Muir, Town Clerk and Treas. N.H. Upham.
1900 – James W. Day, Mayor; Councillors, Andrew Wheaton, H.S. McDowell, A.H. Dyas, R.T. Smith, C. Kelly, C. Johnson; C.A.E. Kelly, Town clerk.
1901 – Harvey McAloney, Mayor; H. McDowell, R.G. Lavers, J.D. Gillespie, R.T. Smith, A.H. Dyas, C. Johnson, Councillors; C.A.E. Kelly, Town Clerk.
1902 – Haney MacAloney, Mayor; Dr. E. Jeffers, E.D. Allen, Dr. A.O. Sproule, H. McDowell ,R.G. Layers, J.D. Gillespie. C.A.E. Kelly, Town clerk.
1903 – F.A. Rand, Mayor; Councillors – V.B. Fullerton, John C. Mosher, William Gillespie, Dr. E. Jeffers, A. 0. Sproule, E.D. Allen, C.A.E. Kelly, Town clerk.
1904 – Mayor, James W. Day; Councillors, John C. Mosher, V.B. Fullerton, Wm. Gillespie, A.E. MacLeod, Andrew Wheaton, B.L. Tucker; Stip. Magistrate, C.S. Muir; Town clerk and Treas. C.A.E. Kelly.
1905 – James W. Day, Mayor; Councillors, A.E. MacLeod, Andrew Wheaton, B.L. Tucker, C. Fullerton, W.J. Gard, R.W. Smith; Stip. Magistrate, C.S. Muir, C.A.E. Kelly, Town clerk and Treas.
1906 – F.A. Rand, M.D. Mayor: Councillors, C. Fullerton, W.J. Gard R.W. Smith, H.T. Smith, D.K. Holmes, W.J. Berry, Stip. Magistrate, C.S. Muir, W.B. King, Town clerk and Treas.
1907 – F.A. Rand, M.D., Mayor; Councillors, D.K. Holmes, W.J. Berry, H.T. Smith, F. Lawson Jenks, D.H .McQuarrie, Nathaniel Noiles; C.S. Muir, Stip. Magistrate, W.B. King, Town clerk and Treas.
1908 – D.K. Holmes, Mayor; Councillors, F. Lawson Jenks, presiding Councillor; Nathaniel Noiles, D.H. McQuarrie, Rufus W. Smith, Burton Dyas, P.L. Spicer; C.S. Muir, Stip. Magistrate; W.B. King, Town clerk and Treas.
1909 – T.E. Henderson, Mayor; P. L. Spicer, presiding Councillor, H.A. Webster, B.Z. Dyas, Daniel Fraser, Alfred Nichols, C.A. Morrison; H.T. Smith, Town clerk.
1910 – T. E. Henderson, Mayor; Councillors, H.A. Webster, Presiding Councillor, Alfred E. Nicols, Charles A., Morrison, Percy L. Spicer, Stewart E. Bowden, D.A. Fraser; Stipendiary Magistrate, Town Clerk and Treas. H.T. Smith, who held the position until 1933, resigning the position that year.
1911 – P.L. Spicer, Mayor Councillors – A.E. Nichols, Presiding councillor. Stewart E. Bowden, H.A. Webster, A.P. Gavin, Fred Sterling, D.A. Fraser.
1912 – Dr. Edward Jeffers, Mayor; Stewart E. Bowden, J.S. Henderson, F. Earle Sulis, Alfred E. Nichols, H.A. Webster, A.P. Gavin, Councillors.
1913 – P.L. Spicer, Mayor; S.T. Salter, A.P. Gavin, W.C. Hatfield, J.S. Henderson, Stewart E. Bowden, Alfred E. Nichols, Councillors.
1914 – F.A. Rand, M.D., Mayor; George F. Rogers, F. Lawson Jenks to Sept. 1914 when he resigned and was succeeded by T.J. Ryan, Clarence Fullerton, A.P. Gavin, S.T. Salter, W.C. Hatfield, Councillors.
1915 – Stewart T. Salter, Mayor; A. P. Gavin, J. Hugh Tucker, John H. Cameron, Clarence Fullerton, T.J. Ryan. Geo. F. Rogers, Councillors.
Continued next week
(Source: The Citizen, Saturday, July 24, 1993, Page 3 – A Touch of Cumberland History – Parrsboro reaches civic jubilee)
Parrsboro reaches civic jubilee
Continued from last week
1916 – P.L. Spicer, Mayor; Deputy Mayor, J.H. Cameron; Councillors, A.P. Gavin, John Pickard, M.D. MacKenzie, M.D., T.J. Ryan, J.H. Tucker.
1917 – S.T. Salter, Mayor; A.P. Gavin, Deputy Mayor; Councillors, M.D. MacKenzie, M.D., A.O. Seaman, C. Fullerton, John Pickard, T. J. Ryan.
1918 – S.T. Salter, Mayor; Councillors, A.P. Gavin, Deputy Mayor; A.O. Seaman, Clarence Fullerton, D.A. Lavers, C.A. Huntley, H.M. Wylie.
1919 – S.T. Salter, Mayor; Councillors, H.M. Wylie, Deputy Mayor; A.P. Gavin, D.A. Lavers, C.A. Huntley, E.C. McDade, H.C. McGuirk.
1920 – Charles A. Huntley, Mayor; Councillors, H.M. Wylie, Deputy Mayor; D.A. Lavers, Leo Gillespie, E. C. McDade, A.P. Gavin, H.C. McGuirk.
1921 – Charles A. Huntley, Mayor; Councillors, Leo F. Gillespie, Deputy Mayor; D.A. Lavers, H.M. Wylie, Wm. Puddington, J.H. Lyons, Nathaniel Noiles.
1922 – S.T. Salter, Mayor; Councillors, Nathaniel Noiles, Deputy Mayor; Wm. Puddington, A.P. Gavin, W.B. Spicer, Frank M. Brodrick, J.H. Lyons, John Pickard, Stipendiary Magistrate.
1923 – Leo F. Gillespie, Mayor; Councillors, A.P. Gavin, Wylie B. Spicer, F.M. Brodrick, J.H. Jones, H.A. Lavers, Imbert O. Canning.
1924 – S.T. Salter, Mayor; Councillors, A.P. Gavin, H.M. Wylie, G.C. Hatfield, H.A. Lavers, J.H. Lyons, J.H. Cameron.
1925 – Dr. M.D. MacKenzie, Mayor; Councillors, A.P. Gavin, H.M. Wylie, G.C. Hatfield, H.A. Lavers, J.H. Lyons, J.H. Cameron.
1926 – P.L. Spicer, Mayor; Councillors, J.H. Cameron, H.A. Lavers, J.H. Lyons, E.C. McDade, A.P. Gavin, Wylie B. Spicer.
1927 – P.L. Spicer, Mayor; Councillors, B.Z. Dyas, J.H. Cameron, H. A. Lavers, A.P. Gavin, E.C. McDade, Wylie Spicer.
1928 – E.C. McDade, Mayor; Councillors, A.P. Gavin, Lebert T. Priham, J. Hugh Tucker, Wylie B. Spicer, Burton Z. Dyas, H.A. Lavers.
1929 – E.C. McDade, Mayor; Councillors, A.P. Gavin, P.W. Wright, C.A. Cochrane, E.T. Trefry, B.R. Hall, Wylie B. Spicer
1930 – E.C. McDade, Mayor; Councillors, A.P. Gavin, P.W. Wright, C.A. Cochrane, E.T. Trefry, B.R. Hall, Wylie B. Spicer.
1931 – John H. Cameron, Mayor; Councillors; A.P. Gavin, Perley W. Wright, Chesley A. Cochrane, Dr. F. L. Hill, Dr. Edward Jeffers, A.O. Seaman.
1932 – A.P. Gavin, Mayor; Councillors- H.A. Lavers, Dr. Edward Jeffers, A.O. Seaman, Herbert Gibson, Perley W. Wright, William Atkinson.
1933 – A.P. Gavin, Mayor; Councillors- Herbert Gibson, H.A. Lavers, P.W. Wright, Dr. George MacIntosh, Wilbert Hatfield, C.L. Knowlton.
1934 – H.A. Lavers, Mayor; Councillors, P.W. Wright, C.L Knowlton, G.P. MacIntosh, W.C. Hatfield, E. DeWolfe, J.W. Atkinson.
1935 – H. A. Lavers, Mayor; Councillors, P.W. Wright, G.P. MacIntosh, J.W. Atkinson, C.L. Knowlton, W.E. Wheaton, J.W. Cameron.
1936 – H.A. Lavers, Mayor; Councillors, Wm. Crossman, C.L. Knowlton, J.W. Cameron, W.E. Wheaton, G.P. MacIntosh, Capt. W.H. Smith.
1937 – H.A. Lavers, Mayor; Councillors, G.P. MacIntosh, G.W. Hurst John W. Cameron, Wm. Crossman, W.E. Wheaton, Capt. W.H. Smith to June, 1937, Harvey J. Randall to February 1938.
1938 – Perley W. Wright, Mayor; Councillors – George Hurst, G.P. MacIntosh, J.W. Cameron, D.J. McDougall, C.S. Henderson, Walter Manning.
1939 – P.W. Wright, Mayor; Councillors – Walter Manning, D.J. McDougall, C.S. Henderson, M.D.; J.W. Cameron, Allison T. Smith, Mrs. Edna Cochrane.
Parrsboro’s electric light service was inaugurated in 1897 at a cost of approximately $11,000, but it was not until 1906, according to statement issued in that year that the plant became self-sustaining, the sum of $100 being made over and above cost of running same. The water system of the Town was also installed in 1897. The first public school built here was in 1895 when the attendance numbered 516 pupils, compared with 485 this year.
Records show that previous to the completion of the present railway from Springhill to Parrsboro that mails and passengers were conveyed from Partridge Island to Amherst, D. D. Roop, D.J. Taylor and Squire McNamara being the first mail carriers. The first settlement was at Partridge Island, where the Ratchford family obtained a grant of land. It was not long before the area became congested and with no more land available in that vicinity, settlers moved on to West Brook and Halfway River, just previous to a large grant of land being made by Governor Parr to the Church of England in 1760 for the purpose of building a church and school. This was the beginning of what is now known as the Town of Parrsboro, which was formerly known as Mill Village, and at that time it was known as Parrsborough, in the County of Kings, named in honor of Governor Parr. A copy of the minutes of the affairs of the settlement at Partridge Island, a copy of which is now in the hands of the Town Clerk, shows that they at that time had a Town Clerk whose name was Thomas Shreve. This record also contains the information that on “May 13, 1822, 10 persons perished by means of a boat upsetting crossing from Partridge Island to Five Islands.”
Previous to the building of the Aboiteau, some 25 years ago, vessels were built in the upper river near the board landing and were taken down through the O’Mullen drawbridge. Among vessels built at this point were the “May Bent,” the “Blake” built by Capt. Peter S. Blake and the schooner “Gertie” built by the late Capt. D.S. Howard.
Parrsboro now has a population of about 2,000 inhabitants who are still looking forward to great things in shipping and shipbuilding, which has always been its main industry. Marked improvement in the streets with Main Street paved and the side streets much improved and kept up are in marked contrast to those of years ago.
Miss M.B. Morwick, Town Clerk, has been an employee of the Town since 1924, first as Assistant to H.T. Smith, Town Clerk, and since his resignation in 1933, was promoted to the office of Town Clerk, Miss Eva Gavin, being her assistant. Miss Morwick is a daughter of Cpt. and Mrs. S.M. Morwick. D.D. Hoop, referred to above as being among the first mail carriers before the time of the railway, was her grandfather.
John Pickard, appointed Stipendiary Magistrate in 1921 is still Stipendiary Magistrate for the town.
(Source: The Citizen, Saturday, July 31, 1993, Page 3 – A Touch of Cumberland History – Parrsboro reaches civic jubilee)